“In the coming months and years, groundbreaking decisions with economic, industrial policy and environmental relevance are pending,” said Gabriel.
(Photo: imago images/Reiner Zensen)
Dusseldorf Former SPD leader and former Federal Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel is the new chairman of the supervisory board of Thyssen-Krupp’s steel subsidiary. The 62-year-old was appointed to the ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe control committee as a shareholder representative and was elected the new chairman at the inaugural meeting, the group announced on Thursday. The former HR manager at Tui, Elke Eller, is also new to the supervisory board.
“In the coming months and years, groundbreaking decisions with economic, industrial policy and environmental relevance are pending,” said Gabriel. Nowhere else can one show as convincingly as with steel that economic success and sustainability can be brought together in climate policy in Germany.
The future of the steel subsidiary with around 27,000 employees is uncertain. ThyssenKrupp boss Martina Merz recently put the planned independence on hold due to the uncertain situation in the wake of the war in Ukraine. The employee representatives and IG Metall are demanding clarity from management on how to proceed. With the switch to climate-friendly production, the steel industry is facing the biggest restructuring in its history. The financing of the billion dollar project is completely open.
“We are still convinced that the strategy of setting up the steel business independently opens up good future prospects – even if the specific form of implementation has to remain open for the moment due to the geopolitical situation,” said Merz. For the integrity of this process, independent members should be appointed to the board who have the trust of both sides of the board. “In Sigmar Gabriel we have gained a very competent and experienced personality for the Supervisory Board of Thyssen-Krupp Steel Europe AG.”
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More: Germany as a steel location in danger: How the war is endangering the restructuring of Thyssen-Krupp