Fernand Ernster Reelected Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce President

On Tuesday 30 April 2024, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce held its Constituent Plenary Assembly, in the presence of Lex Delles, Luxembourg's Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism.

Members of the Plenary Assembly unanimously reelected Fernand Ernster as President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce; he will remain in this role for another five-year term.

The Plenary Assembly also retained the composition of the Bureau of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, comprising vice-presidents Marc Lauer, Valérie Massin, Carole Muller and Alain Rix.

In his speech, Fernand Ernster expressed his gratitude to the elected and outgoing members for their trust. In addition to mentioning past achievements, he looked at new challenges, emphasising the importance of collective efforts to defend and promote the interests of Luxembourg companies.

"Together, we will continue to be a force for proposals and solutions to resolve contemporary challenges such as strengthening the competitiveness and productivity of businesses, technological and environmental transformations, access to affordable energy as well as attraction and retention of talent. We will explore new market and innovation opportunities within the Chamber of Commerce services," he said. "Maintaining prosperity, the well-being of our society and a generous social protection system requires a collective and ambitious effort. Our commitment aims to ensure the attractiveness of the Luxembourg site and to promote a pro-business framework in the Grand Duchy."

As supervisory minister of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Lex Delles presented the results of the elections which took place between November 2023 and March 2024 with a view to forming the new Plenary Assembly. He congratulated the elected members and the reelected president: "I wish them all the best in implementing their mission, as a representative appointed by their peers to defend the interests of their sector within the Chamber of Commerce, on the one hand, and to help the employees of the Chamber of Commerce to carry out their respective tasks, on the other hand". 

Minister Delles continued: "As a trusted partner of businesses and the economy in Luxembourg, the Chamber of Commerce is a flagship institution and a long-standing reliable partner for the Ministry of the Economy. I hope that we continue to join forces, in the interest of businesses and the Luxembourg economy, to succeed together in strengthening our country for the future and building the Luxembourg of tomorrow."

The composition of the Plenary Assembly reflects all economic sectors within the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. It is the chamber's supreme decision-making body and represents all of the approximately 100,000 companies belonging to the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.

The composition of the Plenary Assembly includes 25 full members (and the same number of alternate members):

Group 1: Trade and other commercial activities

Full members: Fernand Ernster, Ernster SARL; Robert Goeres, Goeres Horlogerie SARL; Marianne Welter, Arthur Welter Transports SARL; Laurent Schonckert , Cactus SA; Carole Muller, An Der Backes SARL; Jos Sales, SLG SA; Carine Federspiel, ZithaSenior SA; Georges Zahlen-Karanatsios, Axiomatic SARL.

Alternate members, in the following order in which they must replace full members: Charles Schroder, Party Rent Luxembourg SARL; Claudine Bettendroffer, Silversquare Luxembourg SA; Jean-Paul Scheuren, JPS Consult SARL; Danielle Becker-Bauer, Pharmacie du Trèfle; Italo Di Lorenzo, Amazon Europe Core SARL; Jacques Lorang, Itix SA; Roland Heinisch, WEmobility SARL; KIRSCH Nadine Kirsch-Wagner, Flesch Immobilière SARL.

Group 2: Financial holding companies

Full member: Robert Faber, Robo Invest SARL.

Alternate member: Cornelius Bechtel, Lung Participations and Management SARL.

Group 3: Industry and companies in the service of industry

Full members: Thierry Flies, Schroeder & Associés SA; Marco Giorgetti , Félix Giorgetti SARL; Philippe Glaesener, SES SA; Marie-Christine Mariani, MCM Import-Export SARL; Valérie Massin, ArcelorMittal Luxembourg SA; Alexandre Schumann, Goodyear Operations SA; Maxim Straus, Cargolux Airlines International SA; Frank Wagener, Paul Wurth SA.

Alternate members in the following order in which they must replace full members: Eric Klückers, Contern SA; Henri Reding, ArcelorMittal commercial sections SA; Gérard Hoffmann, Proximus Luxembourg SA; Anouck Hilger, Enovos Luxembourg SA; Lynn Elvinger, CEBI International SA; Elisabeth Fontaine, Brasserie Simon Exploitation SARL; Sacha Thill, KPMG SARL; Carole Henry, Sotel Réseau & Cie / SECS.

Group 4: Banks, rural banks and other financial activities

Full members: Béatrice Belorgey-Cayeux, BGL BNP Paribas SA; Doris Engel, Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat; Guy Hoffmann, Banque Raiffeisen SC; Frank Rückbrodt, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg SA; Karin Scholtes, Banque Internationale Luxembourg SA.

Alternate members in the following order in which they must replace full members: Yves Stein, Edmond de Rothschild (Europe) SA; Philippe Seyll, Clearstream Banking SA; Pierre Ahlborn, Banque de Luxembourg SA; Brenda Bol, The Bank of New York Mellon SA / NV, LUXEM / SAE; Frédéric Surdon, Société Générale Luxembourg SA.

Group 5: Insurance

Full member: Marc Lauer, Foyer Assurances SA.

Alternate member: Christian Strasser, La Luxembourgeoise Société Anonyme d'Assurances SA.

Group 6: Hotels, restaurants and cafetiers

Full members: Alain Rix, RIX Maritime Event Company SARL; Romain Weber, Hogalux SARL.

Alternate members in the following order in which they must replace full members: Steve Martellini, Beim Bertchen SARL; Carole Ewert, Hôtel Heintz SARL.