Entry in the City of Cologne's Golden Book
On behalf of the three long-established Cologne-based companies—Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH (KD), Klosterfrau Group, and Sparkasse KölnBonn—the CEOs Nina Luig ( KD), Dr. Stefan Koch (Klosterfrau Group), and Ulrich Voigt (Sparkasse KölnBonn) signed the City of Cologne’s Golden Book. To mark their respective 200th company anniversaries, Mayor
Torsten Burmester welcomed representatives from the three companies to a ceremony in the Piazzetta of the Historic City Hall.
's Commemoration Ceremony at the Historic City Hall
One of the City of Cologne's highest honors
An entry in the Golden Book is one of the City of Cologne’s highest honors. With this recognition, the city honors the three companies for their long-standing presence, their steadfast commitment, and their business continuity. At the same time, it honors their important contribution to Cologne’s economic strength, diversity, and future viability.
“The Klosterfrau Group, Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt, and Sparkasse KölnBonn each look back on 200 years of success. As different as these companies are, they share the common trait of having navigated their way through every era and every crisis. They have recognized opportunities, never rested on their laurels, but have continuously transformed and adapted. My congratulations on this achievement,” said Cologne Mayor Torsten Burmester.
A Shared Love for Cologne
For two centuries, the Klosterfrau Group, KD , and Sparkasse KölnBonn have shaped
life in Cologne in very different ways—economically, socially, and as reliable
partners to the people of the region. The representatives
were accordingly delighted to receive this special honor. Nina Luig, CEO of Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH, emphasizes: “Sustainable success does not come from everything staying the same. Success comes from the willingness to evolve without losing sight of one’s own values.”
“We also see this honor as an incentive: We take responsibility for the present
and shape the future—for our employees, our customers, and for the city of Cologne,” says Ulrich Voigt, Chairman of the Board of Management of Sparkasse KölnBonn. “The fact that Klosterfrau, Sparkasse KölnBonn, and the Cologne City Foundation ( KD ) are celebrating this anniversary together shows that even though our companies fulfill very different roles, we are united by something essential: our love for the city of Cologne,” says Klosterfrau CEO Dr. Stefan Koch.
" Golden Book
The Golden Book of the City of Cologne
Only select individuals are granted the honor of signing the Golden Book in the presence of the city’s mayor,
. City protocol stipulates that three historical artifacts be used during this ceremonial act: the Golden Book itself, the statue of “Colonia” standing next to the book, and the mayor’s chain of office. The Golden Book of the City of Cologne was crafted in 1897 by Cologne’s court goldsmith Gabriel Hermeling. Its design references Cologne’s leading role in the late Middle Ages. The gilded silver relief on the front depicts Emperor Maximilian I at the Imperial Diet of Cologne in 1505.
With their signatures, Nina Luig, Dr. Stefan Koch, and Ulrich Voigt join a list of impressive figures. Since 1947, those who have signed the Golden Book have included German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, heads of state such as Charles de Gaulle, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, and Queen Elizabeth II. Prominent figures from Cologne, such as Willy Millowitsch, Heinrich Böll, and Lukas Podolski, are also represented in it. It also contains the signatures of American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin—the crew of “Apollo 11,” which successfully carried out the first manned moon landing in 1969. Not to be forgotten are the signatures of the players from 1. FC Köln on the occasion of the 1961–62 German Championship.
KD , Nina Luig, CEO KD,
Ulrich Voigt, Chairman
of the Executive Board
of Sparkasse KölnBonn,
Torsten Burmester, Mayor
of the City of Cologne,
Dr. Stefan Koch, CEO of Klosterfrau
's Commemoration Ceremony at the Historic City Hall