Theo Waigel Keynote Speaker

  • German politician of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria
  • German Federal Minister of Finance (1989-98)
  • Known as one of the ‘fathers of the Euro’

Theo Waigel's Biography

Theo Waigel is a German politician of the Christian Social Union (CSU) in Bavaria.

He served as Minister of Finance in the Cabinet of Helmut Kohl from 1989 to 1998. His time in office was marked by the peaceful revolution in East Germany, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the ‘coalescence’ of Europe. Both as the CSU party leader and as a Minister, he was instrumental in bringing about re-unification and in securing Gorbachev’s agreement to a united Germany being part of NATO.

During the same period, Waigel played a pivotal role in the introduction of the Euro. Had it not been for him, the Stability Pact underpinning the single European currency might never have become reality. He also oversaw the economic and monetary aspects of German reunification, including the privatisation of several Eastern German state companies.

Waigel was a member for Bavaria in the Bundestag from 1972 to 2002. A member of CSU since 1960, he became its Chairman from 1988 to 1999 and was appointed Honorary Chairman in 2009. From 1982 to 1989 he was head of the CSU parliamentary group at the Bundestag and First Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.

Since his retirement, he has been active in the private sector, serving as a member of the advisory board at Deutsche Vermögensberatung AG and EnBW. He is also a consultant for Texas Pacific Group, a venture capital firm, and the Brunswick Group.

Book Theo Waigel as keynote speaker at your next event or conference.

Read More

Videos of Theo Waigel

Integrity as a challenge for top management and for regulators (2013)
On the Euro and a united Europe (2014; in German)

Check Theo Waigel's speaking fees and availability

Discover other speakers

Atossa Araxia Abrahamian Speaker
Exclusive
Atossa Araxia Abrahamian
Investigative Journalist, Global Affairs Analyst & Author
Dawson Law Speaker
Exclusive
Dawson Law
Former U.S. Treasury Official & Expert on Geopolitics, Sanctions and Economic Security
Lesley Li
Lesley Li Speaker
Exclusive
Lesley Li
Fintech Founder & TEDx Speaker
Wolfgang Münchau Speaker
Exclusive
Wolfgang Münchau
Expert Insights on the European and Global Political Economies
Jonathan Black Speaker
Exclusive
Jonathan Black
PM’s G7/G20 Sherpa & Deputy National Security Adviser (2019-2025)
Genevieve Leveille Speaker
Exclusive
Genevieve Leveille
Principal Founder and CEO of agricultural-focused blockchain systems provider, AgriLedger
Chris Giles Speaker
Exclusive
Chris Giles
Economics Commentator, Financial Times. Hon. Professor of Practice at UCL Policy Lab.
Matthew Lynn Speaker
Exclusive
Matthew Lynn
Economist, Financial Commentator & Global Markets Expert
kathryn judge
Kathryn Judge Speaker
Exclusive
Kathryn Judge
Expert on banking & financial innovation
Adam Dixon Speaker
Exclusive
Adam Dixon
Adam Smith Chair in Sustainable Capitalism -