Paul Gauselmann
Paul Gauselmann ( born August 26, 1934 in Borg Horst, Westphalia ) is a German entrepreneur. He is CEO of Gauselmann Group and chairman of the Federation of German Industry Association ( VDAI ).
Gauselmann laid in 1957 the foundation stone for the named after him Gauselmann group. Based in the ostwestflälischen Espelkamp in Minden- Lübbecke company deals with, among others, with slot machines, sports betting, and cash processing systems
Life and work
Gauselmann grew up in Munster. After completing elementary school in 1950, he learned the trade of telecommunications auditor at the " Telefonbau and standard time ." On March 12, 1956, he moved to the general importer of American Wurlitzer jukeboxes to Coesfeld .. In 1957 he began a sideline to set up a self-employed jukebox. In 1965 he made himself from the position of head of development who also worked in the machine manufacturing company Espelkämper Harting out with 15 employees completely independent. Previously, he had been granted the first patents for his inventions, such as 1956 for the first Fernwahlbox for German music boxes. Starting in 1977, produced Paul Gauselmann AWP game devices.
Gauselmann opened in 1974 in Delmenhorst the first Mercury gambling hall. They succeeded Gauselmann first time to create a separate environment for the gaming and slot machines, which is now represented by more than 200 own Mercury Nightlife in Germany. In addition there are around 200 outlets under the name of "Merkur Casino" in ten European countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic and Hungary).
With the " Mercury B" 1977, the first own Gauselmann AWP game device came on the market. A short time later - in 1984 with the model of "Mercury disc ," which sold over 40,000 times. Gauselmann applies with this economic success than the slot game king of the East-Westphalian Province.
Industry Political and social commitment
For over four decades dedicated Paul Gauselmann association work of the vending machine industry, it is, for example, since 1981, Chairman of the Federation of German Industry Association ( VDAI ).
For his 65th birthday with a million DM called Paul Gauselmann the Gauselmann Foundation capital to life, by donation, they now has an endowment of five million euros.
The " Children's Foundation Family Help " and an endowment of 1 million Euros Paul Gauselmann since late 2008 also supports minor children who find themselves in trouble by the gambling addiction of their parents.
Political donations
In 2011, the Süddeutsche Zeitung Political Contributions by Paul Gauselmann and its surroundings were known by a report. He and his staff would have let members of parliament from all parties get donations under the Deklarierungshöhe of the German Bundestag.
" The sums that come together in such a way are usually significantly higher than 50,000 euros a year, but appear in any annual report by the parties, although donations over ten thousand euros are required to be disclosed because of the requisite transparency. "
So since 1990 to over a million euros have flowed through party donations Paul Gauselmann took this in a press statement following position:
"In reporting the Süddeutsche Zeitung gives the impression as if trying with millions amounts to take on the path of political donations influence on the policy, the Company and its officers. The reality is different. In 2010, the family of entrepreneurs and senior staff have a total amount of around € 80,000 donated - in 26 individual amounts allocated to the CDU / CSU, the SPD, the FDP and the Greens. The alleged millions arises only if one expects all together donations from the last two decades. Simply by looking at the amount of donations in detail, it is clear that the donations were not likely to take political influence. With the donations it was positive gestures with which socio-political commitment should be made clear. Nothing more. The party donations of the last twenty years is equal to the sum of what the Gauselmann Group spends year after year for their cultural and social commitment. "
The Bielefeld prosecutor's office after a house search at Gauselmann in April 2011 the process because of the suspicion of covert Pateienspenden one.
The Schleswig-Holstein MP Patrick Breyer ( Pirate Party ) rose in January 2013 in the parliament the accusation "that the vending industry - especially to Mr. Gauselmann - For years, politicians from all mainstream parties lubricated with large donations, FDP party conventions sponsors and even to FDP subsidiaries should have been involved. " He was asked with regard to personality rights Gauselmanns to delete this speech quote from its website homepage. Breyer is the until September 2013 not complied with.
Honors
For his manifold social, cultural and sporting commitment and for his contributions to the German machine industry Paul Gauselmann was awarded in 1993 the Order of Merit. On 15 May 2003 he was at the suggestion of the then North Rhine-Westphalian Minister Wolfgang Clement awarded as part of the upgrading of the Cross of Merit 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the then Federal President Johannes Rau. In addition, the cities Espelkamp and Luebbecke Paul Gauselmann have given each an honorary citizen on his 70th birthday.
Family
Paul Gauselmann is married to his second wife Karin Gauselmann. She stands in front of the Board of Trustees of the Gauselmann Foundation and was until July 31, 2008 Member of the Supervisory Board of Gauselmann AG. Paul Gauselmann has four sons, two of whom are on the board and the supervisory board of an active Gauselmann group.