On the eve of the logistics congress in Berlin (new: Supply Chain CX), the long-time managing director and chairman of the board of the German Logistics Association was inducted into the ranks of the great chairmen from Hanspeter Stabenau via Peer Witten and Raimund Klinkner.
Thomas Wimmer joined the BVL (German Logistics Association) in 1985 and assumed his first honorary position in 1991 as regional group spokesperson for Schleswig-Holstein. After professional roles at companies including BMW and Sauer-Sundstrand, he joined the BVL as a full-time managing director in 1999; in 2004, he became chairman of the board. Together with the respective chairmen of the board, he developed formats such as Logistics Day, the Automotive Logistics Forum, and the Logistics Indicator, which serve as barometers for the logistics sector. In the spring of 2020, Wimmer was elected chairman of the board of the BVL. He was particularly passionate about the German Logistics Award, now indisputably the highest accolade in the logistics industry. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in the BVL's work. Under Thomas Wimmer's leadership, the organization quickly adapted to the digital event landscape. Just a few weeks ago, the chairmanship was handed over to Kai Althoff, marking Wimmer's retirement.
Photos: CH.Lietzmann/BVL
The new Chairman of the Board of the BVL, Kai Althoff, paid tribute to Wimmer in his laudatory speech: “Thomas Wimmer has shaped the BVL for a quarter of a century like no other. Following the sudden resignation of Robert Blackburn, he took on the dual challenge of assuming the chairmanship during the crisis of the first COVID-19 lockdown while simultaneously continuing his strategic and operational duties at the office.” He was always considered combative and loyal, performance-oriented and enthusiastic, but also approachable, caring, and helpful. Thomas Wimmer also embodies a high degree of personal integrity.
Frank Dreeke was awarded honorary membership of the BVL (German Logistics Association). He is CEO of the BLG Logistics Group and was vice chairman of the BVL until August. He has been a member of the BVL since 2006 and was elected to the BVL board in 2015. Upon his retirement, he intends to resign from all his honorary positions within the BVL by the end of the year.
Althoff: "Frank Dreeke has always made time for 'his' BVL. Whether in his work on the board or as host of events, executive committee and board meetings, as a coach and discussion partner for the BVL management, in crucial decisions for our club. We thank him in a special way for this."
Another award went to Wojciech Paprocki, one of the founders of the BVL Chapter Poland. He teaches at the Warsaw School of Economics. A BVL member since 2004, he played a key role in founding the Polish chapter and continues to serve as its deputy spokesperson. Paprocki received the BVL's Silver Badge of Honor for his many years of dedicated service.
