Klaus Agthe | |
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| Born | August 12, 1930 (1930-08-12) (age 94) Apolda, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Citizenship | German |
| Education | Business administration, |
| Alma mater | Humboldt University of Berlin,Technische Universität Berlin,Indiana University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Klaus Erich Agthe (born August 12, 1930, inNiederholzhausen,Province of Saxony,Prussia,Germany) is a German-bornbusinessman andauthor.
Klaus Agthe grew up inApolda in the province ofThuringia, Germany, went to school inWeimar and studiedbusiness administration at theHumboldt University inBerlin under Professor Konrad Mellerowicz. Agthe had not been admitted to the university but travelled to Berlin anyway and, without an appointment, introduced himself to Mellerowicz, who organized his matriculation, though he had never met Agthe before. In the course of his studies, he eventually followed Mellerowicz toTechnische Universität Berlin where he received his doctorate in 1958 with the work "Die Abweichungen in der Plankostenrechnung." He was sponsored by Professor Mellerowicz.[1]
In the interim, Agthe had spent a year studying atIndiana University inBloomington,Indiana. The experiences and perceptions he gained during this time would shape his life significantly.[1]
After finishing his studies, Agthe initially worked atStandard Elektrik Lorenz inStuttgart, where he was mentored and significantly influenced byHarold Geneen, who was at that time thechief executive officer of SEL's parent company,ITT Corporation, In 1966 he moved toBraunschweig (Brunswick), Germany, to take up a position with the Schmalbach-Lubeca company, where he ascended to theExecutive Board of the company.[1]In 1976, following the acquisition of Schmalbach-Lubeca by the AmericanContinental Can Company, Agthe moved to the United States to become a Vice President of Continental Can, with responsibility for operations in theMiddle East,Africa andAsia.[2]
In 1983 Agthe left CCC (which had been renamed to Continental Group) and moved to the U.S. subsidiary ofBrown, Boveri & Cie. to become itschief executive officer, a post he retained after Brown Boveri's merger withASEA, from whichAsea Brown Boveri emerged.[2] After ABB merged withCombustion Engineering Agthe considered retirement, but, subsequent toGerman reunification, he was asked to represent ABB in its transactions with theTreuhandanstalt, the trust which had been set up by the German government to facilitate the reprivatization of the numerous enterprises formerly owned byEast Germany. Agthe moved to Berlin and spent the next two years acquiring several formerstate owned companies.[1]
In 1992, back in the United States, Agthe finished out his career as an independentConsultant and a member of variousBoards. He was elected to the Board of Directors ofYellow Freight andVIAG North America, among others[3] Since 2005, Agthe lives in retirement. He has been a citizen of the United States since 1984.
On 1 August 2020 Klaus Rehkugler will take over as Head of Sales & Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans and will answer personally to Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. He is currently the Head of Sales Operations and Communications for Europe Area at Mercedes-Benz Cars Rehkugler.[4]
Agthe is the author and co-author of various books and articles about cost planning and business administration. One of his articles, published in the German Zeitung für Betriebswirtschaft in 1959, is considered groundbreaking in business circles.[citation needed]
In November 2008, Agthe published an autobiography entitledShadows of War: A German Life in the Century of Extremes[1] in the United States of America.
1978: election to the "Academy of Alumni Fellows" of the Kelley School of Business,Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA[5]
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