Klaus-Michael Kühne

June 2, 1937

Hamburg, Germany

Essentially, Klaus-Michael's career started when in 1958 he became a trainee in a family business Kühne&Nagel. In 1963 he already joined the company as a member of Executive Board and a general partner.undertaking full liability. In 1966 he became Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Kuehne + Nagel Group. He held this position until 1975. Under his government the headquarters of the company were relocated to the Swiss town on Schindellegi on Lake Zurich. That was done on arrangement with his father after social-liberal coalition led by Willy Brandt seized political control in Germany. During the mid-70’s ‘after Alfred Kuehne had retired to the honorary chairmanship on the supervisory board ‘ his son Klaus-Michael advanced to the positions of sole limited partner of Kuehne & Nagel KG, Bremen, chairman of the board of Kuehne & Nagel Speditions’ AG, Breman, and delegate to the board of directors of the holding company, Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Pfaeffikon (from April 1992; Schindellegi), Switzerland, which since 1974 is the parent company of the whole organization. In 1976 the Kühnes set up the non-profit Kühne foundation. It focuses on two areas: firstly, supporting training, further education, scholarships, and research in the fields of transport and logistics; and secondly, supporting medical sciences, humanitarian, charitable, and cultural projects. It was also set up in Schindellegi, Switzerland. He currently invests 5 millions of dollars in this foundation annually. The 1980's were marked with financial difficulties for Klaus-Michael caused by oil crisis. Furthermore, it was time when he tried to establish his own shipping company but he eventually suffered huge financial losses and bankers demanded their money back. Eventually, in 1981 Kühne had to sell to the Lonrho conglomerate a 50% of stakes in Kühne + Nagel. He became one of the Executive Directors in the organization. In 1991 he managed to buy back the stake held by Lonrho in his company. And this year he also became President and Delegate Kühne + Nagel International AG. However, in 1991 Viag and Deutsche Handelsbank acquired a part of Kühne + Nagel as well as Lonrho buys back its share of the company. In 1994 the company went public and at that time Kühne owned 55.8% of its shares. Four years later in 1998 he withdrew from the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and was renominated as president and Delegate of the Administrative Board. Next year a businessman was able to return the share purchased by Viag. He then admitted that these years were the most difficult for him and he learned a lesson for his following deals. In 2008 the group of companies Hapag Lloyd announces its intentions to separate from its subsidiary Hamburger Traditionsreederei. Kühne together with other investors from Hamburg and Hansestadt united into consortium titled Albert Ballin so that the company wouldn't be bought by the investor from the Far East. After long negotiations the consortium acquired only 57%. The rest remained in the hands of TUI group. Kühne managed to buy 15%. Initially, he intended to buy 25%, but he changed his mind at the last moment. The economic crisis of 2009 resulted in a bad year for Hapag Lloyd. "I didn't feel so happy, therefore I reduced my shareholding from 25.1 per cent to 15 per cent," he said. In 2000s there were also various investments from Kühne worthy of being mentioned. In 2003 in partnership with the city of Hamburg and the Technical University of Hamburg Kühne founded Hamburg school of economics, renamed into Kühne School of Logistics and Management in 2007 which he constantly gives financial support for. In September 2013 Kuehne pledged $54 million to the university over the next 5 years. He also supports the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and Technical University of Berlin. Furthermore he gave strong financial support for building Elbe Philharmonic Hall of Hamburg. Due to his contribution to Hansa in 2007 he was awarded the honorary title of Professor by the Senate of Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. A year after that WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a privately funded business school based in Vallendar/Koblenz and in Düsseldorf conferred the title of the Honorary Doctorate on him for his patronage. Additionally in 2008 one more foundation was established. In 2008 the Klaus-Michael Kuehne Foundation was founded in 2008, and has devoted itself primarily to the promotion of culture in Germany and, in particular, Hamburg. "With selected projects I can not only support the further development of the Hanseatic city as a cultural metropolis but also underline the affinity I feel for my home city. Through my commitment to the foundations I fulfil a major part of my social responsibility as an entrepreneur." In May 2011 he retired as Chairman of the Administrative Board of Kühne + Nagel and dedicated himself entirely to investing activities. One of the most costly of his initiatives right now is Hamburger Sport-Verein (HSV). Since 2010 he helped the club to fund the acquisition of the players. And in the early 2015 he purchased 7,5 % of the club for 18,75 Mio Euro and also bagged the stadium naming rights. On Mallorca, he has transformed a 600-year-old castle, Castell Son Claret, into a hotel that opened in May 2013. In early 2013, he acquired the insolvent InterContinental Hotel in Hamburg; ground was broken in summer 2014 for a new, $175-million hotel, The Fontenay (anticipated opening: July 2016). As of January 2016 his net worth was $10.9 Billion. In 2015 Forbes listed him number 9 in Germany and number 113 in the world of the richest people.

