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🇫🇷 France /Economy & Trade

Klaus-Michael Kühne, German Logistics Magnate and Second-Richest Man, Dies at 89

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Klaus-Michael Kühne, a prominent German businessman and logistics magnate, has died at the age of 89.
  • Kühne was the controlling shareholder of the Swiss logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, which he helped build into a global leader.
  • His wealth also extended to stakes in major companies like Lufthansa and Hapag-Lloyd, making him Germany's second-richest person.

Klaus-Michael Kühne, a towering figure in global logistics and Germany's second-wealthiest individual, has passed away at the age of 89. The Swiss-based logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel announced his death on Monday, noting he died overnight in Schindellegi, Switzerland.

Kühne inherited the family business, founded in Bremen in 1890 by his grandfather August Kühne and partner Friedrich Nagel. Under his leadership, the company evolved into a world leader in air and sea freight, employing nearly 88,000 people across 1,300 locations in approximately 100 countries. Kühne joined the company in 1958, taking the helm as president in 1966 and later serving as CEO from 1975.

His influence was cemented by his controlling stake in Kuehne+Nagel through his holding company, Kühne Holding AG, which owned over 55% of the company's capital. The Kühne Foundation also held a significant share. Beyond logistics, Kühne's considerable fortune was diversified through investments in shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, airline Lufthansa, chemical distributor Brenntag, and transport operator Flix.

Joerg Wolle, chairman of Kuehne+Nagel, remembered Kühne as "an extraordinary personality" and "a visionary, a great entrepreneur." Kühne's passing marks the end of an era for the company he transformed and leaves a significant void in the German business landscape.

With the death of Klaus-Michael, we lose a visionary, a great entrepreneur and an extraordinary personality.

— Joerg WolleChairman of Kuehne+Nagel, reflecting on the passing of Klaus-Michael Kühne.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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