Commitment and Competence: These People Head the Ernst Freiberger Foundation
Director
Ernst Freiberger
For Ernst Freiberger, social commitment is an ethical imperative. Born in Amerang, in the Chiemgau district, the entrepreneur is deeply rooted in the traditions of his home region and those of his family. The latter follows the motto: Let us not pass on property and vested rights but rather the courage to start a new entrepreneurial project in each generation. The beginnings lie in a bakery in the home village. In the course of a century, four generations develop businesses in different branches of trade. Ernst Freiberger sets off by making innovative investments in the food industry, later on he expands his activities towards real estate, health care and hotel business.
Rupert Rußwurm
For two decades, the trained banker and chartered accountant has been closely associated with entrepreneur Ernst Freiberger, and today he still belongs to the latter’s inner leadership circle. In 2002, when he was executive director of the Freiberger Holding, Rupert Rußwurm additionally became the executive director of the Ernst Freiberger Foundation. Before he joined the Freiberger Holding, he worked in cooperative banking, his last post being on the board of directors of the Raiffeisenbank Chiemsee. From there he moved on to the executive board of the EFA Clinics Ltd. which was to turn into today’s Medical Park AG. Medical Park is regarded to be the quality leader in the field of medical rehabilitation. Just like Ernst Freiberger, Rupert Rußwurm also holds close ties to the traditions of his home region, having been serving as a member of the municipal council for more than 30 years.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl
With an academic background in history, literature and sociology, Christoph Stölzl was the General Director of Berlin’s Historical Museum, before he became the head of the cultural section of the daily nationwide newspaper “Die Welt”. Later on he joined the Senate of Berlin, being in charge of scientific research and cultural affairs, and he also became Vice President of the Berlin City Parliament. He chaired the Christian Democratic Party in Berlin and was a member of the party’s federal board of directors. Today, he holds an honorary professorship at the Institute for Culture and Media Management at the Free University Berlin as well as a range of honorary offices.
Anselm Bilgri
Having studied in Munich, Rome and Passau, philosopher and theologian Anselm Bilgri was ordained in 1980 by Josef Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI. Bilgri became widely known in Germany as the economic superintendent of St. Bonifaz Abbey in Munich and Andechs who initiated the “Orff in Andechs” festival. He was also the prior and pilgrimage director of the monastery in Andechs. Later on, he founded the Anselm Bilgri Centre for Corporate Culture. Today, he writes books and is much requested for his advice and giving lectures.
Prof. Dr. Helmut Engel
Art historian Helmut Engel started his career as the curator of the district of Hildesheim, moving on to become the federal curator of (West) Berlin. He then held an honorary professorship for Cityscape Conservation at the Technical University of Berlin and another honorary professorship at the Free University Berlin. He also directed the Authority of Monument Protection in Berlin. After his retirement, Professor Engel was for many years executive director of the Stiftung Denkmalschutz Berlin (Foundation for Monument Protection Berlin).
Alois Glück
Journalist and agriculturist Alois Glück is regarded to be one of the key figures of the CSU. For nearly four decades, he was a member of the Bavarian parliament, in 1988 he was appointed to chair the CSU parliamentary group, and from 2003 to 2006 he served as president of the Bavarian parliament. His independent mind and often inconvenient stances elicit respect beyond the circles of his fellow party members. Today, Alois Glück, whose family roots lie in Upper Bavaria, is a member of the Zentralkommitee der deutschen Katholiken (Catholics’ Central Committee in Germany).
Bernd M. Michael
The magazine “Wirtschaftswoche” calls him the “champion of branding”: Bernd Michael has been associate and chairman of Grey Global Group Europe, Middle East and Africa which has 300 offices in 50 countries with around 6000 employees. Since 1970, he has been advising national and international companies from all fields of business on marketing issues. An enthusiastic alumnus of Harvard University and IMD, he gives lectures at universities and business schools. In 2008 he became President of the Marketing Association, which has around 14000 members.
Prof. Dr. Rupert Scholz
This well-known specialist on constitutional and European law initially taught Public Law at the Free University Berlin, then moved on to the University of Munich as a professor for Administrative and Financial Law. From 1981 to 1986, he was Berlin’s senator for judiciary, federal and European affairs. For more than a decade, Rupert Scholz was a member of the German parliament, chairing the judiciary committee until 2002. Today, he is Of Councel in the Berlin office of the international law firm Gleiss Lutz.
