“Annelie Buntenbach will be a great loss to the Administrative Board, as she has played a key role in important aspects of the German social security system over the past fifteen years”, said Steffen Kampeter, the Chairman of the Administrative Board at the Federal Employment Agency, at today’s farewell gathering for Annelie Buntenbach. “Her tremendous commitment to the people’s interests deserves the utmost respect. Her working relationship with the autonomous body was always trusting and productive”. The dedicated labour market and social policy expert became a member of the board in 2006, when she was appointed as the alternate chair and spokeswoman for the workers’ group. Ever since she joined the team, the Federal Employment Agency has become a modern and resilient actor and service provider on the labour market. Following its successful response to the economic crisis and refugee crisis, the labour administration is now facing huge challenges again in the face of the corona pandemic.

Annelie Buntenbach, who was born in the city of Solingen and formerly served in the Lower House of the German Parliament, will be replaced by Anja Piel, a member of the Executive Board of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and the former Chairwoman of the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen faction in the State Parliament of Lower Saxony. She was elected today as the Vice-Chairwoman of the Administrative Board. 

Anja Piel was welcomed onto the board by Steffen Kampeter, the Chief Executive of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations, who started his term as Chairman of the Administrative Board on 1 July 2020.

Detlef Scheele, Chairman of the BA, also paid tribute to Annelie Buntenbach, highlighting the close and constructive cooperation between the board and the autonomous body in coping with the current crisis.