Klaus Adam hands over to his successor Peter Radermacher and takes over as Chairman of the Board of Trustees / Otto Boehringer becomes Honorary President of the Board of Trustees
28.06.2011
Yesterday, at their general meeting, the Friends of Mainz University elected Peter Radermacher as their new Chairman. The Chairman of the Executive Board of Commerzbank AG, Mainz branch, takes over the office of Dr. h.c. Klaus Adam, who takes over from Otto Boehringer as President of the Board of Trustees. Otto Boehringer was appointed Honorary President of the Board of Trustees of the association. "We are very pleased that Peter Radermacher is willing to take on this honorary office," declared the new President of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Mainz University, Dr. h.c. Klaus Adam. "This is not only a step towards rejuvenating the leadership of the association, the participation of Peter Radermacher on the board also increases the strength of our association on the operational side. The University has developed exceptional drive in recent years, and our association will gladly help to raise the reputation of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and improve its competitiveness within our country and abroad."
The former Chairman of the Board of the State Bank of Rhineland-Palatinate has been Chairman of the Friends of Mainz University since 2005. During his term of office, the sponsorship projects of the Friends have provided visible and lasting contributions to the development of the University. Highlights include the founding of the "School of Vision" on the university campus with a starting capital of EUR 250,000 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the association in February of this year.
The Johannes Gutenberg Endowed Professorship was established by the Friends in 2000, and has developed into a meeting forum for science, business and the city during the term of office of Klaus Adam. Thousands of citizens a year attend the lectures of endowed professors, such as Fritz Melchers, Jan Philipp Reemtsma, Karl Kardinal Lehmann or - this year - Gottfried Boehm, which are held in the largest auditorium on the university campus. "During all these years, Klaus Adam has been a good and reliable friend who has worked for the benefit of our University," said the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), University Professor Dr. Georg Krausch. "We therefore appreciate that he will also make his experience available to us in the future as President of the Board of Trustees."
Peter Radermacher has been involved with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2006. "Our University is one of the largest German universities, and acts as an important stimulator for economic growth and social development for the Mainz center of knowledge and the entire region," said the new Chairman of the Friends. "With their commitment, the Friends accept social responsibility by promoting research and teaching, and strengthening the links between university, city and region. I will gladly make a contribution to this effort."The following people are still part of the executive board: Ferdinand Scherf (Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive), Peter E. Geipel (Treasurer), University Professor Dr. Andreas Cesana (Chairman of the Johannes Gutenberg Foundation - Endowed Professorship), University Professor Dr. Georg Krausch (President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), and University Professor Dr. Hellmut Oelert. Newly elected were Stefan Hardt (President of the German Federal Bank, Mainz Branch), and Professor Dr. Wolfgang Hofmeister.
Otto Boehringer appointed Honorary President of the Friends of Mainz University
Former President of the Board of Trustees, Otto Boehringer, was appointed Honorary President of the Board of Trustees. "Otto Boehringer sees his commitment as active citizenship, as service to society," explained Dr. Klaus Adam. "His Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation has supported science for many years, with a particular focus on Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. We are delighted that two exceptional public personalities, Otto Boehringer, and the former Federal Minister, Dr. Hans Friderichs, continue to serve in distinguished positions as Honorary President and Honorary Chairman of our association." The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation has recently set a milestone for research in Mainz: it donated EUR 100 million for the foundation of a top-class institution, the Institute of Molecular Biology on the campus of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
"It is extremely important for Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz that people like Otto Boehringer, Dr. Hans Friderichs, Dr. Klaus Adam, and Peter Radermacher are prepared to spend their time and energy in the service of science," said University President Krausch. "Their readiness to share responsibility, and their active participation have set an example for the participation of citizens in the sphere of science and education to secure the future of our society."