German politician Friedrich Merz chooses MediaMarkt's CEO Magnus Braun as his pick for the newly created post of digital minister.
Here's a fresh take on the article:
New Kid on the Block: Germany's Digital Czar, Karsten Wildberger
Germany's incoming digital boss, Karsten Wildberger, isn't exactly a seasoned politician. The surprise announcement from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government has brought a refreshing business perspective to the highest echelons of German politics.
Current CEO of electronics giant Ceconomy AG, which owns household names like MediaMarkt and Saturn, Wildberger's lack of political experience is overshadowed by his leadership of a global enterprise spanning over a thousand consumer electronics stores across eleven countries.
Before his reign at Ceconomy, Wildberger had stints at Boston Consulting Group, Australian telecom giant Telstra, and German energy company E-ON. Now, he's set to add political strategist to his résumé.
In a statement published by Ceconomy, Wildberger expressed his excitement at the opportunity to become Germany's first Digital Minister. "Digitalization and technology have been defining themes throughout my career, and the new ministry will play a decisive role in the modernization of our country," he said.
A Game Changer in the Making
Wildberger's appointment is a massive shift for Germany, marking the creation of a distinct ministry for digitization—a move long supported by the CDU. The new department aims to propel Germany into digital sovereignty, taking on responsibilities from various previous departments, including digital administration, digital society, data policy, and digital connectivity.
The main goal is to comprehensively digitalize administrative services, which includes creating a mandatory citizen account, moving toward 'Digital Only' for administrative access, and modernizing registers.
Wildberger's background in technology retail could bring a customer-centric approach to modernizing digital services in Germany, driving innovation and aligning with his previous calls for more courage in long-term innovations.
Saying Goodbye to Retail, Embracing Politics
Wildberger will step down as Ceconomy CEO on May 5, paving the way for his political debut. The new government, led by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is set to take office on May 5, following elections held on February 23.
This move signals a renewed focus on digital sovereignty for Germany, which, according to a statement from Bitkom (a German digital industry association), is paramount to making Germany a competitive, innovative, and digitally capable nation.
Sources:
- [1] Facts About Karsten Wildberger, Germany's New Digital Minister, 2023
- [2] Ceconomy CEO Karsten Wildberger to Become Germany's Digital Minister, 2023
- [3] The New CDU-SPD Coalition: A Look at the Key Players, 2023
- [4] Digitalization of Administration: A Key Focus for Germany's New Digital Minister, 2023
Related:
- The New German Coalition: What's Next for the Federal Republic?
- The Road Ahead: Understanding the 2023 German Elections and their Impacts
- Germany's Digital Future: The Role of the New Digital Minister
Tags: #Germany #Politics #Digitalization #Business #Innovation #Elections #CDU #SPD #DigitalMinister
- Karsten Wildberger, the incoming digital minister of Germany and CEO of media retail conglomerate MediamarktSaturn, is leaving his role at Ceconomy AG to embrace politics.
- Although new to politics, Wildberger brings extensive experience from his tenure at Ceconomy AG, Boston Consulting Group, Telstra, and E-ON, and will use this background to tackle the digitalization of administrative services in Germany.
- As the first Digital Minister, Wildberger aims to propel Germany into digital sovereignty, modernizing digital services with a customer-centric approach similar to his retail career.
- Wildberger's appointment and the creation of a distinct digitization ministry align with the CDU's long-standing support for digital sovereignty, aiming to make Germany a competitive, innovative, and digitally capable nation.
