Thomas Kaeser, president and CEO of Germany’s Kaeser Kompressoren, has been awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit by Markus Söder, minister-president of Bavaria. Kaeser is a highly successful economic leader and active member of the business community. In an Upper Franconian economy that has undergone extensive change, he has used structural transformation to help the economy locally and to grow Kaeser Kompressoren globally.

The Bavarian Order of Merit has been awarded annually since 1957 as a symbol of honorable and grateful recognition for outstanding services to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people by the Minister-President. It symbolizes the extraordinary commitment and outstanding contributions of the citizens of the Free State to the community.

Presenting this prestigious honor, Söder sates, “He is a steadfast advocate for the Upper Franconian economy. He always has excellent ideas and suggestions for what can be done to benefit society.” Additionally, Söder emphasized that to receive the Bavarian Order of Merit one must accomplish something exceptional. “It cannot be bought or inherited; it must be earned,” he adds.

In accepting this honor, Thomas Kaeser promised to continue applying his skills for the benefit of society as a whole as well as his company.