diff --git a/contributors.py b/contributors.py
index f30ef5b..f3cd49a 100755
--- a/contributors.py
+++ b/contributors.py
@@ -3,10 +3,23 @@
 import os
 import yaml
 
+CORRESPONDING_AUTHOR = "Kempf"
 
 with open("contributors.yml") as f:
     data = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
+# sort list of authors by last name
+sorted_authors = sorted(data["authors"], key=lambda a: a["lastName"])
+# and move corresponding author to front of the list
+idx = None
+for i, a in enumerate(sorted_authors):
+    if a["lastName"] == CORRESPONDING_AUTHOR:
+        idx = i
+        break
+if idx is not None:
+    sorted_authors.insert(0, sorted_authors.pop(idx))
+data["authors"] = sorted_authors
+
 # Ensure that we have unique indices for the affiliations
 affiliations = list()
 for author in data["authors"]:
diff --git a/contributors.yml b/contributors.yml
index 4e5f968..c6c98e1 100644
--- a/contributors.yml
+++ b/contributors.yml
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ authors:
     email: j.linxweiler@tu-braunschweig.de
 
   - author: "Axel Loewe"
+    firstName: Axel
+    lastName: Loewe
 
   - author: "Frank Löffler"
     firstName: Frank