Code of Responsible Conduct for Business Intiative

In 2008, the Wittenberg Center teamed up with leading corporations and organisations in the German economy to start the “Code of Responsible Conduct for Business” Initiative.

The initiative has the goal of increasing the general level of trust that people have in ‘the economy’, i.e. to enhance the public trust in the competitive market system, corporations and corporate decision makers.

Reliable studies show that public trust in business has continually declined in the past few years. This has negative consequences for society and for corporations. On the one hand, corporations have an instrumental role to play in solving the major challenges which society is currently facing – be it fighting poverty on a global scale or successfully implementing the reformation of the energy sector in Germany.

The Code of Responsible Conduct is a pioneer initiative whereby more than 50 corporations and organisations have defined their understanding of responsibility and declared their commitment to it. The Code is not relevant across all industries and for firms of all sizes and was developed in direct collaboration with the signee corporations. A further point of distinction for the initiative is that the signees do not only declare their commitment to ethical values, they also take a clear position regarding how they will act with respect to certain omnipresent issues such as profit-making, mass layoffs and manager salaries.

The WCGE supports the initiative on three levels:

• An internal learning and dialogue platform is provided so that economy-wide issues of current relevance can be dealt with under the impartial guidance of acclaimed business ethics scholars. From this basis, new impulses for specific projects are generated, such as in 2013 when the WCGE worked with five major banks to develop the paper on the “Ethical Foundation of Management Remuneration in the Credit Sector”.
• The WCGE’s external engagement also has a strong focus on dialogue. The goal of our numerous discussions with the EU-Commission, in the European Parliament, with the major parties in the German Federal Parliament, as well as with the Federal President’s Office, Verbände, Unions, religious organisations and NGOs, is to develop a shared understanding of the responsibility of economic actors and the limits thereof. In cooperation with the Federal Ministries for Economic Affairs and Technology and for Economic Cooperation and Development, the WCGE has already organized conferences with several hundred participants.
• In addition, the center accompanies the Code of Responsible Conduct initiative via research projects, which are managed by the associated university departments and professors as well as the students in the PhD Program “Ethics and Responsible Leadership” which is based at the WCGE.

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[item title="Principles"]

• Business must serve the good of the people.
• Business that serves the good of the people requires competition.
• Business that serves the good of the people is based on merit.
• Business that serves the good of the people takes place globally.
• Business that serves the good of the people must be sustainable.
• Business that serves the good of the people demands responsible conduct by decision makers.

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[item title="Position on controversial topics"]

• Profits are awarded to companies in recognition of their achievements and are precondition for their existence. Responsible leadership consists of striving to make profits in a manner that encourages and does not undermine confidence in the market economy and its enterprises.
• Qualified and motivated workforces are essential to the long-term success of companies. Responsible leadership demands that employers respect their employees and promote their welfare. All alternative personnel strategies must be explored before redundancies are made; if redundancies are necessary, appropriate consideration must be given to the hardships caused to those affected.
• The principle of performance and reward on a reciprocal basis must be generally recognized. Responsible leadership demands that financial disadvantages for the workforce also have to be reflected in the remuneration of management.
• Rules form the basis of our social order. Responsible leadership demands that national and international laws and regulations must be respected. Violations must be resolutely pursued and punished.
• Political decision-making processes that are oriented towards the common good demand that all those who are affected by these decisions are able to represent their interests in an appropriate manner. Responsible leadership means that companies have to represent their own interests openly and transparently.
• An environment in which life is worth living is one of society’s fundamental demands and an essential precondition for long-term economic success. Responsible leadership respects the quality of life of coming generations.

