Proposed by the chair of the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse, and the Board, Dr Hans-Erhard Haverkampf was elected unanimously as Professor Quacks successor. After four years in the position setting up the Foundation, Professor Quack, a historian, decided against renewal of her contract in order to devote her time to other projects.
Born in 1940 in Mühlhausen, Thuringia, Dr Hans-Erhard Haverkampf has a doctorate in public finance. The vote went to him due to his specific experience as project manager of the new Federal Chancellery building project in Berlin (1997–2001). In addition to this he oversaw the complete building project of the Paul Löbe House and the Marie-Elisabeth Lüders House for the German Bundestag (2002–2003).
In a first statement he said: »In my opinion, the completion of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is currently the most ambitious construction assignment in Berlin. I am delighted to be entrusted with this new task and, having overseen the buildings at the curve of the Spree, to have the confidence of the Boards of Directors and Trustees. Firstly I would like to express my high regard for the work accomplished by my predecessor, Professor Quack, of which a large part entailed the detailed concept for the contents of the Information Centre. She has set the standards for the remaining construction period which I hope to fulfil.«
