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Önder Karaca Takes Helm at Saxony-Anhalt Pharmacists’ Association

From corporate HR to pharmacy leadership: a lawyer’s unexpected career shift. Can his labor expertise reshape how pharmacists serve patients?

, and Administrator

2026 January 8 . 3:26 AM

1 min read

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Önder Karaca Takes Helm at Saxony-Anhalt Pharmacists’ Association

The Saxony-Anhalt Pharmacists’ Association (LAV) has appointed Önder Karaca as its new managing director. The 50-year-old lawyer and former HR executive took on the role after serving as head of operations since early October. His focus will now shift to representing pharmacists and improving services for both professionals and patients.

Karaca began his career in law, qualifying as an attorney in 2004. He specialised in labor law before moving into corporate human resources. At ThyssenKrupp, he managed labor relations and worked closely with the group works council.

In 2022, he moved to Leipzig for family reasons and took a break from work to care for his two children. His return to professional life started in October when he joined LAV as head of operations. Now, he replaces Matthias Clasen, who previously held the managing director position. Karaca has described his new responsibilities as both challenging and rewarding. He aims to advocate for pharmacists’ interests while ensuring long-term benefits for the bureau and its patients.

With a background in law and extensive experience in labor relations, Karaca brings a mix of legal and managerial skills to the role. His appointment follows a period of transition, including a sabbatical and a brief operational leadership stint. The association expects his expertise to strengthen its work in supporting pharmacies across Saxony-Anhalt.