The DHK Costa Rica is a registered association aimed at promoting commercial and economic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and Costa Rica in both directions, as well as advancing the business interests of its members.
As its governing body, DHK Costa Rica has a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors drives the activities of the Chamber, ensures compliance with its objectives, defines management guidelines, and protects the interests of its members.
President: Mr. Dirk Niehaus Meinert, Bufete Niehaus & Asociados S.A.
First Vice President: Mr. Claus Elsner, CVX Trust Company (T.C.) S.A.
Second Vice President: Mr. Jorge Blanco, independent energy consultant (absent in the photo of the last General Assembly)
Secretary: Ms. Erika Bernal Rempening, Empoderación S.R.L.
Treasurer: To be defined
Deputy Treasurer: Stephan Bansbach Steinvorth, Juan Bansbach Musical Instruments S.A.
Board Member 1: Gabriel Raffensperger, Corporación Ven Resansil CR S.A.
Board Member 2: Joshua Quesada Giutta, RAU Precision Metals S.A.
Board Member 3: Miriam Limbach, Bayer (absent in the photo)
Board Member 4: Christian Ferraro Sollheim, CFS
Auditor: Fernanda Jiménez Sauter, Tactic Legal (absent in the photo)
Each member of our Chamber’s Board of Directors has a distinguished career and a strong reputation in their respective field of expertise.
President
Dirk Niehaus Meinert is a lawyer and entrepreneur based in Costa Rica with extensive experience in corporate law and international relations. He serves as Honorary Consul of Austria in the country and has held leadership positions in organizations such as the German-Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Eurochamber Costa Rica, from which he has promoted the strengthening of economic ties between Costa Rica and Europe. His professional practice focuses on corporate legal advisory, foreign investment, and international trade, standing out for his active participation in the development of the business environment and international cooperation.
First Vice President
Claus Elsner is a German-born financial executive based in Costa Rica with experience in international banking, investments, and business advisory. He has worked as a representative of European financial institutions in Latin America — including Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika AG — and has subsequently worked in the private sector in Costa Rica, where he serves as manager of Xpensions, a firm focused on financial planning and pensions.
Second Vice President
Mr. Jorge Blanco Alfaro has an extensive career as an independent consultant in the field of energy. He is an electrical engineer and specialist in renewable energy systems with broad experience in Costa Rica’s public and academic sectors. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Labor Sciences from the Technical University of Munich, Germany.
He has held positions in cultural institutions and has also served as a professor at the University of Costa Rica. He is a founding member of the Costa Rican Solar Energy Association (ACESOLAR) and a former member of its Board of Directors. He also served as a former member of the Board of Directors of the German-Costa Rican Cultural Association.
Secretary
Erika Bernal Rampening is an inclusive and transformational leader with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a strong background in strategic leadership, talent development, and change management. She was the first woman in Latin America to serve as CEO and General Manager of Bayer for Central America and the Caribbean (2015–2018), where she also led the pharmaceutical business. She is currently an independent consultant and founder of Empoderaccion, focused on the personal and professional development of leaders and organizations. She has a background in marketing, a master’s degree in strategy, and certification in corporate governance. She actively participates in boards of family businesses and organizations such as Vital Voices and the German-Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and collaborates with universities in developing new generations of leadership. She has been recognized by Forbes as one of the most powerful women in Central America and by MERCO as one of the leaders with the best reputation in Costa Rica.
Deputy Treasurer
Stephan Bansbach Steinvorth is a Costa Rican entrepreneur with experience in strategic management, business development, and corporate governance in family-owned companies. He is part of the leadership team of Bansbach Musical Instruments & Audio, where he has driven the modernization, regional expansion, and professionalization of the organization, strengthening the representation of international brands and the diversification of services in the music and audiovisual sector. He holds a degree in industrial engineering and has international experience in Germany, which supports his focus on operational efficiency, strategic planning, and sustainable growth. His profile combines business vision with a commitment to the continuity and evolution of a long-standing family business in Costa Rica.
Board Member 1
Gabriel Raffensperger is a civil engineer with more than 15 years of experience and a specialization in the maintenance of civil works. He currently serves as Manager at Resansil, where he focuses on the commercialization of machinery for road construction, developing technical solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. His career has allowed him to build a strategic vision that integrates team leadership, sales innovation, and a deep understanding of regional markets, contributing to the growth and positioning of the company in the road infrastructure sector.
Board Member 2
Joshua Quesada Giutta is an industrial engineer with experience in operations management and leadership in precision manufacturing environments. He serves as plant manager at RAU Precision Metals S.A., where he leads production processes, quality control, and continuous improvement under international standards. His career includes training in quality management and participation in global technical programs, which supports his focus on operational efficiency, innovation, and industrial excellence. His profile combines technical capabilities with strategic leadership in the internationally funded manufacturing sector in Costa Rica.
Board Member 3
Miriam Limbach is an international executive in the pharmaceutical sector with extensive experience in corporate leadership, global operations, and strategic talent management. She serves as General Manager of Bayer in Costa Rica, where she leads key initiatives in investment, expansion, and the development of shared services and pharmaceutical manufacturing with regional and global impact. Her career includes leadership roles in global human resources operations, consolidating corporate processes and promoting operational excellence. Her profile combines strategic vision, multicultural management, and a strong commitment to talent development and innovation in the life sciences industry.
Board Member 4
Christian Ferraro is an executive in the energy sector with experience in the development of renewable energy projects and innovative solutions such as green hydrogen. His career focuses on the structuring, financing, and execution of initiatives aimed at the energy transition, with an emphasis on sustainable and high-impact models in Latin America. He has led strategic processes related to the integration of new technologies, building partnerships between the public and private sectors to promote energy infrastructure projects. His profile combines strategic vision, technical knowledge, and leadership in complex environments, contributing to the positioning of clean solutions and the advancement of decarbonization in the region.
Executive Director
Ignacio is a Costa Rican jurist with more than twenty years of experience in the public and private sectors, having worked as a lawyer and university professor in various branches of law and as a prosecutor in the Public Ministry in cases of economic criminal law. He holds a master’s degree in German Law from Humboldt University of Berlin and has extensive experience in international cooperation and the promotion of human rights, standing out for his commitment to ethics and institutional responsibility.
Ignacio speaks Spanish, German, and English.
Executive Deputy Director
Political and diplomatic relations | DE International | Public relations | Events
She has a background in Public Relations, Digital Marketing, and studies in Spanish philology. She is an actress, designer, and stylist with 13 years of experience in event production, as well as experience in administration, marketing, and business management as the owner of a clothing store.
Mónica speaks Spanish and English.
Executive Assistant
Local fairs | Member services
Mrs. Linda Castillo has extensive experience in European Chambers of Commerce, standing out in organizational management, customer service, project development, and coordination of corporate events and trade fairs.
She has led cross-sector initiatives at national and international level and has solid experience in communication, institutional relations, and digital media management.
Spanish (Native language) · Knowledge of English
Accountant
Manuel A. Madrigal Camacho is an accountant and administrative professional with extensive experience, based in San José, Costa Rica. He has more than two decades of experience in non-profit organizations and the private sector, developing skills in financial management, personnel administration, and organizational support. He has academic training in accounting, auditing, and business administration, and is registered as an independent accountant. He is characterized by his responsibility, teamwork, and attention to detail, with a strong commitment to the preparation of accurate financial reports and the efficient management of administrative operations.