CAREER
After graduating from high school, completed a commercial apprenticeship at the Nestlé factory in Eisenharz (Germany), and was then transferred to Nestlé in Frankfurt. Parallel to holding different positions within the Company, studied at Frankfurt University, where he graduated with a degree in business administration ("Diplom-Kaufmann").
From 1964 until 1980, different management positions within the Nestlé Company in Germany and, from 1975 on, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé-Gruppe Deutschland, Frankfurt. Finally, on 1st October, 1980, transfer to Nestlé in Switzerland as Executive Vice President of Nestlé S.A., Vevey, and Member of the Executive Committee.
In November 1981, nomination as Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé S.A. and from 1st June, 1990 to 5th June, 1997 both Chairman of the Board and CEO. As of 6th June, 1997, having relinquished the position of Chief Executive Officer, continued as Chairman of the Board of Nestlé S.A., Vevey Switzerland. On 25th May, 2000, relinquished the position of Chairman of the Board; named Honorary Chairman by the Board.
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, "Stiftung Demoskopie Allensbach", Germany
Member of the Board, “Universität Bayern e.V.”, Munich
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, "Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies"
AWARDS
Fortune Magazine Gold Medal 1984
Doctor honoris causa of the Autonomous University Guadalajara, Mexico June 1989
Order "El Aguila Azteca" Mexico April 1993
"Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen mit dem Stern für Verdienste um die Republik Oesterreich" August 1993
Leadership Award for Corporate Statesmanship, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) October 1993
IMD Maucher Nestlé Chair November 1993
Appeal of Conscience Foundation Award, New York October 1995
INTERNORGA Prize, Hamburg March 1996
Doctor honoris causa, European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany February 1997
Manager Magazin Business Hall of Fame May 1997
"Das Grosse Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens mit Stern der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" September 1997
Doctor honoris causa, Technical University, Munich March 1998
Scopus Award, Hebrew University, Jerusalem May 1999
"Das Oesterreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst 1. Klasse" August 1999
"Preis Soziale Marktwirtschaft 2004 “, Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung e.V. November 2004
BOOKS
"Leadership in Action" (translated from German "Marketing ist Chefsache" into several languages)
"Management Breviary"