Definition
Axel Gedaschko (born 20 September 1959 in Hamburg, Germany) is a German jurist and former politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He served as Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs and President of the Authority for Economy and Labour from May 2008 to August 2010, and has been President of the GdW – Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies since 2011.
Overview
Gedaschko completed his secondary education (Abitur) in 1980, performed two years of compulsory military service, and studied law at the Universities of Hamburg and Göttingen. He passed the First State Examination in 1988 with a focus on administrative law and completed the Second State Examination in 1992. From 1993 to 2000 he worked as a legal officer for the state of Lower Saxony, holding responsibilities in personnel management, disaster protection, and municipal supervision, and served a year of municipal practice in Seevetal.
In 2000 he was elected First District Councillor (Erster Kreisrat) of the Harburg district, and in 2003 won the direct election for Landrat (district administrator) of Harburg, a post he held until 2006. He then entered Hamburg’s state administration, first as a State Councilor in the Authority for Urban Development and Environment, and in January 2007 became Senator and President of that Authority. In May 2008 he succeeded Gunnar Uldall as Senator and President of the Authority for Economy and Labour. Gedaschko resigned from the senate in August 2010.
Since February 2011 he has chaired the GdW, representing roughly 3 000 housing companies and cooperatives nationwide. He also holds positions on various boards and advisory bodies related to housing, urban development, and international development aid.
Etymology / Origin
The surname Gedaschko is of German usage and appears to have Slavic linguistic roots, a pattern common in northern Germany where many family names derive from East‑Germanic or West‑Slavic origins. No definitive etymological source confirms the precise meaning of the name.
Characteristics
- Political affiliation: Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- Professional background: Trained jurist with extensive experience in public administration, municipal governance, and housing policy.
- Key offices held:
- Senator for Economic Affairs, Hamburg (2008‑2010)
- President, Authority for Economy and Labour, Hamburg (2008‑2010)
- President, GdW – Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies (2011‑present)
- Academic credentials: Law degrees from the Universities of Hamburg and Göttingen; specialization in administrative law.
- Awards and honors:
- 2005 Initiativpreis Deutsche Sprache (initiative prize for the German language)
- 2008 ePolitician Award (International Council for e‑Democracy)
- 2013 “Immobilienkopf des Jahres” (Real Estate Head of the Year) by Immobilienwirtschaft magazine.
- Personal life: Married with two children.
Related Topics
- Christian Democratic Union (Germany) – the political party to which Gedaschko belongs.
- Hamburg Senate – the executive body of the city‑state of Hamburg, of which Gedaschko was a member.
- GdW – Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies – the organization he leads.
- Landrat (Germany) – the title for district administrators, a role Gedaschko held in Harburg.
- Administrative law in Germany – Gedaschko’s academic and professional specialization.
References
- “Axel Gedaschko.” Wikipedia, German edition, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axel_Gedaschko (accessed 21 March 2026).
- GdW official website, press releases on Axel Gedaschko’s presidency.