Klaus-Michael Kühne Edit Profile

Businessman manager

Background

Klaus-Michael Kühne was born on the 2nd of June in 1937 into the family of transportation entrepreneur Alfred Kühne (1895-1981) and his wife Mercedes in Hamburg.

The history of the company Kuehne + Nagel as well as family business started in 1890 with Klaus-Michael's grandfather August Kühne and Friedrich Nagel when the two founded the Breman forwarding firm.

Alfred Kühne himself entered into transportation business in the early 1900s when his father set up a branch of the company in Hamburg.

When it comes to Klaus-Michael from the early days his father dreamt of his only child eventually stepping into his shoes and to continue family business and as a result the boy passed through various practical trainings immediately upon graduation from high school to continue family pursuit.

Education

Klaus-Michael Kühne completed Heinrich Hertz-Gymnasium where he became acquainted with Wolf Biermann, a German singer and songwriter. Currently, they are good friends and in one of the interviews Biermann recollects that during biology classes he tried to persuade his neighbour Kühne of the advantages of communism. But not once he managed to do that.

After graduation in 1956 he completed a two-year commercial apprenticeship in banking industry followed by intensive training at related forwarding, ship operating and shipbroking companies.From 1958 to 1963 he underwent an apprenticeship in various European and overseas Kuehne & Nagel branches.

$Education period of Klaus-Michael K\u00FChne in Heinrich Hertz-Gymnsium(Hamburg)$

Career

Essentially, Klaus-Michael's career started when in 1958 he became a trainee in a family business Kühne&Nagel.

In 1963 he already joined the company as a member of Executive Board and a general partner.undertaking full liability.

In 1966 he became Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Kuehne + Nagel Group. He held this position until 1975. Under his government the headquarters of the company were relocated to the Swiss town on Schindellegi on Lake Zurich. That was done on arrangement with his father after social-liberal coalition led by Willy Brandt seized political control in Germany.

During the mid-70’s ‘after Alfred Kuehne had retired to the honorary chairmanship on the supervisory board ‘ his son Klaus-Michael advanced to the positions of sole limited partner of Kuehne & Nagel KG, Bremen, chairman of the board of Kuehne & Nagel Speditions’ AG, Breman, and delegate to the board of directors of the holding company, Kuehne & Nagel International AG,

Pfaeffikon (from April 1992; Schindellegi), Switzerland, which since 1974 is the parent company of the whole organization.

In 1976 the Kühnes set up the non-profit Kühne foundation. It focuses on two areas: firstly, supporting training, further education, scholarships, and research in the fields of transport and logistics; and secondly, supporting medical sciences, humanitarian, charitable, and cultural projects. It was also set up in Schindellegi, Switzerland. He currently invests 5 millions of dollars in this foundation annually.

The 1980's were marked with financial difficulties for Klaus-Michael caused by oil crisis. Furthermore, it was time when he tried to establish his own shipping company but he eventually suffered huge financial losses and bankers demanded their money back.

Eventually, in 1981 Kühne had to sell to the Lonrho conglomerate a 50% of stakes in Kühne + Nagel. He became one of the Executive Directors in the organization.

In 1991 he managed to buy back the stake held by Lonrho in his company. And this year he also became President and Delegate Kühne + Nagel International AG.

However, in 1991 Viag and Deutsche Handelsbank acquired a part of Kühne + Nagel as well as Lonrho buys back its share of the company.

In 1994 the company went public and at that time Kühne owned 55.8% of its shares.

Four years later in 1998 he withdrew from the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and was renominated as president and Delegate of the Administrative Board.

Next year a businessman was able to return the share purchased by Viag.

He then admitted that these years were the most difficult for him and he learned a lesson for his following deals.

In 2008 the group of companies Hapag Lloyd announces its intentions to separate from its subsidiary Hamburger Traditionsreederei. Kühne together with other investors from Hamburg and Hansestadt united into consortium titled Albert Ballin so that the company wouldn't be bought by the investor from the Far East. After long negotiations the consortium acquired only 57%. The rest remained in the hands of TUI group. Kühne managed to buy 15%. Initially, he intended to buy 25%, but he changed his mind at the last moment. The economic crisis of 2009 resulted in a bad year for Hapag Lloyd. "I didn't feel so happy, therefore I reduced my shareholding from 25.1 per cent to 15 per cent," he said.

In 2000s there were also various investments from Kühne worthy of being mentioned.

In 2003 in partnership with the city of Hamburg and the Technical University of Hamburg Kühne founded Hamburg school of economics, renamed into Kühne School of Logistics and Management in 2007 which he constantly gives financial support for. In September 2013 Kuehne pledged $54 million to the university over the next 5 years. He also supports the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and Technical University of Berlin.

Furthermore he gave strong financial support for building Elbe Philharmonic Hall of Hamburg.