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[item title="Signatories"]

• Ackermann, Dr. Josef: Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Bank AG (2006 - 2012)
• Behrendt, Michael: Chief Executive Officer Hapag Lloyd AG (2002 - 2014),
  Kranich, Ulrich: Member of the Management Board Hapag Lloyd AG (2006 - 2014)
• Berssenbrügge, Gerhard: Chief Executive Officer Nestlé Deutschland AG  (2007 - 2015)
• Beutelmann, Dr. h.c. Josef: Chief Executive Officer Barmenia Versicherungen (1998 – 2013)
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board Barmenia Versicherungen (from 2013)
• Braun, Dr. Hans-Jürgen: Chief Executive Officer, bauverein AG (2003 – 2015)
• Cordes, Dr. Eckhard: Chief Executive Officer METRO AG (2007 - 2011)
  Koch, Olaf: Chief Executive Officer METRO AG (from 2011)
• Dekkers, Dr. Marijn: Chief Executive Officer Bayer AG (2010 – 2016) 
  Pott, Dr. Richard: Chief Executive Officer Bayer AG (2002 - 2013)
• Diekmann, Michael: Chief Executive Officer Allianz AG (2003 – 2015)
• Enders, Thomas: Chief Executive Officer Airbus S.A.S. (2007 - 2012)
• Engel, Dr. Klaus: Chief Executive Officer Evonik Industries AG
• Fehrenbach, Franz:Chief Executive Officer Robert Bosch GmbH (2003 - 2012),
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board Robert Bosch GmbH (from 2012)
  Scholl, Prof . Hermann: Chairman of the Supervisory Board Robert Bosch GmbH (2003 - 2012)
• Franz, Dr. Christoph: Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Lufthansa AG (2011 - 2014)
• Fuchs, Stefan: Chief Executive Officer FUCHS PETROLUB AG
• Großmann, Dr. Jürgen: Chief Executive Officer RWE AG (2007 - 2012),
  Terium, Peter: Chief Executive Officer RWE AG (from 2012)
• Hainer, Herbert: Chief Executive Officer adidas AG,
  Dassler, Frank A.: General Counsel adidas AG
• Hambrecht, Dr. Jürgen: Chief Executive Officer BASF SE (2003 - 2011)
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board BASF SE (from 2014)
  Bock, Dr. Kurt: Chief Executive Officer BASF SE (from 2011)
  Voscherau, Dr. h.c. Eggert: Chairman of the Supervisory Board BASF SE (2005 - 2014)
• Heitmann, Dr. Axel: Chief Executive Officer LANXESS AG (2004 - 2014)
• Heuchert, Dr. Karsten: Chief Executive Officer VNG - Verbundnetz Gas AG
• Kirchhoff, Dr. Jochen: Chairman of Advisory Board and Shareholder Circle KIRCHHOFF Group
• Kley, Dr. Karl-Ludwig: Chief Executive Officer and General Partner Merck KGaA (2007 – 2016)
• Leibinger-Kammüller, Dr. Nicola: Managing Director Trumpf GmbH & Co. KG
• Löscher, Peter: Chief Executive Officer Siemens AG (2007 - 2013)
• Lütkestratkötter, Dr. Herbert: Chief Executive Officer Hochtief AG (2007 - 2011)
• Metzger, Axel: Member of the Management Board nicos AG
• Metzler, Friedrich von: General Partner B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG
• Nonnenmacher, Prof. Rolf: KPMG Chairman EMA Region KPMG AG (2005 - 2011),
  Becker, Klaus: Spokesman of the Management Board KPMG AG (from 2011)
• Obermann, René: Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Telekom AG (2006 - 2013),
  Sattelberger, Thomas: Member of the Management Board Personal Deutsche Telekom AG (2007 - 2012)
• Oesterle, Dr. Fritz: Chief Executive Officer Celesio AG (1999 - 2011)
  Pinger, Markus: Chairman of the Management Board Celesio AG (2011 - 2013)
• Oetker, Dr. Arend: Dr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KG
• Ostrowski, Hartmut: Chief Executive Officer Bertelsmann AG (2008 - 2011),
  Member of the Supervisory Board Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA (2012 - 2015)
• Putsch, Martin: Chief Executive Officer RECARO Group - Putsch GmbH & Co. KG,
  Kellinghusen, Dr. Georg: Chief Financial Officer RECARO Group - Putsch GmbH & Co. KG (2009 - 2012)
• Reithofer, Dr. Norbert: Chief Executive Officer BMW AG (2006 – 2015)
  Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender BMW AG (from 2015),
  Milberg, Prof. Joachim: Chairman of the Supervisory Board BMW AG (2004 – 2015)
