On 1 January 2026, Lars Grotewold will become the new Chairman of the Executive Board of the non-profit Stiftung Mercator. He will then succeed Wolfgang Rohe, who is leaving the Essen-based foundation due to his age. Grotewold is currently Director of the Centre for Climate Action.
Over the past decade, Stiftung Mercator has developed into an important cata-lyst for social change. Also, in terms of funding, it can now be counted among the most important private foundations in Germany.
“We are delighted to have found an outstanding successor to Wolfgang Rohe in Lars Grotewold,” explains Ralf Ruhrmann, Chairman of the Meridian Stiftung and thus representative of the sole shareholder of Stiftung Mercator. In his previous role as Director of the Centre for Climate Action, Grotewold estab-lished a strategic portfolio of projects and partner organisations that enjoys international recognition. In addition, he served as acting Director of the Centre for Europe in the World for over a year. “Lars Grotewold therefore brings the necessary extensive experience, leadership and networking skills to the table to lead the foundation in times when the conditions for civil society engagement are becoming noticeably more difficult,” says Ruhrmann.
Extensive selection process
“We would like to thank Wolfgang Rohe for his extraordinary service for more than 15 years,” added Johannes Meier, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Stiftung Mercator. Rohe has succeeded time and again in finding the right bal-ance between consistently pursuing long-term goals and adapting to rapid so-cial changes. His significant contribution to the development of the new Centre for Digital Society division since 2021 is just one example of this.
Frédéric Pflanz, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Meridian Foundation, stresses: “As shareholders, we emphasised the importance of a very diligent selection process, which has now paved the way for a smooth change of lead-ership at the head of the foundation ahead of time.”
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communications
T +49 201 245 22 36 | lothar.kuhn@stiftung-mercator.de
ABOUT LARS GROTEWOLD
Dr Lars Grotewold established the Centre for Climate Action of Stiftung Mercator in 2009. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic development of the funding portfolio and partner network. He is co-founder of several think tanks, such as Agora Energiewende, Agora Verkehrswende, the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change and the news service Clean Energy Wire. Prior to this, the molecular biology graduate worked for the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) after research stints in Germany and abroad.
ABOUT WOLFGANG ROHE
Dr Wolfgang Rohe was appointed as Executive Director of Stiftung Mercator in 2014. He previously held various positions at two of the most influential science organizations in Germany. From 1992 to 2002, he worked with the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) in Bonn, initially in the Department for Collaborative Research Centers and then as Head of the strategic planning unit. In 2002, he moved to the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) where he served as Head of the Research Policy Department and since 2005 also as Vice Secretary General. Wolfgang Rohe holds a Ph.D. in German philology.
ABOUT STIFTUNG MERCATOR
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent, and non-profit foundation that acts on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has been advocating for a society based on solidarity and participation. To this end, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse community. Stiftung Mercator stands up for a cosmopolitan, democratic Europe, a digital transformation of state and society based on fundamental rights, and socially just climate change mitigation. Stiftung Mercator pursues activities in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. It feels particularly connected to the Ruhr area, home of its founder’s family and the foundation’s headquarters.
