Marc Wagener appointed Director of UEL

Luxembourg, 22 April 2024 – The UEL Board of Directors has appointed Marc Wagener as the new Director of the UEL as of 17 June 2024, following the departure of Jean-Paul Olinger. During a transitional phase ending on 31 August 2024, he will be handing over to his former employer, the Chamber of Commerce.

“I would like to welcome Marc Wagener to the management of the UEL and I am delighted by his arrival. He is already familiar with our ecosystem, and his institutional career is perfectly in line with the UEL’s mission of representing and defending the interests of companies in social dialogue”, says Michel Reckinger, President of the UEL.

Fernand Ernster, President of the Chamber of Commerce added: “I congratulate Marc on this new challenge and wish him every success. I have no doubt that he will be able to put the experience he has accumulated at the Chamber of Commerce to good use for the benefit of the UEL, with which the Chamber has very close and synergetic links, united in support of our businesses and the economy.”

From left to right: Jean-Paul Olinger, Marc Wagener and Michel Reckinger

“I would like to thank the President of the UEL, the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the UEL, and all my colleagues for the six years I have worked with them, and for the trust and collegiality they have shown me. I am convinced that the handover to Marc Wagener will ensure the continued development of the UEL and the excellent management of current and future projects”, added Jean-Paul Olinger.

In his role, Marc Wagener will manage the UEL’s secretariat, assist the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in implementing their decisions, work closely with the Chambers and professional federations on strategic issues, draw up position papers in the interests of Luxembourg companies and play a representative and communications role in conjunction with the UEL President.

Before joining the UEL, Marc Wagener, 46, was Chief Operating Officer at the Chamber of Commerce from 2019, where he also worked in Economic Affairs for ten years. He is currently Vice-Chairman and representative of organisations representing business interests on the Economic and Social Council. He also chaired the Conseil National des Finances Publiques from 2021 to 2022.

Marc Wagener graduated in business and finance from HEC Liège and holds a Master in European Integration & Development from the Vrije Univesriteit Brussel. “I am delighted to be joining a passionate team to help drive our economy forward. UEL’s wide-ranging expertise, particularly in the fields of social security, employment policy, labour law and taxation, will be of key importance in the months and years to come in order to strengthen the competitiveness of our companies and ensure the long-term future of Luxembourg’s socio-economic model,” he comments.