As announced on 20 May 2025, Dr Björn Klotzbücher took up his position as the new Managing Director of VLB Berlin on 1 July 2025. He succeeds Dr Josef Fontaine, who will step down from this position at his own request in October 2025. The areas of finance, IT, human resources and research will remain under the responsibility of the previous Managing Director, Gerhard Andreas Schreiber (CFO).

After his first official public appearance at the VLB summer party on 4 July, Björn Klotzbücher introduced himself to the VLB staff at a company meeting on 11 July.

Björn Klotzbücher (46) was born in the Black Forest and has extensive experience in the brewing and beverage industry. He gained his first practical experience at a local brewery while still at school. After two years in the navy and several internships at other breweries, he began studying brewing and beverage technology at the Technical University of Munich in Weihenstephan in 2001, graduating with a degree in engineering in 2007. Björn Klotzbücher then worked as a research assistant to Prof. Dr. Werner Back, where he obtained his doctorate in 2010 on the topic of ‘Lactic acid fermentation of legume protein extracts with the aim of improving taste’.

Klotzbücher started his career in the beverage industry in 2009 at Mitteldeutsche Getränkeindustrie (MEG) in Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt. He started as an assistant to the management and went on to hold various management positions with a focus on the further development of the bottling technology there and the establishment of a closed recycling loop for PET.

In 2016, he returned to the brewing industry: as operations manager and authorised signatory at the Herrenhausen private brewery in Hanover, he was not only responsible for production processes there until June 2025, but also managed the private label business of the Wittingen private brewery, which belongs to the same group of owners.

Björn Klotzbücher is an active member of several industry organisations, including the German Brewers' and Maltsters' Association (DBMB), the Association of Former Weihenstephan Students (VeW) and the Society for the History of Brewing (GGB). He is married and has two children.

The decision to move to VLB Berlin was not a difficult one for him: ‘The VLB is an indispensable source of talent and ideas for our industry. I particularly like its close links to the brewing and beverage industry. I am very much looking forward to working with the entire staff and alongside Gerhard Andreas Schreiber to actively and successfully shape the future of the VLB.’

Transition until the general meeting on 6 October 2025

The handover of management from Josef Fontaine to Björn Klotzbücher will take place gradually until the next VLB general meeting on 6 October 2025. Fontaine will then remain with the VLB for another two years as a ‘brand ambassador.’ In this role, he will represent the VLB at events and trade fairs and act as a contact person for members.

He will also continue to serve on the VLB Administrative Board in an advisory capacity and support the VLB management at the interface with the TU Berlin and the Berlin Senate Administration. Ulrich Rust, Chairman of the VLB Administrative Board, said: "We would like to thank Jupp Fontaine for his outstanding work and his many years of tireless commitment to the VLB.

I am also delighted that he will remain with us for another two years in his new role as “brand ambassador”. In Dr Björn Klotzbücher, we have found an excellent successor who will continue the successful development of the VLB. This change is an important step towards securing the long-term future of our institute."

Dr Josef Fontaine (left) hands over his position as VLB Managing Director to Dr Björn Klotzbücher (centre). Gerhard Andreas Schreiber (right) remains VLB CFO.