Hans-Joachim Watzke

Watzke in 2011

Hans-Joachim "Aki" Watzke (born 21 June 1959, Marsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German businessman and football official. He was the CEO of Borussia Dortmund.

Background

Watzke watched his first games at the Rote Erde as a child,[1] and has been a club member of Borussia Dortmund since 1996.

Business career

He earned a Master of Business Administration from the Paderborn University.

He founded and grew Watex, a company making safety clothing, with sales of EU15-20m and 45 employees.[2][3]

Work at Borussia Dortmund

He became treasurer of Borussia Dortmund in 2001.

In 2005, at the climax of the club's financial crisis, he was appointed chief executive officer. Alongside chairman Reinhard Rauball and CFO Thomas Treß, Watzke is credited with having saved the club from bankruptcy. He restructured and streamlined the club, made rigid cost cuts, and operated a clear financial plan.[4] A 20% pay cut was made for all players.[5] In 2006, in order to reduce debt, the Westfalenstadion was renamed "Signal Iduna Park" after a local insurance company (the naming rights agreement runs until 2031).

Administrative career

On 14 December 2021, Watzke was elected as first vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB).[6] In February 2022, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Die Liga – Fußballverband.[7] On 5 April 2023, he became a UEFA Executive Committee member.[8]

Political affiliations

Watzke is a member of the Christian Democratic Union.[9]

References

  1. ^ KGaA, Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. "Hans-Joachim Watzke to present biography". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  2. ^ "Hans-Joachim Watzke – Keynote Speaker". London Speaker Bureau. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  3. ^ "Mittelständler Watex: André Watzke: Der Sohn des BVB-Bosses mischt beim eigenen Familienunternehmen mit". www.handelsblatt.com (in German). Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  4. ^ "Hans-Joachim Watzke – Keynote Speaker". London Speaker Bureau. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  5. ^ Von abendblatt.de (6 February 2012). "Pikantes Geheimnis – Hoeneß plaudert: "Haben BVB zwei Millionen Euro geliehen" – Sport – Fußball – Hamburger Abendblatt" (in German). Abendblatt.de. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Donata Hopfen and Hans-Joachim Watzke new members of the DFB presidential board". DFB. 7 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Hans-Joachim Watzke" (in German). DFL.
  8. ^ "Hans-Joachim Watzke". UEFA. 5 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Hans-Joachim Watzke im Interview: "Wir brauchen eine Agenda der Fleißigen"". Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) (in German). 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
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