Dr. Arend Oetker
Dr. Arend Oetker was born in 1939 and studied business administration and political science in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne as well as Marketing at Harvard Business School. He received his doctorate in 1966 from the University of Cologne.
Dr. Arend Oetker, Managing Partner of Dr. Arend Oetker Holding, is Honorary Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder of the food company Hero AG, Deputy Chairman and major shareholder of KWS Saat AG and chairman of the board of Cognos AG.
Furthermore, Dr. Arend Oetker is actively involved as president of the German Council on Foreign Relations (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik e. V.), board member of the Confederation of German Employers‘ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände e. V.) and honorary member of the Federation of German Industries (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V.). He has received a number of accolades in the field of visual arts and music.
Dr. Arend Oetker is married and has five children.
Dr. Oetker's confessions
Q. DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL OR A LIFE MOTTO?
A. Don’t look back, only forward!
Q. WHAT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE STANDS OUT IN YOUR MEMORY?
A. A visit to St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome, with the Pope and all the Cardinals, was one of my most formative personal experiences.
Q. WHAT CAN YOU NOT LAUGH ABOUT?
A. When a human being lies at the expense of others.
Q. WHAT BEAUTIFUL THING HAVE YOU PURCHASED YOURSELF RECENTLY?
A. A painting by Rosemarie Trockel.
Q. WHAT BOOK WOULD YOU NEVER GIVE AWAY?
A. The Bible.
Q. WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE?
A. In the presence of my wife, children and grandchildren.
Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?
A. God.
Q. WHERE IS YOUR MOST PEACEFUL PLACE?
A. A church.
Q. WHAT WAS THE LAST GOOD DEED YOU DID?
A. The support of Syrian refugees to experience their own culture in the Museum of Islamic Art.
Q. WHAT HAVE YOU RECENTLY DREAMED ABOUT?
A. Of a beautiful woman.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC?
A. The oratorios of JS Bach.
Q. BEGINNING OR FINISHING? WHICH IS HARDER TO DO?
A. Stopping.