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Germany

FB Roundup: James Murdoch, Musgrave Group and Henkel

January 16, 2020

Next gen James Murdoch’s burning rift with father’s media empire, revamped Musgrave Group snaps up drinks distributor and the World Economic Forum hails Henkel as frontrunner in the fourth industrial revolution.

Next gen James Murdoch’s burning rift with father’s media empire

James Murdoch, heir of Rupert Murdoch, has publicly criticised his family’s media empire for climate change denial as lethal bushfires blaze in Australia.

Changing the game: How next gen Verena Bahlsen balances innovation with family legacy

December 19, 2019

Verena Bahlsen, next generation entrepreneur and co-founder of food innovation incubator HERMANN’S, is looking to drive her family’s business into the future. She spoke to Susan Lingeswaran about history, being disruptive, and preserving legacy.

Verena Bahlsen, next generation entrepreneur and co-founder of food innovation incubator HERMANN’S, is looking to drive her family’s business into the future. She spoke to Susan Lingeswaran about history, being disruptive, and preserving legacy.

David Koch and Ferdinand Piech: A tale of two successions

August 30, 2019

Controversial family business titans David Koch and Ferdinand Piech, who died within days of each other, shaped the era they lived in, but their approach to succession was very different.

Controversial family business titans David Koch and Ferdinand Piech, who died within days of each other, shaped the era they lived in, but their approach to succession was very different.

‘Shame’ of Reimann family’s Nazi slave past revelations

March 29, 2019

Germany’s second wealthiest family, behind global brands Pret a Manger, Dr Pepper, and Krispy Kreme, say they are “ashamed” by their ancestors’ brutality towards slave labour during Nazi rule.

Germany’s second wealthiest family, behind global brands Pret a Manger, Dr Pepper, and Krispy Kreme, say they are “ashamed” by their ancestors’ brutality towards slave labour during Nazi rule.

How to gain value from family values

November 8, 2018

Family businesses are being urged to define, strategise and raise public awareness of their guiding principles to give themselves the edge over competitors, especially in an uncertain world.

Family businesses are being urged to define, strategise and raise public awareness of their guiding principles to give themselves the edge over competitors, especially in an uncertain world.

Mittelstand successors wanted by 2019

March 27, 2018

Time is running out for 100,000 small and medium sized enterprises in Germany which plan to complete their succession plans by the end of 2019, but either have not found a successor or have not yet started to search for one.

The long haul: Felix Fiege on five generations of logistics

November 14, 2016

Taking a business from one horse-drawn cart to an international logistics firm is no easy task, but that is exactly what Germany’s Fiege family has accomplished over five generations. Michael Finnigan talks to its next-generation leaders about the long haul

Taking a business from one horse-drawn cart to an international logistics firm is no easy task, but that is exactly what Germany’s Fiege family has accomplished over five generations. Michael Finnigan talks to its next-generation leaders about the long haul

To some the origins of Fiege might sound like the classic 1980s British sitcom Only Fools and Horses: an entrepreneurial farmer-cum-businessman fixes a rickety cart to one of his horses in the hope his new “transportation business” will make him a millionaire.

German family business profile: Bosch

July 14, 2016

Founded in 1886, Bosch has grown to become one of the largest multinational engineering and electronics companies in the world. The Gerlingen-headquartered firm had revenues of €70.6 billion ($80.5 billion) in 2015.

FAMILY

Infographic: German family businesses

June 23, 2016

Being the largest national economy in Europe is a mixed blessing for Germany, especially now that sweeping changes are coming for the country’s family businesses. Michael Finnigan takes a look

Being the largest national economy in Europe is a mixed blessing for Germany, especially now that sweeping changes are coming for the country’s family businesses. Michael Finnigan takes a look

Russia sanctions hit German family businesses

August 1, 2014

German family businesses are feeling the pinch from Russia’s confrontation with the West, particularly carmaker Volkswagen, who has reported an 8% year-on-year decrease in Russian sales.

German family businesses are feeling the pinch from Russia’s confrontation with the West, particularly carmaker Volkswagen, who has reported an 8% year-on-year decrease in Russian sales.

With further sanctions on the horizon, Volkswagen, controlled by the Piech family, is just one of approximately 6,000 German family businesses operating in Russia that are expected to suffer from the incoming “level three” sanctions.