Ceremonial farewell for the chief miner
At the invitation of Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Board of Executives of RAG-Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, the official farewell ceremony for RAG CEO Peter Schrimpf took place on 18th June 2025. As an expression of the high level of recognition and esteem that the outgoing CEO enjoys across economic, social and institutional boundaries, numerous top representatives from politics, business, society and sport attended the festive ceremony in the historic Lohnhalle at the former Lohberg mine. Among the guests: the Deputy Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Mona Neubaur, NRW Minister of Labor Karl-Josef Laumann, the Deputy Minister President of Saarland Jürgen Barke and the Saarland Minister of the Interior Reinhold Jost. The entire five-member IG BCE Executive Board around Michael Vassiliadis also attended the farewell ceremony.
In their speeches, Tönjes and Vassiliadis paid tribute to Schrimpf as one of the key figures in shaping the socially responsible exit from the German hard coal industry. In particular, they highlighted his strategic skills, his sense of social responsibility and his tireless commitment to the company. In addition to his focus on occupational safety and new forms of organizational development, his management style was a small revolution in a hierarchical environment. In this context, they also emphasized Schrimpf’s special human qualities, who had led the company through difficult times with his particularly appreciative and open manner, creating stability and trust.
Tönjes: “Many of those present today have accompanied you on your professional path. And I can confirm that: You were great as a colleague, but your leadership style should not go unmentioned. You had already mastered the soft skills that are so often cited these days when nobody even knew the term as such. Accordingly, you had a management style that was viewed with skepticism at the time, which was characterized by your appreciation of your employees and which has long been known to be the key to success. You have the gift of winning people over and convincing them without making decisions single-handedly from above.”
Vassiliadis: “It is thanks to you that the German hard coal mining industry has become a benchmark for German industry when it comes to occupational safety. You have proven that continuity and investment in people pay off – in the invaluable currency of identification and mutual respect. What’s more, with your authentic manner, you have managed to make people trust you 100 %. Today, everyone can and should learn from you how transformation and co-determination work together.”
During the event, Vassiliadis presented Schrimpf with the Medal of Honor of the German Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), which he received for his many years of commitment and service. He had rarely experienced an entrepreneur who had lived co-determination as Schrimpf had.
In his speech, Schrimpf looked back on the major and significant stages of his professional career (Figure 1). He thanked his companions and his staff for their trust. He went on to say that today was yet more proof of the historically significant role played by the hard coal industry in social developments and the post-mining era.
Moved by the many reactions to his departure, he said: “I was right where I am and where I was – with the miners and with my family. My thanks go to you all.” He is looking forward to the time that now lies ahead of him. He will certainly not be idle. One or two positions await him – and more time for his family.
A special sign: Schrimpf’s entire family took part in the event, with father and granddaughter, three generations were present on this special day. At the end, he wished for a song that he had chosen together with his son: “Days” by The Kinks rang out to a standing ovation.
RAG CFO Michael Kalthoff, who introduced the event, concluded with the words: “Today we are saying goodbye to a man who not only moved a lot, but also kept a lot in motion: Peter Schrimpf – miner, philanthropist, designer. Your farewell, dear Peter, is not a quiet departure, but a moment of significance. Your departure as CEO of RAG marks the end of an era – not only for RAG, but also for the many people who have experienced you over the decades as a clever strategist, a straightforward miner and an approachable person. This not only marks the end of an impressive professional career – it also marks the end of a piece of mining culture that you played a key role in shaping over many decades.” (RAG /Si.)
