Minister-President

• born on 19 February 1954 in Bülzig near Wittenberg, married in 1976 with two married sons and four grandchildren 

Education

• 1973 – 1978 study of physics at Dresden University of Technology and the Humboldt University, Berlin 

• 1978 – 1990 Research assistant at the Institute for Environmental Protection in Wittenberg 

• 1991 Awarded a doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) at Humboldt University, Berlin for his dissertation entitled: “Development of measuring instruments based on linear laser absorption spectrometry for sensitive molecular gas concentration measurement in terms of their use for environmental control.” 
  

Professional career

• 1990 – 1992 Deputy District Administrator for the District of Wittenberg 

• 1992 – 22 May 2002 Director of Wittenberg employment office 

• from 23 May 2002 to 23 April 2006 Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Labour of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt 

• from 24 April 2006 to 19 April 2011 Minister of Economy and Labour of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt 

• 2007 - 2011 President of the Network of European Chemical Regions (ECRN).

• From 19 April 2011 Minister-President of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt

Political career

• 1990 - 2002 Member of the District Council of the District of Wittenberg

• 1990 -1991 and 1999 to 2002 city councillor in Wittenberg

• from 1990 member of the state board of the CDU, Sachsen-Anhalt

• 2004 to 2012 deputy chairman of the CDU, Sachsen-Anhalt

• from 2008 member of the Federal Board of the CDU

• from 2011 member of the Parliament of Sachsen-Anhalt