Today, the Board of Trustees of the GFZ – in an extraordinary meeting – dismissed Prof. Reinhard Hüttl from his position as Scientific Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences with immediate effect and called for the Chairperson of the Board to terminate the contract of employment without prior notice and with immediate effect. The procedure for the regular appointment of a new Scientific Executive Director for the GFZ has already been initiated. The Selection Committee has started its work.

The Forest and Soil scientist, Reinhard Hüttl, was Scientific Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences since 2007. He was relieved from his office at the end of October 2020 by the Board of Trustees after allegations concerning compliance violations with respect to handling of financial resources. These allegations are subject of an ongoing investigation procedure at the Public Prosecutor’s Office Neuruppin.

After consideration of the evidence which has come to light to date, the Board of Trustees of the GFZ no longer sees any basis for a trustworthy cooperation.