Due to his contribution to Hansa in 2007 he was awarded the honorary title of Professor by the Senate of Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. A year after that WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a privately funded business school based in Vallendar/Koblenz and in Düsseldorf conferred the title of the Honorary Doctorate on him for his patronage.

Additionally in 2008 one more foundation was established. In 2008 the Klaus-Michael Kuehne Foundation was founded in 2008, and has devoted itself primarily to the promotion of culture in Germany and, in particular, Hamburg.

"With selected projects I can not only support the further development of the Hanseatic city as a cultural metropolis but also underline the affinity I feel for my home city. Through my commitment to the foundations I fulfil a major part of my social responsibility as an entrepreneur."

In May 2011 he retired as Chairman of the Administrative Board of Kühne + Nagel and dedicated himself entirely to investing activities.

One of the most costly of his initiatives right now is Hamburger Sport-Verein (HSV). Since 2010 he helped the club to fund the acquisition of the players. And in the early 2015 he purchased 7,5 % of the club for 18,75 Mio Euro and also bagged the stadium naming rights.

On Mallorca, he has transformed a 600-year-old castle, Castell Son Claret, into a hotel that opened in May 2013. In early 2013, he acquired the insolvent InterContinental Hotel in Hamburg; ground was broken in summer 2014 for a new, $175-million hotel, The Fontenay (anticipated opening: July 2016).

As of January 2016 his net worth was $10.9 Billion. In 2015 Forbes listed him number 9 in Germany and number 113 in the world of the richest people.

$Career period of Klaus-Michael K\u00FChne in career$

Achievements

In 2003, in partnership with the city of Hamburg and the Technical University of Hamburg, Kuehne founded the Hamburg School of Logistics, later renamed Kuehne Logistics University. He was inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Views

Kühne is strongly convinced that it is essential for entrepreneur to be a philanthropist so that to contribute to the public good:

Quotations: "I am firmly convinced that success in business always brings with it an obligation towards society. Recently this attitude has also become widely held outside the USA, and acting for the common good is becoming a matter of increasing importance for many entrepreneurs. In my view it is not just a question of donating money, but of investing in the future of our society with well thought-out projects and also of initiating new developments - an area in which foundations can be very helpful."

Personality

Despite his fortune, Kühne is very frugal and all his spendings are given a thorough thought whether these are small or huge spendings and he does not like when money is thrown in the air. In the interview to the Zeit Magazine he admitted that earlier his company did not use the post service and he or someone else delivered the post to other company's locations. Furthermore, he threatened his managers that if their exceed their budget then he would disconnect their phones.

Although Kühne moved to Switzerland at the time of the relocation of the company's headquarters his heart still belongs to Hamburg. For instance, there is a life-size horse staying near the swimming pool near his villa fully covered with Hamburg motives: on the left the city in winter and on the right in summer. And as can be seen from his investment initiatives they are primarily connected with Hamburg.

Physical Characteristics: His height is 1.90 m

Interests

Yacht
Sport & Clubs

Football, HSV

Tennis

Connections

Kühne married only when he was 52 years old in 1989. The couple do not have children which, by the way, generated intense discussions about the successor to the business of the man.

Father:: Alfred Kühne
Mother:: Mercedes Kühne
Wife:: Christine Kühne
Schoolfriend:: Wolf Biermann

References

Was bewegt Klaus-Michael Kühne? Sein Herz gehört Hamburg, aber seinen Speditionskonzern Kühne + Nagel steuert er aus der Schweiz. Er wollte sich nie mehr an einer Reederei beteiligen – und stieg dann doch bei Hapag-Lloyd ein
2014
Klaus-Michael Kühne
2016
Klaus-Michael Kühne: "Mit wenigen Millionen ist es nicht gemacht" | ZEIT ONLINE Klaus-Michael Kühne lebt in der Schweiz, doch sein Herz hängt noch immer an Hamburg. Dafür geht der sonst so Sparsame auch schlechte Deals ein.
2014
Kuehne + Nagel: Board of Directors
Klaus-Michael Kühne Klaus-Michael Kühne ist ein bekannter deutscher Unternehmer. Er ist Mehrheitsgesellschafter der international agierenden Spedition Kühne + Nagel, die sein Großvater August Kühne 1890 in Bremen mitgegründet hatte.
HSV: Milliardär Kühne gibt HSV neues Darlehen | ZEIT ONLINE Der Hamburger SV hat Geld für Neuverpflichtungen: Logistik-Unternehmer Klaus-Michael Kühne gewährt dem Verein einen Kredit in Höhe von 17 Millionen Euro.
2014
Kuehne Foundations: Interview with Prof. Dr. h. c. Klaus-Michael Kuehne, Chairman of the Board of Trustees - Annual Report 2012
2012
Forbes Welcome Forbes Welcome page -- Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.
2016

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