Beiersdorf Mourns the Loss of Hans-Otto Wöbcke

September 7, 2017 – Hamburg. Beiersdorf mourns Hans-Otto Wöbcke. The former CEO and long-time member of the Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf AG died on September 3, 2017, at the age of 87 in Hamburg.

Hans-Otto Wöbcke played a significant role in shaping the development of Beiersdorf for over 30 years. After he started at the company in 1971, he became a member of the Board in 1974 and CEO in 1989. After he retired from the Board in 1994, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf AG for ten more years.

“In Hans-Otto Wöbcke, Beiersdorf is not just losing an important figure, but also a special human who with passion, vision and energy set the right course for the successful development of the company,” said Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Reinhard Pöllath.

“Throughout his life Hans-Otto Wöbcke was closely connected to Beiersdorf. He recognized the great potential of our NIVEA brand and began its successful expansion into an umbrella brand. For this he deserves our sincere thanks and recognition. Our sympathies and condolences go out to his family”, said CEO of Beiersdorf AG, Stefan F. Heidenreich.

Hans-Otto Wöbcke has earned great merit for his extraordinary commitment for the company. All Beiersdorf employees will keep him in good memory.

Curriculum Vitae of Hans-Otto Wöbcke

8.8.1930   Born in Offenau near Elmshorn (Schleswig-Holstein)
1951-1956 After high school, business administration training at an agency and then worked for two service companies
1957-1969 Unilever Germany
1957 Traineeship, various management positions in marketing
1966-1969 General Sales Management for the German Detergent Business
1969-1971 Edeka Headquarters – Executive
1971 Beiersdorf AG
1971 Authorized Representative
1974 Board Member Beiersdorf AG, Head of cosmed Division (until 1989): expanded NIVEA to an umbrella brand for skin care
1988 Vice CEO Beiersdorf AG
1989-1994 CEO Beiersdorf AG
1994-2004 Member of Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf AG
3.9.2017 Hans-Otto Wöbcke dies at the age of 87 in Hamburg

Press Contact

Inken Hollmann-Peters
Vice President Corporate Communications & Sustainability

Beiersdorf AG
Unnastrasse 48
20245 Hamburg, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 40 - 4909 2001

Contact us