Logistikmilliardär gestorben: Unternehmer Klaus-Michael Kühne gestorben

Klaus-Michael Kühne, the billionaire logistics magnate, has passed away at the age of 89 in Switzerland. Kühne, who was born in Hamburg, led the transport and logistics company Kühne+Nagel for several decades, inherited from his father. Under his leadership, the medium-sized family business grew into a global enterprise with over 1,300 branches in nearly 100 countries and around 88,000 employees.

Kühne joined the family business in 1958 and became the CEO of Kühne+Nagel Speditions-Aktiengesellschaft in 1966. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kühne+Nagel International AG from 1975 and as the Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1992 to 2011. Kühne also held the position of Honorary Chairman of the Board from 2011.

He made significant contributions to Hamburg's harbor by investing nearly a billion euros in Hapag-Lloyd and ensuring its continued presence in the city. His wealth was further boosted by the significant increase in freight rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in massive dividends. Kühne was also a major shareholder of Lufthansa.

As a philanthropist, he supported cultural life in Hamburg through his foundations, contributed millions to build the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, and established a logistics university in the Hanseatic city. Kühne's dedication to football was evident through his involvement with HSV, Hamburg's Bundesliga club. In his later years, he oversaw the construction of the luxury Fontenay Hotel in Hamburg.