• Erk Westermann-Lammers takes over as Vice President
• Eckhard Forst appointed honorary member in recognition of his highly committed service
• Thomas Groß: “VÖB is a powerful association with a high level of expertise in a wide range of topics. Member survey shows high satisfaction with the association's services.”
The General Assembly of the Association of German Public Banks (VÖB) today unanimously elected the CEO of Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, Thomas Groß, as the new VÖB President. The members of the association of public banks also unanimously elected Erk Wester-mann-Lammers, Chairman of the Board of Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH), as Vice President. During the General Assembly, the remaining members of the Executive Board were also elected for a three-year term.
Thomas Groß: “I am very pleased to take on this responsible role. Public banks play a crucial role in Germany’s economic development. They are key financing partners in the transformation of the economy and society to make our country fit for the future. At the same time, they stand for stability, reliability, and responsibility. This applies to the Landesbanken, the development banks, and many of our other member institutions.”
Successful reorganization of the association under Eckhard Forst
Thomas Groß succeeds the CEO of NRW.BANK, Eckhard Forst, who will retire at the end of January 2026. The Executive Board and the General Assembly of the VÖB thanked the outgoing President, who has held the position since 2019, for his many years of highly committed service to Germany’s public banks.
Under the presidency of Eckhard Forst, the association has been fundamentally modernized. Both the statutes and the contribution rules were revised. In addition, the association’s executive management was restructured both in terms of personnel and organization. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to VÖB, the General Assembly ap-pointed Eckhard Forst an honorary member upon the recommendation of the Executive Board. Until he leaves NRW.BANK, Forst will remain a member of the VÖB Executive Board. His designated successor as CEO of NRW.BANK, Gabriela Pantring, will then assume his mandate until the next General Assembly, in accordance with the statutes.
Thomas Groß on the development of VÖB: “In recent years, under the leadership of Chief Executive Iris Bethge-Krauß, I have come to know VÖB as a highly effective association. It possesses deep expertise across a wide variety of subjects. VÖB’s different committees are extremely valuable for member institutions. VÖB also has a strong voice in Berlin and Brussels. This positive impression is not just my own – this year’s member survey confirms the high level of satisfaction with the association’s services. My sincere thanks therefore go not only to my predecessor, Eckhard Forst, but also to the team at the head office led by Iris Bethge-Krauß, from whom I am taking over such a well-positioned association. I very much look forward to working together.”
Rainer Neske hands his position over to Erk Westermann-Lammers
Erk Westermann-Lammers, CEO of Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH), succeeds Rainer Neske, CEO of LBBW, as Vice President. Neske had also assumed this role in 2019. As a member of the Executive Board and Chair of the Committee of Development Banks, Westermann-Lammers has been closely involved in VÖB’s work for many years. Erk Westermann-Lammers: “I greatly value the association’s high level of expertise and broad network, and I look forward to working with Thomas Groß and all members of the Executive Board in the coming years to advance the interests of public banks.”
The Executive Board and General Assembly thanked Rainer Neske for his many years of service to VÖB. As CEO of LBBW, he will remain closely connected to the association as a member of the newly elected Executive Board.
In addition to Thomas Groß (President) and Erk Westermann-Lammers (Vice President), the newly elected Executive Board includes: Eckhard Forst (NRW.BANK), Jörg Frischholz (NORD/LB), Rainer Neske (LBBW), Nikola Steinbock (Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank), Dr. Georg Stocker (DekaBank), Dr. Jochen Sutor (SaarLB), Edith Weymayr (L-Bank), Stephan Winkelmeier (BayernLB) and Stefan Wintels (KfW). The President of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Reuter, is an ex officio member of the Executive Board.