Monika Wulf-Mathies (born 17 March 1942) is a German politician, who was European Commissioner for Regional Policy.
Early life Wulf-Mathies was born in the rural town of Wernigerode in 1942 after her family was evacuated from wartime Hamburg.True pragmatist European Voice, October 30, 1996.
Career In 1971, at the age of 29, Wulf-Mathies joined the then German Chancellor Willy Brandt’s office in Bonn.True pragmatist European Voice, October 30, 1996. In the government of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, she later led the Federal Chancellery’s department of social affairs.True pragmatist European Voice, October 30, 1996.
In 1976, Wulf-Mathies left the chancellor’s office to join the managing board of the public service trade union ÖTV. Four years later, and to many observers’ surprise, she was elected as the first woman ever to lead one of Germany's most powerful unions, succeeding Heinz Kluncker. In this capacity, she also served as president of Public Services International (PSI) from 1989 until 1995.
In 1994, Wulf-Mathies was – again unexpectedly – appointed as one of Germany's two European Commissioners by Chancellor Helmut Kohl; she succeeded Peter Schmidhuber.True pragmatist European Voice, October 30, 1996.Axel Granzow (September 9, 1994), Weg von der Basis Die Zeit. From 1994 until 1998, she served as European Commissioner for Regional Policy in the administration of President Jacques Santer.
After leaving the European Commission, Wulf-Mathies served as Executive Vice President Head of Corporate Public Policy and Sustainability at Deutsche Post from 2001 until 2009, working under the leadership of the company's CEO Klaus Zumwinkel.Axel Granzow (April 26, 2007), Die „rote“ Cheflobbyistin Handelsblatt. From 2009 until 2011 she worked as policy advisor to the Board of Management, this time under Frank Appel.
In 2018, Wulf-Mathies was appointed by intendant Tom Buhrow to lead an internal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment at German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR).Monika Wulf-Mathies: WDR will Hinweisen auf sexuelle Übergriffe nachgehen Spiegel Online, April 26, 2018.
Other activities Leibniz Association, Member of the Senate (since 2010) Beethoven Foundation, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees (since 2004)Board of Trustees Beethoven Foundation. Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES)- Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie, Member of the Advisory BoardAdvisory Board Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie. University of Bonn, Deputy Chairwoman of the University Council (2008-2013) Deutsche Lufthansa, Member of the Supervisory Board (1978-1995) European Movement Germany, Honorary President
Controversy When Home Affairs Minister Friedrich Zimmermann published memoirs in which he described trying to dampen her negotiating ardour by putting his hand on her knee, Wulf-Mathies demanded and obtained a retraction of the offending work from circulation.True pragmatist European Voice, October 30, 1996.Wolfgang Hoffmann (May 1, 1992), Im Auftrag des Kanzlers Die Zeit.
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