The End of an Era

On December 16, 2019 Dr. Norbert Pietsch retired from his functions in the Kjellberg Foundation and the Kjellberg companies after more than two decades. "I consider myself very lucky that I was able to work for a group of companies liek Kjellberg Finsterwalde. For me, the innovative power of the Kjellberg companies and the model of a foundation are unique in Eastern Germany", he sums up. For 21 years, he has been a member of the executive board of the Kjellberg Foundation and for the most part in his capacity as chaiman. In an emotional speech he looked back and admitted that the end of his work as per December 31st, 2019 feels like a shock to him. But he also assured his colleagues of the executive board and the managing directors with some foresight: "I will be there if you need me." At the same time, he wished them and his successor, the new chairman of the executive board of the Kjellberg Foundation Mathias Fritsche, good luck and every success for the tasks ahead which will perhaps not always be easy ones.Dr. Christian Bach, chairman of the board of trustees, described him as a good person and friend who with his modesty, dignity and the constant willingness to roll up his sleeves will always be a rodel model for him and many others. Among the invited guests were particularly representatives of associations and universities with whom Kjellberg maintains close contacts. Further, the chief administrative officer of the Elbe-Elster district, Christian Heinrich-Jaschinski, the mayor of the city of Finsterwalde, Jörg Gampe, the chief officer of the Kleine-Elster municipality, Gottfried Richter as well as Jürgen Riecke as chairman of the executive board of the Elbe-Elster savings bank delivered their good wishes. In addition to thanking his companions, for Dr. Norbert Pietsch it was a matter of personal importance to express his special thanks to the attending employees, representative for the entire workforce of the Kjellberg companies. He called their work the foundation for the success of the Kjellberg group and the foundation.