Appointed in 2022 for a six-year term, Patrick Majerus, chairman of the Mudam’s board of directors, . His resignation was a “personal decision,” culture minister (DP) , adding that “Mudam continues to enjoy the solid support of its board of directors and its team.”
But in response to a submitted by MP (déi Gréng) regarding the reasons for Majerus’ resignation, Thill on 14 February said: “The former chairman of the board of directors resigned from his position for reasons related to the internal functioning of the institution. In a dynamic of continuous improvement of governance, and at the joint initiative of the board of directors and the management of Mudam, a consulting firm has already been commissioned in 2024 to produce a report aimed at further clarifying the roles and responsibilities within Mudam and thus laying solid foundations for its future development.”
A few hours later, in a press release issued just after noon, the government announced that the cabinet had approved Thill’s proposal to submit to the grand duke the appointment of Jean-Paul Olinger to the post of chairman of the board of directors of Mudam.
Olinger, whose Linkedin profile highlights more than two decades in the world of finance and business, does not appear to have a wealth of experience with contemporary art, though he was a member of the board of directors of the Philharmonie Luxembourg from 2022 to 2024. Olinger was (ACD) last year and took up his post in May 2024. Previous positions include general manager at the Institut National pour le développement durable et la responsabilité des entreprises (INDR), which he held from June 2018 to April 2024, as well as general manager at the Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises (UEL), a post he occupied from January 2018 to April 2024. Prior to that, he spent 12 and a half years at KPMG Luxembourg, where his most recent position was as partner in tax. Olinger holds a master’s degree in economics and business administration from HEC Lausanne, a master’s degree in business law and taxation from the University of Mannheim and an executive MBA Trium from HEC Paris, LSE and NY Stern.
“Mudam plays a key role in promoting contemporary art in Luxembourg and internationally,” Olinger commented in the press release. “I look forward to working with the members of the board of directors and the museum team to continue its development and further expand its reach.”
When one reviews the profile of Olinger--far from the domain of art and culture--one could wonder if one of the reasons behind his appointment is related to keeping a closer eye on Mudam’s operations, following the concerns regarding the “internal functioning of the institution” highlighted in the culture minister’s parliamentary reply.