Andreas Hilgenstock Becomes FUM Chairman

After 25 years at the helm, Dr. Josef Zimmermann stepped down in July 2024, handing over leadership of FUM to his successor. Andreas Hilgenstock, a supervisory board member and managing partner at Engelhorn KGaA Mannheim, will lead the association for the next two years. With over 260 members, FUM supports the university’s strategic development and helps fund research, cultural, and academic projects.

Hilgenstock is actively involved in various organizations in Mannheim and the surrounding region. For example, he serves as a commercial judge at the Mannheim Regional Court, is an advisory board member of the Heinrich Vetter Foundation, and helps promote the arts in Mannheim by chairing the advisory boards of both the Friends and Patrons of the Mannheim National Theater and the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums Foundation. In addition, he is a trustee of Kunsthalle Mannheim and Worms University of Applied Sciences.

His decision to take on this new role stems from his deep admiration for educational institutions: “To me, education is a fundamental pillar of a free-thinking and peaceful society. Universities have always been the original places of learning—where independent scholars share knowledge freely and where research addresses the key issues of our time,” says Hilgenstock. “That alone is reason enough for me to get involved—especially at the University of Mannheim, which for decades has been a global leader in business administration, economics, and social science.”

Big plans for the future

“Andreas Hilgenstock is an outstandingly dedicated and responsible leader, and we are fortunate he has agreed to serve in the role of chairman. His extensive experience will be a great asset to the university,” says Professor Thomas Fetzer, President of the University of Mannheim and also a FUM board member. “Together with our other board members—Dr. Stephan Kaiser, Dr. Carl Otto Schill, and Dr. Wolfgang Thomasberger—we aim to further advance the association over the next two years.”

Hilgenstock has already outlined several priorities for his term: “I want to develop a strategic plan for FUM. My main focus is on attracting new members, expanding scholarship programs and early talent development, and strengthening partnerships with Mannheim institutions and other universities.” He also hopes to strengthen the university’s ties to the local community and support projects that provide Mannheim residents with insights into academic research.

Text: Jessica Scholich / April 2025