OECD Business Group Appoints New Secretary General

Bernhard Welschke
Bernhard Welschke

The Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD has announced that Bernhard Welschke of Germany will become BIAC’s secretary general in April. BIAC is part of USCIB’s global network and serves as the official voice of the business community in the 35-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Welschke succeeds Tadahiro Asami of Japan, who stepped down in December following a long and successful term at the helm of BIAC’s secretariat in Paris. He will be responsible for BIAC’s work program and for serving the needs of BIAC members. Together with the BIAC board of directors, Welschke will further develop BIAC’s supportive and successful partnership with OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria and senior OECD leadership.

“Bernhard Welschke brings a wealth of experience in international policy and business,” said BIAC Chair Charles P. Heeter (Deloitte), who also serves as a member of USCIB’s board of directors. “His background in the area of global governance will be of particular value for this assignment.”

USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson added: “We at USCIB look forward to working with Bernhard and supporting him in his new position, addressing mutual priorities and working together to represent even more effectively the views of business in the OECD.”

Welschke has been involved in the work of the OECD and BIAC for many years. He is currently managing director for global governance, as well as business relations with the western hemisphere, at the Federation of German Industries (BDI). In previous positions at BDI he was responsible for trade and business relations with Asia and the Pacific, for European Affairs, and for the Americas, which included including serving as representative for German industry and trade in Washington, D.C. From 2000 to 2006 he was a member of the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee.

Staff contacts: Rob Mulligan

BIAC website

Staff Contact:   Alice Slayton Clark

Senior VP, Trade, Investment, and Digital Policy
Tel: 202.682.0051

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