Follow us

News

IHK_Amtsuebergabe_2023_0102_Caro-Trips_Foto_Rudi-Merkl

Caroline Trips new IHK President

Caroline Trips is the first woman to head the Main-Franconian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Würzburg-Schweinfurt) in an honorary capacity. She was elected by the Chamber’s General Assembly as the successor to Klaus D. Mapara for the term of office from 2023 to 2026.

Trips is the first woman to hold the highest IHK honorary office since the IHK was founded in 1843. At a ceremony in front of 400 invited guests at the Vogel Convention Center (VCC), the entrepreneur outlined what will be important to her as President over the next four years. First and foremost: the transformation of the economy.

Motto: Transformation of the economy

Above all, she is concerned with company succession. In 33 percent of companies, it is not clear what will happen after the boss retires. In this respect, she wants to expand cooperation between the regional economy, the University of Würzburg and the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences. In just under ten years’ time, she plans to retire from the boardroom with her brother. The succession already seems to be secured: Following intensive discussions last year, her son and her brother’s three children are now being prepared for management roles in the company, which employs a good 200 people.

Top topic: skills shortage

In fact, alongside company succession, digitalization and the current crises surrounding inflation and energy prices, the shortage of skilled workers is a top issue for the economy. As far as this omnipresent shortage is concerned, the new IHK President sees Mainfranken on the right track. In her company alone, it has not been a problem for years to recruit and retain engineers from abroad.

Ideally prepared for the IHK office

Generally speaking, the prerequisites are not bad: Caroline Trips has been involved in various honorary positions for the Chamber for a good 30 years, most recently as Vice President. She also retains Mapara, who, together with entrepreneur Stefan Möhringer from Wiesentheid (Kitzingen district), was elected Deputy IHK President by the General Assembly.

Mapara’s four-year term of office included economic challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. That’s why the head of Krick-Verlag in Eibelstadt (Würzburg district) also gave his successor the following advice: “One thing I don’t wish for you: so many crises.” On the sidelines of the ceremony at the VCC, Caro Trips emphasized that the IHK must encourage companies to get to work, especially in these times. It is always when “the pressure is high” that companies work most intensively.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *