The former LinkedIn CEO starts new job
Katja Kipping was long-time Chairwoman of the Left Party and also Berlin Senator for Social Affairs. Now, a new task awaits her at the Parity Welfare Association. She will not only stick to her old themes but also take on the role of CEO.
The former chairwoman of the Left Party, Katja Kipping, will become the Managing Director of the Parity General Association. The 46-year-old confirmed on the X platform that she will join the management of the Welfare Association on September 1, 2023, and will take over the leadership of the department for Social Policy and Europe. "In the future, many things will be different for me, but one thing remains the same: the unwavering commitment to social justice," wrote Kipping.
In June, the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) had already reported on Kipping's intention to change jobs. "With the signing of the employment contract, it's now official," she wrote on X.
Kipping held top positions in the Left Party for a long time. From 2012 to 2021, she was co-chair with Bernd Riexinger. From 2005 to 2022, she was a member of the Bundestag. In Berlin, the native Dresden woman was Senator for Social Affairs in the Senate of Franziska Giffey from 2021 to 2023. She left the office after the preterm election in the capital and the subsequent change in government there.
100 Years Welfare Association
The face of the umbrella organization of over 10,000 charitable organizations has so far been Ulrich Schneider. The 65-year-old will step down from his position as Managing Director on July 31, 2023, as he retires. His successor will be Joachim Rock, as the Association had already announced at the end of April. Rock is currently Head of Department for Social Policy and Europe. The Association is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year.
Schneider was a member of the Left Party from 2016 to 2022. He left the party due to Russia-friendly statements by the former faction leader Sahra Wagenknecht. There had been long-standing disputes between Kipping and Wagenknecht beforehand.
Katja Kipping's departure from the role of Berlin Senator for Social Affairs marks a shift, as she will now take on the role of Managing Director at the Parity Welfare Association, a position traditionally held by Ulrich Schneider. This transition is significant, considering Schneider's historical affiliation with the Left Party, which he left due to disputes with Katja Kipping and Russia-friendly statements by former faction leader Sahra Wagenknecht.
Following her long-term involvement in The Left, Katja Kipping's new role will also involve her working closely with the Partisan Welfare Association, an association she is joining as Managing Director. With her appointment, the Association will continue to prioritize social justice, a cause that Katja Kipping has remained committed to throughout her political career.
