The Board informsInterview with CEO President Thomas Glockseisen ahead of the CEO Congress 2025

In view of the current political situation in Europe, what is the particular significance of this year's CEO Congress?

This year's CEO Congress could not have come at a better time. Europe is facing economic uncertainty, regulatory pressure and geopolitical tensions that affect our daily business. It is all the more important for us as an industry to stand together, share perspectives and discuss how to move forward. The Congress offers the chance to step back, gain a broader view, and address key questions: How can we stay competitive in a rapidly changing global market? How should we respond to new EU regulations? And how can we turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation?

At the same time, the Congress is about more than business. It’s about connecting with colleagues and exchanging ideas openly. The inspiring location of Gran Canaria adds to this spirit, helping us to reconnect on a personal level. This mix of strategic dialogue, practical knowledge sharing and genuine personal interaction makes the CEO Congress unique – and I’m looking forward to attending this year.

What issues and challenges do you think will be of particular concern to members this year?

The regulatory environment from Brussels will be one of the key concerns this year. The growing number of rules, reporting obligations and compliance requirements affects companies of all sizes. It is therefore essential to discuss how to cut red tape and ensure our industry’s voice is clearly heard.

Our key priorities for CEO’s advocacy work have been very clear: Closing the gap in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism by extending CBAM to downstream products is essential to securing fair competition for European toolmakers. Another major concern is the revision of the Construction Products Regulation, which must not create barriers to innovation, but instead allow companies to efficiently bring new solutions to market. The risks from ongoing U.S. tariff disputes are equally pressing, as they directly affect our export-oriented industry.

CEO has consistently engaged with policymakers in Brussels to promote balanced and constructive solutions reflecting our priorities. I am particularly grateful that a delegation of CEO led by the Chair and Vice-Chair of our Steering Group European Legislation, Vera Bökenbrink and Dr Ulrich Bourgund, could meet with various key policymakers in Brussels in July 2025 to advocate for CEO´s positions.

The CEO Congress is the association's flagship event, combining professional inspiration with personal networking. This year’s agenda has a lot of highlights. What can members expect?

I am very much looking forward to this year’s CEO Congress. Members can expect an agenda full of highlights. We are particularly delighted to welcome Dr Marc Schumacher, who will deliver a keynote speech on marketing, branding and clients, and Dr Rudolf Strohmeier, who will speak about the lobbying system in Brussels and provide valuable insights into how influence and perception are shaped.

New for this year is the networking afternoon on Friday in a relaxed atmosphere, offering an opportunity to engage in open conversations and develop new ideas beyond the formal programme. After all, we all know from experience that the best ideas and insights don't necessarily come from formal presentations on stage. They come from informal, genuine conversations, whether over a coffee break, during a walk between sessions, or while sharing a glass of wine in the evening.

We are also delighted to welcome again our American colleagues from our partner association, the US Hand Tool Institute (HTI). Their participation highlights the importance of the transatlantic partnership, and I am looking forward to a fruitful exchange of perspectives and experiences.

The combination of inspiring keynote speeches, practical knowledge sharing and genuine personal interaction is what makes the CEO Congress unique. The beautiful setting of Gran Canaria will, of course, make the Congress even more enjoyable and memorable.

As the President, what are your main priorities for the future development of the association?

My main goal as President is to make our association an even stronger and more influential voice for our industry. We want to communicate the needs and challenges of our sector more clearly. What we need is obvious: less bureaucracy, more competitiveness, and fairer global conditions.

However, advocacy is only one part of the equation. The other is to build a stronger, more connected community within our association, and above all to strengthen the bonds between our European member countries. The challenges we face are complex and cannot be tackled by any one company alone. It is therefore essential that we actively promote the 'European spirit' and foster a culture of exchange and collaboration, sharing experiences, best practices and ideas across borders. By intensifying cooperation among our members and national associations, and by embracing the diversity of our perspectives, we could create a truly resilient and innovative European network.

Bringing our member countries closer together enables us to learn from one another and form a powerful, united European community capable of facing future challenges with confidence. This collective expertise is the key to developing innovative and practical solutions.

I am confident that the 2025 Annual Congress in Gran Canaria will be a milestone in strengthening our shared European vision. I very much look forward to exchanging ideas and reconnecting with colleagues and friends from across our industry at the Congress. See you all in Gran Canaria!