Deutsche Lufthansa AG names new head of Corporate International Relations and Government Affairs

Dr. Kay Lindemann is appointed to be the new Head of Corporate International Relations and Government Affairs and the authorized representative of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The Managing Director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) will succeed Thomas Kropp, who has managed the International Relations and Government Affairs department – through four CEOs – since 2002. Thomas Kropp will be leaving the Lufthansa Group after 24 years, having reached retirement age. The Head of Corporate International Relations and Government Affairs reports directly to Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr. Kay Lindemann will also be taking over from Thomas Kropp in his role as authorized representative of the Executive Board for Berlin and Brandenburg.

Kay Lindemann will be joining the aviation group at the beginning of 2018 and is going to assume Thomas Kropp’s duties as the Head of Corporate International Relations and Government Affairs in the first quarter. This also includes responsibilities for political relationships globally with offices in Berlin, Brussels, Beijing and Moscow as well as Lufthansa group-wide environmental issues. “We are very pleased to have Kay Lindemann join us in this key function,” says Carsten Spohr. “Thanks to his many years in the leadership of BDI and VDA, he has valuable expertise and international experience in the areas of transport and economic policy.”

Since 2010 Kay Lindemann has been a member of the VDA’s management where he is responsible for the areas of economic policy, markets, climate protection, transport policy and European policy.

Kay Lindemann studied law in Germany and the UK. After completing his doctoral thesis, he worked for the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in a variety of positions, including head of the energy, mobility and telecommunications department. In October 2008 he joined the VDA as coordinator of its political activities in Brussels before becoming Managing Director at the automotive association.

Kay Lindemann was born in Bad Harzburg in the German state of Lower Saxony on December 11, 1971. He is married and father to a daughter.