Baton handover, a brief round of applause, and a typically modest transition:

Rainer Marutzky Hands Over Leadership of the iVTH

Braunschweig, October 27, 2026

At the end of the month, a successful era at the helm of the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH) comes to a close: Prof. Dr. Rainer Marutzky is stepping down from his role as Managing Director at his own request and entering official retirement. His successor, effective November 1, 2026, will be Harald Schwab. The handover took place in the company of close colleagues — fittingly low-key, since grand speeches have never been Marutzky's style. Anyone who, like him, grew up in Bremerhaven knows the so-called "Hanseatic reserve": proud citizens of the Hanseatic cities don't care for lavish tributes, especially not with a lot of fuss. An honest word is worth more than ten warm ones. So instead of giving speeches, everyone sat together to share stories — anecdotes from 15 years at the iVTH, but also from an entire research career that extends far beyond it.

Marutzky won't be disappearing entirely, though: the iVTH team is already looking forward to him dropping by now and then for professional exchange — or simply for a cup of coffee.

From Review Committee Chair to Managing Director
After officially retiring from Fraunhofer WKI, where as Institute Director and Professor of Wood Chemistry he set standards for decades, Marutzky was far from finished. In 2011, he took on the role of Chair of the iVTH Review Committee. In 2014, he became interim Managing Director — and what began as "interim" turned into a lasting, dependable institution. Until the very end, he guided the direction of the association, notably providing key support for the European Wood-based Panel Symposium, whose scientific program was always close to his heart.

The Person Behind the Researcher
Those who worked with Rainer Marutzky remember more than just his professional expertise. Over 300 publications, decades of standardization work, saving the Fraunhofer WKI site in Braunschweig, and numerous awards all attest to an impressive career. But above all, people remember a colleague who, despite all these achievements, never gave the impression that he was particularly aware of them himself. For some, modesty is just a line in a résumé; for Marutzky, it's a lived practice — and that is precisely what makes him such a remarkable companion to generations of colleagues. Add to that a sunny disposition and a subtle sense of humor, which he knows how to deploy at just the right moment, without ever losing sight of the seriousness of the matter at hand.

The iVTH thanks Rainer Marutzky for 15 dedicated years and wishes him and his successor, Harald Schwab, a smooth and seamless transition. Above all, we wish Professor Marutzky all the best, good health, and wonderful time with his family in this new chapter of his life!