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

Simon Nixon Speaker
Simon Nixon Speaker
Exclusive
Simon Nixon
Journalist, Political Economist, Commentator & Author
Callum Williams Speaker
Exclusive
Callum Williams
Senior Economics Writer at The Economist
Ed Conway Speaker
Exclusive
Ed Conway
Economics Editor of Sky News & Author of 'Material World'
Robin Harding Speaker
Exclusive
Robin Harding
Economist and Asia Editor, Financial Times
Andy Haldane Speaker
Exclusive
Andy Haldane
Former Chief Economist at The Bank of England
Bim Afolami Speaker
Exclusive
Bim Afolami
Former UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister now turned HSBC board director, offering insight into global finance and economic strategy
Dr Gareth Thomas MRSB Speaker
Gareth Thomas Speaker
Exclusive
Gareth Thomas
Biodiversity & nature strategy expert
George Eaton Speaker
Exclusive
George Eaton
Senior Editor at the New Statesman
Martin Wolf Speaker
Exclusive
Martin Wolf
Associate Editor and Chief Economics commentator, Financial Times
Casey Michel Speaker
Exclusive
Casey Michel
Award-winning Investigative Author & Journalist