Rebecca Cordes
Business Director (Interim)
Biography
Born in 1977 in Unna
Short biography
Rebecca Cordes has been serving as Interim Commercial Director of the Goethe-Institut since August 2025. She studied English and Musicology in Würzburg, Freiburg, and Sheffield, as well as Cultural Management in London. She then worked in London for several years, including at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the British Youth Opera.
In 2008, she began her career at the Goethe-Institut as an advisor to the Commercial Director. From 2013 to 2017, she was the Commercial Manager of the Goethe-Institutes in Germany. She then took over the Finance Department and, prior to her appointment as Interim Business Director, served as Head of Strategy.
Education and career:
Short biography
Rebecca Cordes has been serving as Interim Commercial Director of the Goethe-Institut since August 2025. She studied English and Musicology in Würzburg, Freiburg, and Sheffield, as well as Cultural Management in London. She then worked in London for several years, including at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the British Youth Opera.
In 2008, she began her career at the Goethe-Institut as an advisor to the Commercial Director. From 2013 to 2017, she was the Commercial Manager of the Goethe-Institutes in Germany. She then took over the Finance Department and, prior to her appointment as Interim Business Director, served as Head of Strategy.
- 1997 – 2003: Studies in Musicology and English in Würzburg, Freiburg, and Sheffield DAAD scholarship for studies in Sheffield
- 2003 – 2004: Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Management, London
- 2005 – 2006: General Administrator, British Youth Opera – The UK’s Opera Training Company, London
- 2007: Press and Public Relations, London Business School, London
- 2008 – 2011: Advisor to the Commercial Director, Goethe-Institut
- 2011 – 2013: Advisor for Planning Procedures, Department of Strategy and Evaluation, Goethe-Institut
- 2013 – 2017: Commercial Director of the Goethe-Institutes in Germany, Goethe-Institut
- 2017 – 2021: Head of Finance, Goethe-Institut
- 2021 – 2025: Head of Strategy, Goethe-Institut
