Klaus L. Wübbenhorst
Encyclopedia
Klaus L. Wübbenhorst is the current Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) and spokesman for Germany's leading marketing research
firm GfK
, which is based in Nuremberg
, Germany.
during 1981 with a degree in Business Administration and completed his Doctorate
from Darmstadt University of Technology
in 1984. From 1984 to 1991 he served as a management employee for the transnational media
company Bertelsmann
, based in Gütersloh
. After leaving Bertelsmann, he was enlisted as a member of the management board at KBA-Planeta AG, located in Radebeul
near Dresden
, a position he held until 1992.
. In 1999 he was named GfK's Chief Executive Officer, an appointment which is scheduled to last until 2007. As CEO, Dr. Wübbenhorst is responsible for the company's strategy, internal audit
, product development, public affairs (communications), and IT
services. Under his guidance and leadership, GfK has enjoyed unparalleled growth, particularly as a result of two primary milestones: (1) the company's initial public offering
in 1999 and (2) the acquisition of the NOP World companies in April 2005. GfK has risen to the ranks of the top sales producers in the marketing research sector, achieving a global market share of roughly 5 percent. According to GfK's Annual Report for 2005, Dr. Wübbenhorst's total remuneration for the year was approximately € 1,768,000 euros, in addition to 40,000 company stock options. Additional seats held by Dr. Wübbenhorst on Supervisory Boards and comparable supervisory bodies include: BU Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Nuremberg (Deputrynd [Chairman); ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG, Düsseldorf
; Neckermann Versand AG, Frankfurt/ Main;]
in Nuremberg and awarded the title of Honorary Professor by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO) and spokesman for Germany's leading marketing research
Marketing research
Marketing research is "the function that links the consumer, customer, and public to the marketer through information — information used to identify and define marketing opportunities and problems; generate, refine, and evaluate marketing actions; monitor marketing performance; and improve...
firm GfK
GfK
The GfK Group, established in 1934 as Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung is Germany's largest market research institute, and the fourth largest market research organisation in the world, after Nielsen Company, Kantar Group, and IMS Health...
, which is based in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany.
Education and early career
Dr.Wübbenhorst graduated from Gesamthochshule University in EssenEssen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
during 1981 with a degree in Business Administration and completed his Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
in 1984. From 1984 to 1991 he served as a management employee for the transnational media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
company Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann AG is a multinational media corporation founded in 1835, based in Gütersloh, Germany. The company operates in 63 countries and employs 102,983 workers , which makes it the most international media corporation in the world. In 2008 the company reported a €16.118 billion consolidated...
, based in Gütersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
. After leaving Bertelsmann, he was enlisted as a member of the management board at KBA-Planeta AG, located in Radebeul
Radebeul
Radebeul is a town in the Elbe valley in the district of Meißen in Saxony, Germany, a suburb of Dresden. It is well-known for its viticulture, a museum dedicated to writer Karl May and a narrow gauge railway connecting Radebeul with the castle of Moritzburg and the town of Radeburg...
near Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, a position he held until 1992.
After Joining GfK SE
His career at GfK AG began during 1992, where he was first employed as a member of the company's management board. In this capacity he was responsible for accounting, financial controlling, personnel, purchasing, production and information technologyInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
. In 1999 he was named GfK's Chief Executive Officer, an appointment which is scheduled to last until 2007. As CEO, Dr. Wübbenhorst is responsible for the company's strategy, internal audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
, product development, public affairs (communications), and IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
services. Under his guidance and leadership, GfK has enjoyed unparalleled growth, particularly as a result of two primary milestones: (1) the company's initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
in 1999 and (2) the acquisition of the NOP World companies in April 2005. GfK has risen to the ranks of the top sales producers in the marketing research sector, achieving a global market share of roughly 5 percent. According to GfK's Annual Report for 2005, Dr. Wübbenhorst's total remuneration for the year was approximately € 1,768,000 euros, in addition to 40,000 company stock options. Additional seats held by Dr. Wübbenhorst on Supervisory Boards and comparable supervisory bodies include: BU Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Nuremberg (Deputrynd [Chairman); ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG, Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
; Neckermann Versand AG, Frankfurt/ Main;]
Other Achievements
Dr. Wübbenhorst's achievements are not limited to business success. In 2005 he was appointed President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle FranconiaMiddle Franconia
Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg...
in Nuremberg and awarded the title of Honorary Professor by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.