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Karsten Wildberger

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Karsten Wildberger
Wildberger in 2025
Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2025
ChancellorFriedrich Merz
Preceded byVolker Wissing (as Minister of Digital and Transport)
CEO of Ceconomy
In office
1 August 2021 – 5 May 2025
Preceded byBernhard Düttmann
Succeeded byTBA
Personal details
Born (1969-09-05) 5 September 1969 (age 55)
Giessen, Hesse, West Germany
(now Germany)
Political partyCDU (since 2025)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (before 2025)
Alma materTechnical University of Munich
RWTH Aachen University
INSEAD

Karsten Wildberger (born 5 September 1969) is a German business executive who has been serving as Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation in the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz since 2025.[1][2] From 2021 to 2025, he served as CEO of Ceconomy.[3]

Education

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From 1989 to 1995, Wildberger studied physics at the Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen, where he completed a doctorate in theoretical solid-state and computational physics.[4] His research involved developing new computational methods to accurately calculate the properties of large, layered metal structures and exploring the field of giant magnetoresistance.[5][6][7] He later obtained an MBA from INSEAD in 2000.[8]

Career

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Early career

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From 1998 to 2003, Wildberger worked as a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. He subsequently held international leadership roles in the telecommunications industry at T-Mobile, Vodafone plc, and Telstra Group Limited.[9][4]

Telstra

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As a member of Telstra’s executive board from 2013 to 2016, Wildberger was responsible for Telstra’s consumer and business segments, product development, retail and service operations, and the company’s digital transformation, Telstra Digital.[10][11] He was also a director of the Telstra Foundation.[12] Wildberger oversaw the launch of several strategic products and services, such as Telstra Air, Australia’s largest Wi-Fi Network,[13][14] and Telstra TV, a streaming platform.[15] During his tenure, Telstra also introduced its Discovery Store concept with interactive technology and personalized services.[16]

EON

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From 2016 to 2021, Wildberger served on the Board of Management of E.ON SE, responsible for E.ON’s Customer Business Unit and IT, overseeing Energy Management, Decentralized Energy Solutions, E-Mobility, Innovation, Brand and Marketing, IT, and E.ON’s digital transformation.[9] He was also responsible for Retail and Customer Solutions across 15 markets, serving 50 million customers.[17][18] During Wildberger's tenure, E.ON launched E.ON Home in 2019, an energy management system developed in collaboration with Microsoft.[19] This platform integrated diverse home energy applications—including rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and battery storage—into a unified digital interface.[19][20] Wildberger also oversaw the creation E.ON Next in 2020, a UK strategic energy subsidiary developed in collaboration with Kraken Technologies (a subsidiary of Octopus Energy).[21][22] The venture focused on sustainability, customer service and operational efficiency, powered by digital solutions.[22] Additionally, he expanded E.ON’s collaboration with RWTH Aachen University, funding projects in energy system analysis, smart grids, storage, efficiency, electrification, and digitalization.[23][24]

MediaMarkt Saturn

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From August 1, 2021 to May 5, 2025, Wildberger was CEO of Ceconomy AG and its subsidiary, MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group.[25] His tenure focused on addressing post-pandemic challenges, resolving a governance dispute among stakeholders and implementing a new strategic direction for the company.[26] In May 2022, Wildberger introduced a strategy aimed at enhancing customer experience, developing omnichannel operations, and diversifying the company's business model.[27][28][29] Under Wildberger, the company repositioned itself as an omnichannel service platform and expanded into new areas such as a third-party marketplace and retail media services. Wildberger also directed efforts to modernize stores with new formats and broaden the company's service offerings.[30][31][32][33]

Since 6 May 2025, Wildberger has been Germany's first-ever Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation.[34][35]

