"We are facing the major challenge of successfully mastering climate protection and digital transformation," says Kegel. He succeeds Michael Ziesemer, who served as ZVEI President from 2014 to 2020.

For Kegel, the electrical industry is now more important than ever: "Only through consistent electrification and digitalization can we successfully master these profound upheavals." Climate change must be tackled globally - but not so much by doing without, but with technological innovations: "We must put the mechanisms of the market economy at the service of ecology in order to create the energy transition and initiate a circular economy," demands Kegel, who also sees politicians as having a duty: "Climate protection policy is most effective when it specifically promotes innovations that lead to a significant reduction in_{CO2 emissions} in all climate-relevant sectors."

There needs to be a stronger focus on implementation, thereby strengthening the production location in the long term - throughout Europe. This is the only way to guarantee Europe's future viability and international competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global political environment: "If Europe wants to assert itself between China and the USA, it must position itself clearly, become faster and secure its technological sovereignty in key areas without acting in a protectionist manner." Then it will also have the chance to become the leading provider for digital electrification and efficiency.

In order to achieve these goals, we need well-trained and highly qualified young engineers who can tackle the world's pressing problems: "We need to emphasize even more how meaningful an engineering career is in order to get young people interested in STEM professions right from the start. Anyone who decides to study engineering can make an important contribution to decarbonization in all climate-relevant sectors," Kegel is convinced.

Great commitment to the ZVEI over many years

Kegel has been a member of the ZVEI Executive Board for 22 years. From 2007 to 2019, he was Chairman of the Board of the ZVEI Automation Association. Kegel is Chairman of the Board of Pepperl+Fuchs.

The newly elected Vice Presidents are: Rada Rodriguez (Schneider Electric), Cedrik Neike (Siemens), Frank Stührenberg (Phoenix Contact). The members of the Executive Committee are: Matthias Altendorf (Endress+Hauser), Dr. Wolfgang Bochtler (Mektec Europe), Daniel Hager (Hager), Udo Possin (ml&s), Thomas Quante (Bosch), Georg Walkenbach (Beurer).