At the turn of the year 2026, the Federal Association of the German Foundry Industry (BDG) will appoint its chief executive officer. Dr. Martin Theuringer will succeed Max Schumacher, who has been leading the association since 2012. He joins the firm from the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl).
The 56-year-old expert steps aboard with over 20 years of association experience in executive positions at WV Stahl. Dr.Theuringer has several years of experience in German and European politics, particularly in the themes of industry- and energy politics, as well as sustainability. He is currently the managing director and chief economist at VW Stahl.
BDG Executive Statements:
Clemens Küpper, President of the BDG:
‘With Dr. Martin Theuringer, we have found our ideal candidate for the association. Thanks to his excellent contacts in political circles in Berlin and his economic policy expertise, he will very actively promote the issues of our energy-intensive industrial SMEs very actively. Especially in the current crisis, it is particularly important to raise the voice of our German foundries and to clearly address our absolutely correct and meaningful work.At the same time, Dr. Theuringer and the association's experts will ensure continuity in the usual dedicated association work of the BDG.’
Dr. Martin Theuringer:
‘As energy-intensive industries, steel and cast iron are currently facing enormous challenges. I am very much looking forward to using my experience in steel to help the foundry industry maintain its strong position in Germany in the future. And I look forward to working with my colleagues at the BDG, with whom I would like to continue and further develop the association's successful work. After all, successful association work is only possible in a strong team, especially in difficult times.’
Max Schumacher:
Alongside being appointed as a managing director in 2012, I have spent more than three decades shaping the BDG and its previous associations. I am delighted to be able to hand over the BDG to Dr. Martin Theuringer as an association that is organizationally future-proof and I am convinced that we as an industry will be even more visible with our topics in this future constellation and will remain an important link in the industrial value chain with our products.”
Dr. Martin Theuringer Biography:
Dr. Theuringer has been with WV Stahl since 2003. He has been Chief Economist since 2006 and Head of the Economics division since 2008, with responsibility for economic policy, economic analyses, markets, and statistics. He was appointed Managing Director in April 2017. Dr. Theuringer previously studied economics in Cologne and completed his doctorate in foreign trade policy at the Department of Economic Policy at the University of Cologne. In the meantime, he worked at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich. Among other things, he led the “Green Steel” project, in which a sustainability standard for CO2-reduced steel was developed. Dr. Theuringer is also Chairman of the Economic Committee of the World Steel Association and a member of the mirror circle of the National Hydrogen Council.
Dr. Theuringer will join the association in late summer 2025 and take over as Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2026. Max Schumacher's active professional career will end on December 31, 2025, after around 32 years with the association.
About BDG:
The Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie e.V. (BDG), based in Düsseldorf, was founded in 2008 and represents the interests of around 600 iron, steel and non-ferrous metal foundries in Germany. These companies employ around 70,000 people. The German foundry industry is one of the most important supplier sectors for the automotive, mechanical engineering, and plant construction industries.
