New Federal Minister Wildberger: Hesse shape the future!

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

On May 6, 2025, Karsten Wildberger will be appointed Federal Minister of Digital, with a focus on digital transformation and modern administration.
On May 6, 2025, Karsten Wildberger will be appointed Federal Minister of Digital, with a focus on digital transformation and modern administration. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

Recently Dr. Karsten Wildberger appointed the new Federal Digital Minister. The native Hesse comes from Gießen and was appointed to this office by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Wildberger is independent and brings extensive experience from the economy where he has dealt intensively with digital transformation.

Before his appointment, Wildberger CEO was CECONOMY AG, the parent company of Media Markt and Saturn. In this role, he successfully worked on the company's transformation and extended his contract in August 2023 to 2028. His professional career also includes management positions at well-known companies such as T-Mobile, Vodafone and E.On.

academic career and management experience

Wildberger studied physics at the universities of Munich and Aachen and did her doctorate there. In addition, he was a partner at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advised companies on strategy and digitization issues. This combination of technical knowledge and leadership experience makes it a suitable line -up for the new ministry.

The appointment of Wildberger is part of a greater restructuring in the extended federal cabinet, which includes a total of six politicians from Hesse. Further appointments include Wolfram Weimer (CDU) as Minister of Culture and Michael Meister (CDU), who will work as State Secretary in the Federal Chancellery. Michael Brand (CDU) also becomes State Secretary, while Natalie Pawlik (SPD) takes over the representative for migration, refugees and integration and Sören Bartol (SPD) remains in the Federal Ministry of Living, Urban Development and Building.

accept digital challenges

In his new role, Wildberger is confronted with the challenges of digitization and state modernization. He honored the trust of Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the CDU, and emphasized the outstanding importance of digitization for the modernization of the country. The Digital Ministry will receive two Parliamentary State Secretaries: Philipp Amthor and Thomas Jarzombek. Amthor is a spokesman for the state organization and modernization and was involved in the negotiations of the OZG 2.0 in 2023, while Jarzombek is strong in the Committee on Digital for Artificial Intelligence.

First reactions to Wildberger's appointment show recognition for his practical experience. Nevertheless, there are concerns about his knowledge of administrative structures and political processes. His membership in the Supervisory Board of the Jülich Research Center, where one of six European AI factories arises, is also considered important. Wildberger is expected to have a major impact on the federal government's digital agenda.

The appointment of Mr. Wildberger and the associated personnel adjustments in the cabinet underline the urgent need for qualified leaders in the field of digitization. [Borkener Zeitung] reports that its extensive know-how in digital transformation is invaluable in today's world. [SPIEGEL] emphasizes that Wildberger has already proven in the past how to successfully lead companies through digital upheavals. [Authorities SPIEGEL] adds that Germany's digital future will strongly depend on the successful work of the new Federal Minister.

Details
Quellen