He was vice president of Borussia Dortmund for 13 years and chaired the supervisory board for 17 years: Gerd Pieper, one of the most important leadership figures in BVB's history, turns 80 on 28 August. "We wish you all the very best, especially good health," said Dr Reinhold Lunow and Hans-Joachim Watzke in unison. The trio are bound by a close friendship.

Gerd Pieper has been a club member for 40 years. In November 2003, he was appointed to the supervisory board of Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA, and five years later, the general assembly appointed him as deputy to the president. In autumn 2021, he had to resign from both offices for health reasons. "When we look at Borussia Dortmund's successes over the past 15 years and the fact that BVB has always remained free of scandals, it is in large part thanks to Gerd Pieper," said the current honorary president, Dr. Reinhard Rauball, about his long-time colleague.

Gerd Pieper was born in Eutin on 28 August 1943. To describe him as "versatile" would be a great understatement. From 1981 to 1994, he was the honorary mayor of Herne, and between 1997 and 2006, he was a member of the presidium of the German Retail Federation. In his long and successful professional life, Gerd Pieper also ran his family business, "Stadt-Parfümerie Pieper", for 49 years. He describes his connection to Borussia Dortmund as "a matter of the heart".