Kuehne+Nagel’s honarary chairman was widely credited with helping to build today’s global supply chains
Tributes have been paid to Klaus-Michael Kühne, former board chairman of freight forwarding and logistics group Kuehne+Nagel, following his death at the age of 89 in Schindellegi, Switzerland.
“With the passing of Klaus-Michael, we have lost a visionary, a great entrepreneur and an extraordinary personality,” said Joerg Wolle, chairman of the board of directors of Kuehne+Nagel International.
“Our thoughts are with his widow Christine Kühne. The Board of Directors and the entire company will honour Klaus-Michael Kühne’s memory with the utmost respect and gratitude.”
Kühne joined what was a family business in 1958 and became chairman of its management board in 1966.
Almost a decade later, he was apponted as chief executive officer, and then from 1992 to 2011 he served as as chairman. After that, he continued as honorary chairman.
A pioneer of international trade, he is credited with making a “lasting contribution” to modern logistics and the development of today’s global supply chains.
In October 2021, Bloomberg estimated Kühne’s net worth to be US$36.2bn, a figure which made him the richest person in Germany at the time.
“The news of Klaus-Michael Kühne’s passing has deeply saddened us all,” said Stefan Paul, CEO of Kuehne+Nagel International. “Klaus-Michael Kühne embodied logistics and global trade like no other. On behalf of the Management Board and the employees of Kuehne+Nagel, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”
