At the turn of the year, the long-term managing director of the Stadthalle Braunschweig’s operating company, Uwe Birker, bid farewell as he went into retirement. Birker has been in office as the managing director of the town hall, which was opened in 1965, since 01 January 1983. In the course of his 27-year old career in Brunswick, over 30,000 events with more than 12 million visitors have been held under his supervision.
In the mid 90s and in the years 2007/2008, the town hall experienced two major modernization and renovation projects worth 14 million Euros under Birker’s direction.
Even today, the town hall in Brunswick is one the most economical and the best used to capacity venues in Germany.
The native Brunswick acquired special merit in the late 1990s for the realization of the Volkswagen Hall. The operation and event concept had been significantly influenced by him and this hall which opened in September 2000 is also now one of the most fascinating event venues in northern Germany.
In September 2006, the operation and the management of the Eintracht stadium were integrated into the town hall operating company. In 2007, an architectural competition for the modernization of the stadium was carried out. Due to the economic development, the attractive winning design could not be more fully realized, however, a 7.6 million Euro comprehensive modernization of the sports ground was started in fall 2008 - under Birker’s leadership.
The experience of the Brunswick event manager who can look back on a 40-year career in the industry, were also nationally in demand. As a board member of the EVVC, he represented the overall industry interests, for a decade which include 4 years as the president.
During the New Year's Concert 2010, the Lord Mayor Dr. Hoffmann bid farewell to the nearly 64-year-old CEO as he went into retirement: He thanked him for his dedication and for making Brunswick a major German event and congress city.
Birker’s successor will take over starting from 01 January 2010 Stephan Lemke as CEO of the town hall operating company and at his side Gerold Leppa, CEO of Brunwick City Marketing (Braunschweig Stadtmarketing GmbH) who has been working as an event manager in the town halls operating company since 1999. Most recently the 39-year-old business administrator has been re-sponsible for the business areas Volkswagen Hall and the Eintracht Stadium.
Stephan Lemke will simultaneously be the CEO of the Brunswick City Marketing Ltd where Gerold Leppa is the chairman of the board.
Both companies dominate their activities with essential elements in the perceived image of Brunswick. The new cooperation is targeting at professionalizing the cooperation of both companies further which is in the interest of Brunswick.
www.stadthalle-braunschweig.de
