FZS Board of Directors and Foundation Board

The FZS is run by a board of directors. The full members elect and discharge the Board at the annual members assembly. The board which consists of up to eight individuals and is elected for four years. The Board approves the yearly program, the budget, and the asset management as put forward by the Executive Director. All the board members conduct their duties on an honorary basis. The FZS Board of Directors, for its part, appoints the members of our “Help for Threatened Wildlife Foundation” Board.

FZS Board of Directors

Klaus Becker

President Klaus Becker

The President of FZS was elected to this office on 22 September 2014 and has been a member of the “Help for Threatened Wildlife Foundation” Board since 2010, as well as Vice Chairman of the Foundation Board since 2023. Klaus Becker has been Chairman Europe, Middle East, Africa and India of KPMG EMA Cooperative since October 2023 and a member of the Global Executive Committee and Global Board of KPMG International.

Vice President Dr. Norbert Kloppenburg

Dr. Norbert Kloppenburg has been a member of the FZS Board of Directors since 2019, since December 2023 he has also been Vice President. He was a member of the KfW Managing Board.

Board Member Professor Dr. Thomas Müller

Professor Dr. Thomas Müller has been a member of the FZS Board of Directors since 2024. He is currently working at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research as a biologist and expert in the movement ecology of wild animals and biodiversity conservation. Prof. Müller has also been involved in the development of the Frankfurt Conservation Center gGmbH since its foundation.

Board Member Egon Kochanke

Egon Kochanke has been a member of the FZS Board of Directors since 2017. He worked for the Federal Foreign Office for many years. He was the Federal Government Commissioner for Africa, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia and most recently Ambassador to Tanzania for three years.

Board Member Ulrich Wilhelm

Ulrich Wilhelm has been a member of the ZGF Board of Directors since 2024. Among other things, he was Head of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government from 2005-2010 and Head of the Bayerische Rundfunk, a public broadcasting body in Germany.

Board Member Gabriele Eick

Gabriele Eick has been a member of the ZGF Board of Directors since 2024 and has been a member of the Foundation Board since 2018. She is Chairperson of the Board of the Bruno H. Schubert Foundation and also Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of Aramark GmbH and two Supervisory Boards of Gothaer Versicherungen.

Board Member Hans Bernhardt

Hans Bernhardt has been a member of the FZS Board of Directors since September 2020. He has also been a member of the Foundation Board since 2016, from 2018 to 2022 as Vice Chairman and since 2023 as Chairman.

Honorary President Gerhard Kittscher

Gerhard Kittscher has been Honorary President of the Frankfurt Zoological Society since September 2022. He has supported the organization in various roles since 1980, including President of the ZGF and Chairman of the Foundation Board from 2001 to 2022.

"Help for Threatened Wildlife Foundation" Board

Hans Bernhardt – Chairman
Klaus Becker – Vice Chairman
Dr. Christina Geiger
Petra Gerster
Dr. Jürgen Heraeus
Sylvia von Metzler
Dr. Arne Weick
Johannes Huth

Contact

Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt von 1858 e.V.
Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1
60316 Frankfurt

Telephone: +49 (0)69 - 94 34 46 0
Fax: +49 (0)69 - 43 93 48
E-Mail

You will find our office in the Zoogesellschaftshaus (1st floor).
Directions