2016 Annual Global Leadership Award Dinner

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann is Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Schaeffler AG. As shareholder of the Schaeffler Group, she is continuing the lifelong work of her first husband, Dr. Ing. E. h. Georg Schaeffler, who died in 1996. She was born in Prague and grew up in Vienna, where she attended medical school at Vienna University. In 2014, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann married Jürgen Thumann, the former President of the Federation of German Industries.

Schaeffler Group is a leading family-owned global high-tech company based in Herzogenaurach, Germany. With the INA and FAG product brands, Schaeffler is the world’s second-largest manufacturer of ball bearings and machine components, and has the widest range of products among all suppliers. Ms. Schaeffler-Thumann and the dedicated management team have successfully continued to develop the group of companies, with the acquisition of clutch manufacturer LuK in 1999, the acquisition of FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schäfer AG Schweinfurt in 2001, and the acquisition of a significant proportion of the shares of Continental AG in 2008.

Today, Schaeffler Group, which had revenues of $13.2 billion in 2015, is active in the automotive, industrial, and aerospace sectors, and employs 84,000 in about 170 locations in 50 countries.

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann takes a particular personal interest in employee development, and strives to provide her employees with a quality workplace environment. The close connections between the shareholders, management, and employees have proven highly effective for many years.

Along with her dedication to representing the company on supervisory boards, with organizations, and on committees, Ms. Schaeffler-Thumann places a high value on social responsibility, which she exemplifies in many different ways. She has received many honors and awards for her exceptional entrepreneurial success and outstanding achievements.

Ambassador Harald Braun, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, has served as State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office and Director-General for Management in Berlin and since 1981 at posts in London, Paris, Washington, Burundi and Beirut.

John B. Emerson is the current U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2013 and presented his credentials to German President Joachim Gauck on August 26, 2013.

Ronald J. Daniels became the 14th president of The Johns Hopkins University in March 2009. Previously, he was provost and professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania (2005-2009) and dean and James M. Tory Professor of Law at the University of Toronto (1995-2005).

Peter Wittig has served as German Ambassador to the United States since April 2014. Prior to this, he was German Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and represented Germany during its tenure as a member of the UN Security Council in 2011 and 2012. There, he drew on his wide expertise in United Nations matters, having previously served as Director-General for United Nations and Global Issues at the German Foreign Office in Berlin.

This group of musicians, led by the musical director Peter Wirkner, has established a broad and sophisticated repertoire. With musical talent, discipline, and joy, the Schaeffler Bigband developed its own special style and tone. Today, the group has achieved recognition and fans, even beyond the borders of Germany.

Their repertoire includes titles from the swing-era, classical music, as well as songs from musicals, rock, and pop. The ensemble captivates the audience with its varied program.

We hope you will enjoy an evening of music performed in honor of Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann.