It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to the former Chairman of the Monopolies Commission, Professor Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker, who passed away on 21 April at the age of 97.

Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker was a member and the first chairman of the Monopolies Commission, which was established at the start of his term of office, from January 1974 to December 1978. As a student of Franz Böhm, Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker was a staunch advocate of competition and ordoliberal ideas. His tireless commitment to competition and fairness in the economy has had a decisive influence on German and European competition law. Under his leadership, the Monopolies Commission gained a high reputation and laid important foundations for competition law practice.

The ideas and principles that Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker brought to the Monopolies Commission during his tenure continue to shape the Commission to this day. His sharp mind, his analytical brilliance and his unwavering commitment to the principles of competition continue to make him an important role model for many competition law experts today. Right up to his later years, he was dedicated to passing on his experience. We will all miss Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker greatly, but his work and influence will continue to shape the development of competition law and inspire future generations of competition law scholars.

Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker leaves a huge void not only within the Monopolies Commission but across the entire antitrust community. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. We mourn with them the loss of an extraordinary person and scholar.