• Reitzle, Prof. Wolfgang: Chief Executive Officer Linde AG (2003 – 2014)
• Rorsted, Kasper: Chief Executive Officer Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (2008 -2016)
• Rühl, Gisbert: Chief Executive Officer Klöckner & Co SE
• Scheufelen, Dr. Ulrich: Papierfabrik Scheufelen GmbH & Co. KG
• Schmitz, Andreas: Spokesman of the Management Board HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG (2006 – 2015)
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG (ab 2015)
• Schrader, Hans-Otto: Chief Executive Officer Otto Group,
  Otto, Dr. Michael: Chairman of the Supervisory Board Otto Group
• Snabe, Jim Hagemann: Spokesman of the Management Board SAP AG (2010 - 2014),
  Plattner, Prof. Hasso: Chairman of the Supervisory Board SAP AG
• Staudigl, Dr. Rudolf: Chief Executive Officer Wacker Chemie AG,
  Rauhut, Dr. Joachim: Member of the Management Board Wacker Chemie AG (2005 – 2015),
  Sittenthaler, Dr. Wilhelm: Member of the Management Board Wacker Chemie AG (2008 - 2012),
  Willems, Auguste (Guido): Member of the Management Board Wacker Chemie AG
• Steiner, Norbert: Chief Executive Officer K+S AG
• Tafel, Andreas: Managing Director Apontas GmbH & Co. KG (2009 – 2016)
• Teyssen, Dr. Johannes: Chief Executive Officer E.ON AG,
  Maubach, Prof. Klaus-Dieter: Member of the Management Board E.ON AG (2010 – 2013)
• Weimer, Dr. Theodor: Spokesman of the Management Board UniCredit Bank AG/HypoVereinsbank
• Winterkorn, Prof. Martin: Chief Executive Officer Volkswagen AG (2007 – 2015)
• Zetsche, Dr. Dieter: Chief Executive Officer Daimler AG Organisationen:
• Bruhn, Dr. Harald: Chairman Verband der Metall- und Elektro-Industrie in Thüringen e.V. (2012-2015),
  Krämer, Robby: Deputy Chairman Verband der Metall- und Elektro-Industrie in Thüringen e.V.,
  Fauth, Stephan: Managing Director Verband der Metall- und Elektro-Industrie in Thüringen e.V.
• Haasis, Heinrich: Chairman Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband e.V. (2006 - 2012)
• Hundt, Prof. Dieter: President Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Arbeitgeberverbände (1996 - 2013),
  Kramer, Ingo: President Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Arbeitgeberverbände (from 2013)
• Koch, Hartmut: Chairman Allgemeiner Arbeitgeberverband Thüringen e.V.,
  Fauth, Stephan: Managing Director Allgemeiner Arbeitgeberverband Thüringen e.V.
• Limburg, Dr. Hans-Jürgen: Vizepräsident Verband der Wirtschaft Thüringens e.V.,
  Rosner, Gerald: Vice-President Verband der Wirtschaft Thüringens e.V.,
  Fauth, Stephan: Managing Director Verband der Wirtschaft Thüringens e.V.
• Bubel, Oswald: President Vereinigung der Saarländischen Unternehmensverbände (VSU),
  Malter, Joachim: Managing Director Vereinigung der Saarländischen Unternehmensverbände (VSU)
• Vassiliadis, Michael: Chairman Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie
• Voscherau, Dr. h.c. Eggert: President Bundesarbeitgeberverband Chemie e.V. (2005 - 2013)
  Suckale, Margret: President Bundesarbeitgeberverband Chemie e.V. (from 2013)
• Weitz, Roswitha Managing Director IWT-Institut der Wirtschaft Thüringens GmbH

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[item title="Downloads"]

• Code of Responsible Conduct for Business (German Version, PDF-File)
• Code of Responsible Conduct for Business (English Version, PDF-File)
• Hintergrundpapier "Konzeptionelle Überlegungen zum Leitbild"
• Hintergrundpapier "Investition in den Faktor Vertrauen"
• Ethische Fundierung von Managementvergütnugen in der Kreditwirtschaft
• The Ethical Foundations of Management Remuneration in the Banking Sector
• Die mutigsten CEOs unterschreiben den Wandel "forum Nachhaltig Wirtschaften" (3/2012)

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[item title="Information and Contact"]

Adrian Gombert
Project Manager
Tel. +49(0)3491 / 5079 116
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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