Susanne Klatten

Early Life and Background

Susanne Klatten was born Susanne Quandt on April 28, 1962, in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, West Germany. She is the younger daughter of Herbert Quandt (1910–1982) and Johanna Quandt (née Bruhn, 1926–2015). Her father, Herbert Quandt, was a visionary industrialist credited with saving BMW from bankruptcy in the late 1950s and transforming it into a global luxury automotive powerhouse. Her mother, Johanna Quandt, was a long-time personal assistant to Herbert Quandt before marrying him and later became a significant shareholder and influential figure within the family's business holdings. Susanne is also the granddaughter of Günther Quandt, the patriarch of the Quandt family industrial dynasty. Growing up within one of Germany's most influential and wealthy families, Susanne was exposed to the intricacies of large-scale business and industry from an early age. The Quandt family has a complex history, including involvement in arms manufacturing during World War II, a legacy Susanne and her family have acknowledged and commissioned research into. Despite her privileged background, her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and a desire for privacy, often encouraging her to work under pseudonyms to gain genuine experience without the influence of her family name.

Education

Susanne Klatten pursued a comprehensive education tailored to prepare her for a future in business. She initially studied business economics at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, graduating in 1983. Following this, she gained practical experience through various internships, often using different names to maintain anonymity. These early professional stints included working at Dresdner Bank AG in London, the German advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt, and an extended period at BMW in Munich during the late 1980s. Her time at BMW was particularly formative, as it was there she met her future husband, Jan Klatten. Recognizing the need for advanced management skills, she later pursued and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, specializing in advertising and marketing. This rigorous academic and practical training provided her with a robust foundation in finance, management, and strategic planning, essential for her future roles in her family's vast business portfolio.

Career

Susanne Klatten's career has been characterized by active involvement in the management and strategic direction of the companies she inherited. Upon her father's death in 1982, she, along with her mother and brother Stefan Quandt, inherited substantial stakes in the family's various businesses. Her most significant holdings include approximately 19.2% of BMW AG and sole ownership of Altana AG, a specialty chemicals company. She joined the supervisory board of BMW AG in 1997, where she has been a consistent voice in shaping the company's long-term strategy, particularly regarding electric mobility and sustainable production. At Altana AG, she inherited a diverse portfolio of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Under her leadership, Altana underwent a significant transformation, divesting its pharmaceutical division in 2006 to Nycomed (for approximately 4.5 billion euros) and focusing exclusively on specialty chemicals. This strategic repositioning proved highly successful, solidifying Altana's position as a global leader in its niche markets. Beyond BMW and Altana, Klatten has diversified her investments through her holding company, SKion GmbH. Through SKion, she holds stakes in various companies, including SGL Carbon, a manufacturer of carbon and graphite products, where she became the largest shareholder, and stakes in water technology, recycling, and additive manufacturing sectors. Her investment philosophy often focuses on long-term growth, innovation, and sustainable technologies, reflecting a commitment to future-oriented industries.

Major Achievements

Susanne Klatten's achievements are primarily rooted in her astute management and strategic vision for her inherited businesses. Her most significant accomplishments include:

• Transformation of Altana AG: She successfully steered Altana AG from a diversified chemicals and pharmaceuticals conglomerate into a highly focused and globally competitive specialty chemicals company. This strategic divestment and refocusing enhanced the company's profitability and market leadership.
• Influence at BMW AG: As a major shareholder and member of the supervisory board since 1997, she has played a crucial role in maintaining BMW's independence and guiding its strategic direction, particularly in navigating the automotive industry's shift towards electric vehicles and autonomous driving. Her commitment ensures the long-term stability and innovation of one of Germany's most iconic brands.
• Strategic Investments through SKion GmbH: Through her holding company, SKion GmbH, she has made numerous successful investments in future-oriented technologies and companies, including significant stakes in SGL Carbon, which she helped stabilize and grow, and ventures in water technology, recycling, and additive manufacturing, demonstrating a forward-looking investment strategy.
• Philanthropy: While private about her charitable giving, Klatten is known to support various social, educational, and cultural initiatives, often through the Quandt Foundation, which promotes science, education, and culture.
• Maintaining Family Legacy: She has successfully managed and grown the industrial empire inherited from her parents, ensuring its continued relevance and prosperity in a rapidly changing global economy, thus preserving and enhancing the Quandt family's significant legacy in German industry.

Personal Life

Susanne Klatten met Jan Klatten while working as an intern at BMW in Regensburg in 1988, where she used the pseudonym 'Susanne Kant' to avoid special treatment. Jan Klatten was an engineer at the plant. They married in 1990 in a discreet ceremony. The couple has three children. The family maintains a relatively private lifestyle, largely staying out of the public spotlight despite their immense wealth and influence. They reside in Munich, Germany. In 2007, Susanne Klatten became the victim of an extortion attempt by Helg Sgarbi, a Swiss national with whom she had an affair. Sgarbi, along with several accomplices, threatened to release compromising videos and photographs of their encounters unless Klatten paid him millions of euros. Klatten reported the incident to the police, leading to Sgarbi's arrest and subsequent conviction in 2009 for attempted blackmail and fraud, for which he received a six-year prison sentence. This highly publicized event highlighted the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by public figures of extreme wealth.

Legacy

Susanne Klatten's legacy is multifaceted. She is recognized as one of Germany's most powerful and influential business leaders, a testament to her ability to not only manage but also strategically enhance vast inherited wealth. Her transformation of Altana AG into a specialized global leader and her steady hand on the supervisory board of BMW underscore her significant contributions to German industry. Through SKion GmbH, she has also demonstrated a commitment to investing in innovative and sustainable technologies, shaping future economic landscapes. Beyond her business acumen, Klatten represents a generation of German industrialist heirs who have successfully navigated the complexities of maintaining and growing family enterprises in the 21st century. Her emphasis on privacy, combined with her strategic business decisions and philanthropic efforts, positions her as a quiet yet formidable force in global business, ensuring the enduring impact of the Quandt family's industrial heritage for generations to come.