Dr. Thomas Wessinghage is new DSSV President

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The DSSV e. V. - Employers' Association of German Fitness and Health Facilities, based in Hamburg has a new president. The General Meeting unanimously elected Prof. Dr. Thomas Wessinghage as the new 1st Chairman and President of DSSV e. V. in December 2022.


From now on, Prof. Dr. Thomas Wessinghage will take over the tasks of the Executive Board and thus, together with his team in Hamburg, will represent the interests of the fitness and health industry vis-à-vis politics, the healthcare system and the public.

Beside him the tax counsellor Werner Kündgen was re-elected as vice-president. The graduate business economist Ralf Capelan was taken up as treasurer into the extended executive committee of the federation. The former president Birgit black one had not let itself stand again for the election.


"Since the association was founded in 1984, Birgit Schwarze has laid the foundation for the professionalization of the industry and has played a major role in the successful development of the fitness industry over the past four decades. I would like to thank her for her dedication and I know the responsible position of president."

Dr. Thomas Wessinghage. President DSSV


DSSV Vorstand


More recognition for the fitness and health industry

The main goal of DSSV e. V. is to give the fitness and health industry, with about 9,500 facilities and around 9.3 million members, the recognition it deserves from politicians and the public. Incentives must be created to encourage more people to engage in self-financed physical activity, to train regularly at fitness facilities. Likewise, the companies and the approximately 154,000 employees in this fitness and health industry should be economically strengthened and supported.


Dr. Thomas Wessinghage appeals to politicians as well as the payers in the health care and social security systems to support this form of training more in the future.


Reduction of value added tax

Furthermore, the DSSV e. V. is pursuing the goal of reducing the tax burden on the fitness and health industry. This is a matter close to the heart of the tax consultant and publicly appointed and sworn expert Werner Kündgen. The chosen path of the DSSV e. V. and the goal of a reduction in value-added tax for fitness services will continue to be pursued.


Diplom-Betriebswirt Ralf Capelan will devote himself to the commercial topics, in order to set up the enterprises of the Fitness and health industry economically future-safe. In addition, the growth figures from the pre-Corona times are to be achieved again. This also requires more (financial) support from politicians and greater economic backing.



Source and picture source: BODYMEDIA

Published on: 5 February 2023

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