Bremen Cotton Exchange: Stephanie Silber Re-elected President in the Anniversary Year

Jean-Paul Haessig (60), Director of Asian Cotton Traders PTE Ltd., Vietnam, is a newly elected Vice President. The previous Vice Presidents Jens D. Lukaczik (56), Managing Partner of the service company Cargo Control Germany GmbH & Co. KG in Bremen and Fritz A. Grobien (64), Managing Partner of Albrecht, Müller-Pearse & Co. Trade (GmbH & Co.) KG, Bremen were confirmed in office. Ernst Grimmelt (55), Managing Partner of the spinning and weaving mill Velener Textil GmbH in Velen, North Rhine-Westphalia, resigned as a long-standing member of the Executive Committee, but will continue to provide advice and support as a member of the Board.

President Stephanie Silber said at the General Assembly: “It is a great honour and a pleasure for me to continue to lead the Bremen Cotton Exchange in this anniversary year. The next highlight will certainly be our week of celebrations in September with the International Cotton Conference. Personal exchange has been missing for too long and is all the more important in view of the geopolitical situation and ongoing challenges in the cotton industry. The uncertain political situation and worsening logistics problems, as well as future challenges, mean that there is a lot to talk about. Last but not least, the international exchange with network partners, members and stakeholders is one of the core tasks of the Bremen Cotton Exchange.”

The General Assembly approved the filing of accounts, accepted the Board of Directors’ annual report of the for the 2021 financial year and unanimously discharged the Board of Directors and management. Given the special situation caused by the pandemic and in view of the desire for continuous personal representation in the anniversary year, the Board had proposed extending the term of office of President Silber by one year.

Election of the Board of Directors

During the General Assembly, the Board of Directors was elected. New to the Board is Dr Uwe Mazura, General Manager of the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry. Konrad Schroer, Setex-Textil-GmbH, Hamminkeln-Dingden, resigned from the board in line with regulations, and was duly re-elected. Peter Spoerry, Spoerry 1886 AG, Flums/Switzerland, was also reappointed to the Board. He also represents the Swiss textile industry.

Other members of the Board are:

Hannes Drolle, Getzner Textil AG, Bludenz/Austria, Henning Hammer, Otto Stadtlander GmbH, Bremen, responsible for the Asian business in Shanghai, Jan Kettelhack, Hch. Kettelhack GmbH + Co. KG, Rheine, Roland Stelzer, Gebr. Elmer & Zweifel GmbH & Co. KG, Bempflingen and Axel Trede, Cotton Service International GmbH, Bremen. Manfred Kern represents the Association of the Austrian Textile, Fashion, Shoe and Leather Industry as an advisory member of the Board.

Guest Lecture: 100 Percent Cotton

This year's guest speaker, Prof. Wiebke Ahrndt, Director of the Übersee-Museum Bremen (Bremen Overseas Museum), spoke on the subject of 100 percent cotton. In her presentation, she addressed the importance of cotton as a raw material not only for the Hanseatic City of Bremen, but also for the emergence of overseas trade and globalisation. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Bremen Cotton Exchange, the Übersee-Museum Bremen is opening a cotton exhibition in September which looks at the cultural story of the raw material in the past, present and future.

A special feature of the Bremen Cotton Exchange: The members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are mostly from companies from different areas of the cotton supply chain, such as trade, processing and services. This gives the commodities association access to an extensive network and worldwide information resources within the global cotton sector and beyond.