German Council on Foreign Relations welcomes new COO

Dr. Thorsten Klaßen joins the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) as Chief Operating Officer and Director Strategic Partnerships on December 1, 2017. The council welcomes a proven expert with long-standing experience in fundraising and management.

The 41-year old takes on a position which was created to support the on-going strategic development of Germany’s oldest think tank on foreign relations. Klaßen will head the administration and, as Director of Strategic Partnerships, develop new fundraising strategies, liaise with patrons and sponsors, and develop the services for the more than 2.500 members of the German Council on Foreign Relations.  Dr. Thorsten Klaßen is an ex officio member of the council’s board. He reports directly to DGAP Director Dr. Daniela Schwarzer and DGAP President Dr. Arend Oetker.

Dr. Arend Oetker explained the reorganization of the board as follows: “In Dr. Klaßen, the DGAP welcomes a proven expert in the areas of fundraising and management. With his appointment, we are further supporting the process of strategic transformation initiated by Director Dr. Daniela Schwarzer in order to take the German Council on Foreign Relations into the future as the leading think tank and network on foreign policy in Germany.”

Dr. Thorsten Klaßen joins the DGAP from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), where he was employed as Senior Director, Development and also a member of the board.  Prior to that, he held various positions with the German Marshal Fund of the United States (GMF) in Berlin and in Washington, D.C., most recently as Director of Development. Klaßen also acted as Senior Consultant for Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Waldbesitzer (AGDW), the German association of forest owners.

Klaßen holds an Executive Education Certificate in Exponential Fundraising from Harvard University and a doctorate in political sciences from Freie Universität Berlin. In his dissertation, he analyzed the German-American foreign and security relationship during President Bill Clinton’s first term. He also holds an undergraduate degree in English and American studies as well as Modern History from the University of Bonn.

Dr. Thorsten Klaßen commented on joining the German Council on Foreign Relations: “The think tank of the future provides brilliant analyses, it is excellently funded, and it makes an impact in everything it offers. I am pleased to join the team of the German Council on Foreign Relations and to carry its successful history forwards amid the new challenges we are facing from a growing market of think tanks.”