Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of ZINQ, was elected as the new President of the North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) on 10 April 2025. He thus succeeds Dr Benedikt Hüffer as the 28th president; Dr Hüffer has been appointed honorary president of the IHK.

At the IHK's annual reception in Münster, Baumgürtel was officially introduced to his new honorary office in the presence of over 600 guests from the worlds of business, politics, and administration. Among the first to congratulate him were the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, and the President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Peter Adrian.

I am delighted about the trust and look forward to this task, but I am also aware of the responsibility that comes with this honorary office, Baumgürtel emphasised. In the midst of the tensions of industrial transformation, we see the urgent need for business and politics to jointly develop solutions. In the short term, we need strong impulses for more investment and thus for more growth. Appreciation for added value – it must be worthwhile again to be an entrepreneur in Germany.

‘Our economy is facing major challenges,’ said Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. ‘But the opportunities to strengthen the German economy through innovation and new technologies are at least as great. We have recognised this in North Rhine-Westphalia, and that is what we are working on as the state government.’

DIHK President Peter Adrian called for a proactive reform agenda to ensure that private investment picks up again and the economy truly grows.

Baumgürtel has been volunteering at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for decades. In his various roles, including as Chair of the Industry Committee and spokesperson for the North Westphalian initiative ‘In|du|strie Gemeinsam.Zukunft.Leben.’, he consistently brings the perspective of an energy-intensive manufacturing company to the economic policy debate. As an entrepreneur, Baumgürtel stands not only for industrial value creation, but also for future-oriented transformation towards climate neutrality and the circular economy – issues that will also play a central role in Baumgürtel’s new role as IHK President.

You can read more about the election and the inauguration ceremony here.