Marcus Kölling New Managing Director at WZB

As of May 15, Marcus Kölling has taken over the administrative management of the WZB. He succeeds Ursula Noack and, together with WZB President Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln, forms the institute's management team.

The doctoral graduate in economics brings many years of experience from academia, business, and university management. Since May 2021, he served as Managing Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, where he most recently jointly led the institute with Tobias Friedrich and Ralf Herbrich. Previously, he was Chancellor and Commercial Managing Director of the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. 

His academic career began at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, where he earned his doctorate and worked as a lecturer and research associate. Later at HHL, he established the Center for Leading Innovation and Cooperation (CLIC). In addition, he managed the family-run Kölling Group, a company in the glass industry, for several years.

“The WZB stands for excellent social science research that has a far-reaching impact beyond academia. I am very much looking forward to sharing responsibility for the institute’s organizational and strategic development,” says Marcus Kölling.

CR, 15.5.25