BVL posts drop in sales and decides on special levy

Votes were cast by transferring voting rights to a small number of members present in the studios, who cast their votes there directly. A total of 181 members were represented with voting rights.

Managing Director Uwe Peters explained that BVL realized three quarters of its income from events in 2019. This income fell by 85 percent in 2020. BVL is counteracting this with a painful cost-cutting and restructuring program, but must also expect a drop in income from the event business in 2021. The 2020 annual financial statements and the 2021 budget were approved by the members. The members unanimously approved the actions of the Executive Board and the auditors, with each abstaining from voting.

In order to strengthen the income side of the BVL, the Executive Board and management put to the vote an increase in membership fees, differentiated by member group, from 2022 as well as a special levy for 2021. Uwe Peters pointed out that the increase would not go beyond the inflation adjustment of the last 20 years - while at the same time significantly expanding the association's services. These two measures, which strengthen the BVL's financial scope for implementing its Forward Strategy 2025, were also confirmed by the members. The Board of Directors and management thanked the members for the solidarity with which they support their association - and for sharing the burden across many shoulders.

Personnel changes in the committees

The members elected Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo AG, as a new member of the Executive Board. Frank Dreeke, CEO of BLG Logistics Group, was re-elected for a further three-year term of office. Following his election, he was confirmed as Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and member of the Finance Committee. After twelve years on the Board of Management, the members bid farewell to Dr.-Ing. Stefan Wolff, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 4flow AG. Stephan Wohler, member of the Management Board of Edeka Minden-Hannover and Edeka Foodservice Stiftung und & Co KG, succeeds him as Accounting Officer. He will thus become a member of the BVL Executive Committee alongside CEO Prof. Thomas Wimmer and Frank Dreeke.

Lufthansa board member Peter Gerber had already resigned from the BVL board in March due to his professional move to Brussels. Wolfgang Simonis stepped down from the two-member team of auditors. Dr. Maik Speel was re-elected as auditor and Dr. Andreas Mansch was newly elected