Change of Director at foodwatch International: Jörg Rohwedder succeeds founder Thilo Bode
Berlin, December 1, 2021: Jörg Rohwedder is the new executive director of foodwatch International. He succeeds founder Thilo Bode, who is to step down at the end of the year after almost 20 years at the helm of the consumer organisation. Jörg Rohwedder has been active in various political organizations for many years, including as campaigner for the online platform WeMove and managing director of Bewegungsstiftung. Most recently, the 53-year-old worked on the Executive Board of Lobbycontrol.
"The agricultural and food industry makes profits at the expense of the environment, climate and animals, and at the expense of the health of consumers - this must stop!" says Jörg Rohwedder. "I see my task as expanding foodwatch as a truly pan-European organisation. I am convinced that Europe needs a powerful international consumer organisation as a counterweight to influential lobby interests. I look forward to tackling this huge task together with the foodwatch team."
Thilo Bode, who founded foodwatch in 2002, is stepping down from the organisation: "Even though it is not easy for me, it is now time to make room for a new leadership team. foodwatch has managed to make nutrition a political issue in recent years. But we have not succeeded in improving the food system as a whole. Much remains to be done - an international consumer organisation in Europe is more important than ever. I wish Jörg and the entire foodwatch team all the best!"
foodwatch is an independent consumer organisation. The non-profit organisation, registered as an e.V in Germany, is divided into two sections: "foodwatch Germany", headed by Executive Director Chris Methmann, and "foodwatch International", which acts as the umbrella organisation for the national foodwatch offices. Besides Berlin, there are offices in Amsterdam (since 2010), Paris (2014), and Vienna (2020), and since 2020 part of foodwatch international is also based in Brussels. foodwatch is financed primarily through members contributions and donations.