Other roles and affiliations

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Wildberger was a member of the Supervisory Board of Forschungszentrum Jülich[36] and sat on the advisory board of the Aachener Ingenieurpreis.[4] Additionally, he served as Vice President and member of the Presidium of the Wirtschaftsrates der CDU, one of Germany’s largest business interest groups, advocating for the principles of the social market economy.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Karsten Wildberger". Website of the Federal Government | Bundesregierung. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  2. ^ Ford, Matt (28 April 2025). "Germany updates: Merz names CDU Cabinet ministers – DW – 04/28/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Merz macht MediaMarkt-Manager zum Digitalminister: Wildberger fiel zuvor mit ungewöhnlichen Ideen auf" [Merz appoints MediaMarkt manager as Digital Minister: Wildberger previously stood out with unusual ideas]. Münchner Merkur (in German). 28 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Dr. Karsten Wildberger - Aachener Ingenieurpreis". www.ingenieurpreis-ac.de. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  5. ^ Bernabé-Moreno, Juan; Wildberger, Karsten (1 January 2019). "A fuzzy linguistic supported framework to increase Artificial Intelligence intelligibility for subject matter experts". Procedia Computer Science. 7th International Conference on Information Technology and Quantitative Management (ITQM 2019): Information technology and quantitative management based on Artificial Intelligence. 162: 865–872. doi:10.1016/j.procs.2019.12.061. hdl:10481/60235. ISSN 1877-0509.
  6. ^ "How Artificial Intelligence is accelerating the Energy Transition". Researchgate. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  7. ^ "SURFACE ENHANCEMENT OF 3d, 4d, AND 5d IMPURITY MOMENTS AT Cu AND Ag(00l) SURFACES". Researchgate.
  8. ^ "Dr. Karsten Wildberger – Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE)". einzelhandel.de. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Karsten Wildberger Chief Executive Officer and Labour Director, CECONOMY AG Chairman of the Management Board, Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH" (PDF). Ceconomy AG.
  10. ^ Neems, Mitchell (9 October 2015). "Telstra exec shake-up continues Wildberger tapped to replace Ballantyne as head of retail business as CEO Penn stamps authority". adelaidenow.com. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Telstra uses Master of Robotics". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Dr. Karsten Wildberger - Aachener Ingenieurpreis". www.ingenieurpreis-ac.de. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Telstra breathes fresh Air into national Wi-Fi network". CNET. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  14. ^ "channelnews : Telstra Air Wi-Fi Network To Launch Next Week". Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Telstra names new CFO". iTnews. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  16. ^ Angove-Plumb, Alex (20 October 2014). "Telstra changes the game with new Discovery Store in Sydney CBD". WhistleOut. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  17. ^ "E.ON announces a new initiative in digital energy products". www.eon.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  18. ^ "E.ON on change plans of board member Karsten Wildberger". www.eon.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  19. ^ a b Team, Solar Media (3 October 2018). "E.On partners Microsoft for 'next step in smart home technology'". Current News. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  20. ^ Bastoni, Alessandro (26 January 2023). "rr88". lululemon.us.org. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  21. ^ "E.ONnext – E.ON and Kraken Technologies form strategic partnership for E.ON's UK residential and commercial customer business". www.eon.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  22. ^ a b Team, Solar Media (23 March 2020). "E.On turns to Octopus' Kraken for 'bold step' towards E.Onnext brand". Current News. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  23. ^ "E.ON and RWTH prolong cooperation agreement". www.eon.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  24. ^ "E.ON und RWTH Renew Partnership Agreement". RWTH Aachen.
  25. ^ "E.ON board member to leave to become CEO of Ceconomy". U.S. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  26. ^ "Nach Einigung mit Kellerhals-Erben: Media-Saturn und Ceconomy unter einer Führung" [After agreement with Kellerhals heirs: Media-Saturn and Ceconomy under one leadership]. ChannelPartner (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Experience & Nachhaltigkeit: Wie CEO Karsten Wildberger Media-Markt als Marke neu erfinden will" [Experience & sustainability: How CEO Karsten Wildberger wants to reinvent MediaMarkt as a brand]. www.horizont.net (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  28. ^ Ludwig, Peter (14 October 2024). "MediaMarktSaturn: Dr. Karsten Wildberger über Innovationen und Kundenerlebnisse" [MediaMarktSaturn: Dr. Karsten Wildberger on innovations and customer experiences]. EURO LEADERS (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  29. ^ Bruckbauer, Stefanie (19 December 2023). "Ceconomy: Rote Zahlen trotz Umsatzplus" [Ceconomy: Red figures despite revenue increase]. elektro.at (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Store Concept: Consumer Electronics Retailer Embraces Experience". www.euroshop-tradefair.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  31. ^ ""We're not just selling products – we're trusted advisors" - IFA International". 6 September 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  32. ^ "Klare Worte von Karsten Wildberger: MediaMarktSaturn setzt langfristig auf Filialen" [Clear words from Karsten Wildberger: MediaMarktSaturn is committed to physical stores in the long term]. CIO DE (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Etribes | MediaMarkt Saturn CEO über die Herausforderungen des Online Handel, der Kundenbindung und der Omnichannel Strategie" [Etribes | MediaMarkt Saturn CEO on the challenges of online retail, customer loyalty, and omnichannel strategy]. www.etribes.de (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  34. ^ Strauß, Hagen (28 April 2025). "Union stellt neue Regierungsmitglieder vor: Das sind die Minister von Merz und Söder" [Union presents new government members: These are the ministers of Merz and Söder]. RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  35. ^ "CECONOMY AG: Ausscheiden des Vorstandsvorsitzenden Dr. Karsten Wildberger" [CECONOMY AG: Resignation of CEO Dr. Karsten Wildberger]. www.it-times.de (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  36. ^ "Management and Organization". www.fz-juelich.de. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  37. ^ "Neuer Vizepräsident: Dr. Karsten Wildberger, CEO der CECONOMY AG" [New Vice President: Dr. Karsten Wildberger, CEO of CECONOMY AG]. Wirtschaftsrat (in German). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
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