Quality Association for Organic Mineral Water Elects New Executive Board
News General news
The Quality Association for Organic Mineral Water (Qualitätsgemeinschaft Bio-Mineralwasser e.V.) unanimously elected a new executive board: Dr. Alexander Beck and Dr. Daniel Haussmann will now serve as co-chairs of the association of water specialists. They succeed organic pioneer and founding board member Dr. Franz Ehrnsperger at the helm of the organic association, which is supported by members including Bioland, Demeter, Naturland, Biokreis, AÖL, and BNN. Ehrnsperger is stepping down from his post after nearly 18 years of highly successful service due to his age. However, he will remain connected to the association as a member, continuing to contribute his expertise. With the appointment of the new board members, the gradual generational transition in the association’s leadership is now complete. The first step was the appointment of full-time Managing Director Frank Stieldorf. In October 2025, he took over the operational responsibilities of the mineral water expert and founding member Manfred Mödinger, who has since sadly passed away.
Dr. Franz Ehrnsperger: “With Dr. Alexander Beck and Dr. Daniel Haussmann, we are gaining two individuals as new board members who have personally supported our shared commitment to pure water and the organic mineral water seal for many years with great dedication. Their expertise complements each other perfectly. Dr. Alexander Beck has already been a key point of contact for us on all matters related to organic associations and guidelines, both at the national and European levels, while Dr. Daniel Haussmann has been advising us very successfully for over eleven years on all strategic issues concerning communication and policy. We are delighted that these proven experts are now also taking on key roles for the Quality Association as board members. They know the industry and its specific challenges inside and out. They will further develop the Quality Association in close collaboration with our full-time managing director, Frank Stieldorf, and prepare it for the upcoming challenges in the area of sustainable water use.”
Dr. Alexander Beck (62) has been steering the Association of Organic Food Producers (AöL) as its managing director for over 25 years, and until last year also served as a board member. In addition, the nutrition scientist with a Ph.D. and trained farmer—who owns his own organic farm in the Rhön—also founded the German Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) as well as the consulting firm BLQ GmbH, which supports companies in their transition to organic farming and production.
Dr. Daniel Haussmann (44) serves as a strategic consultant, assisting numerous corporations, medium-sized companies, associations, and public figures with all aspects of external and internal communication. A key focus of his work is the food and organic sectors. Before joining a renowned Munich-based agency and founding his own firm, Haussmann Strategic Advisory, based in Berlin, the philosophy graduate and business administration Ph.D. worked in innovation and communication research at Freie Universität Berlin and Stanford University.
Dr. Alexander Beck and Dr. Daniel Haussmann: “We are very pleased by the trust expressed through this election. Starting with a good idea at the right time, Dr. Franz Ehrnsperger and Manfred Mödinger have placed the sustainable preservation of our most important foodstuff at the center of their work. By founding the Quality Association and developing the organic mineral water seal, they have taken a crucial step forward in protecting water for this and future generations. This is a great benefit for all of us. For this, these visionaries deserve our deepest gratitude.”
