To sharpen the expertise of the executive units and reflect the management requirements resulting from Fraunhofer’s growth, both in terms of content and capacity, the senate passed a resolution to transform the executive board structure at the turn of the year. It now consists of five executive units. Today, the three new executive vice presidents elected by the senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are taking over their respective units.
“New digitalization strategies and research infrastructures, outstanding HR work to attract the best brains and sustainable stability in funding are essential for Fraunhofer. Elisabeth Ewen, Dr. Sandra Krey and Prof. Axel Müller-Groeling are proven experts in these fields as well as seasoned leaders with entrepreneurial vision. I am very pleased that we have been able to recruit them for our new executive units,” says Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
Prof. Axel Müller-Groeling — Research Infrastructures and Digital Transformation
Prof. Axel Müller-Groeling, executive vice president for Research Infrastructures and Digital Transformation, says: “It is a great honor and pleasure for me to head the Research Infrastructures and Digital Transformation executive unit. We will continue to increase our effectiveness and efficiency both internally and externally. This will not only allow us to improve our own processes, but also to optimize our relationship with our partners and customers in particular.”
Prof. Axel Müller-Groeling studied physics at the University of Bonn and at Kiel University. He later obtained his PhD at Heidelberg University and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, and subsequently also qualified as a professor at these institutions. After gaining business experience, including at McKinsey, Centrosolar Group AG and Trumpf, Prof. Müller-Groeling joined Fraunhofer in 2016 and took over as director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT. In 2020, he was also appointed professor of Kiel University and in 2021, he became acting director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS.
Elisabeth Ewen — Human Resources, Corporate Culture and Legal Affairs
Elisabeth Ewen, executive vice president for Human Resources, Corporate Culture and Legal Affairs, explains: “Our approximately 30,000 employees, the Fraunhofer culture and the legal representation of the organization and its institutes are key pillars of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's success. I am very much looking forward to the task of leading this executive unit and shaping the future of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft together with our colleagues.”
Elisabeth Ewen studied law at the University of Bonn and completed her legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf. At the same time, she also studied at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. After holding positions at the German Aerospace Center and GMD — Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik GmbH, Ewen joined the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 2001 as deputy head of the Birlinghoven HR department in Sankt Augustin. Since 2009, she has been first head of division, then director of Human Resources at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, where she has been responsible for all strategic HR functions, including labor law issues.
Dr. Sandra Krey — Finances and Controlling
Dr. Sandra Krey, executive vice president for Finances and Controlling, says: “The Finances and Controlling executive unit is vital to the economic strength, value enhancement and financial performance of any organization. I am very much looking forward to actively shaping, consolidating and expanding the success of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft together with the employees of the executive unit and in interaction with the other units.”
Dr. Sandra Krey studied business administration and earned her doctorate at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. After holding positions at KPMG Bayerische Treuhandgesellschaft AG and Süddeutscher Verlag GmbH, she joined MAN Truck & Bus AG in 2002 and MAN SE in 2006. During her years at MAN, she held various management positions in accounting and controlling. Since 2013, she has been senior vice president of Accounting and Finance Processes at MAN Truck & Bus SE.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
