To Person

• 19 February 1954: Born in Bülzig near Wittenberg; married since 1976, 2 married sons, 5 grandchildren

Education:
 

• 1973 - 1978: Studied physics at Dresden University and Humboldt Universitiy Berlin
   
• 1978 - 1990: Research assistant at the Institute für Enviromental Protection in Wittenberg
   
• 1991: Awarded his doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) at Humboldt-University, Berlin, with a theses on "The development of measuring instruments for use in environmental monitoring based on the application of linear laser absorption spectrometry for the sensitive measurement of molecular gas concentrations"

Professional life:

• 1990 – 1992: Deputy Landrat (District Administrator) of the District of Wittenberg
   
• 1992 - 22 May 2002: Director of Wittenberg Employment Agency
   
• 23 May 2002 to 23 April 2006: Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
   
• 24 April 2006 to 19 April 2011: Minister of Economic Affairs and Labour of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
   
• 2007 – 2011: President of the European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN)
   
• Since 19 April 2011: Minister-President of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
   
• 2020/2021: President of the Bundesrat

Political Career

• 1990 - 2002: Member of the District Assembly of the District of Wittenberg
   
• 1990 - 1991 and 1999 - 2002: Municipal councillor in Wittenberg
   
• Since 1990: Member of the State Executive of the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt
   
• 2004 to 2012: Deputy State Chairman of the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt
   
• Since 2008: Member of the CDU Federal Executive Committee
   
• Since 2011: Member of the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt