Members and Board of the Test and Rearch Institute Pirmasens (Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V., PFI) elected Michael Tackenberg as new Chairman of the Board at their statutory meeting on 24 November 2016. The footwear expert, who hails from Rosenheim in Bavaria, succeeds Ralph Rieker, who held the post for 16 years. Maximilian Müller was appointed First Deputy Chairman, and Jörg van Elten Second Deputy Chairman.
PFI Managing Director Dr. Kerstin Schulte thanked Ralph Rieker for many years of dedicated and effective service. “Ralph Rieker has successfully accompanied PFI and vigorously and passionately promoted the activities of the institute at home and abroad.” In this context, Dr. Schulte referred to the activities of PFI at the Pirmasens-Winzeln Energy Park, construction of a biogas plant for renewable raw materials and a power-to-gas research plant, which Ralph Rieker always supported with great commitment and conviction.
Ralph Rieker will remain a Member of the Board of PFI. Rieker was very pleased with the choice of his successor as Chairman of the Board: “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint an accomplished shoe expert and technically skilled specialist in the person of Michael Tackenberg as Chairman. He will surely accompany PFI into a successful and highly promising future.”