Beiersdorf mourns the loss of Dr. Rolf KunischPress Statement

Hamburg, September 25, 2018 Beiersdorf mourns the loss of Dr. Rolf Kunisch. The former CEO and member of the Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf AG died on September 20, 2018 at the age of 77 in Frankfurt am Main.

Rolf Kunisch played a significant role in shaping the development of the Beiersdorf Group for over 20 years. In 1991, he joined Beiersdorf as member of the Executive Board responsible for the former cosmed division and became Chairman of the Executive Board in 1994. After he retired from the Executive Board in 2005, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf AG for six more years.

“Rolf Kunisch was a great personality with extraordinary expertise and sense of responsibility. Among his great contributions are the internationalization and independence of Beiersdorf as well as establishing NIVEA as a global brand,” Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Pöllath said in recognition of the deceased.

“In Rolf Kunisch, we are losing a great Beiersdorfer, who has rendered outstanding service in advancing the development of our company. Through the expansion of the NIVEA brand, he was instrumental in setting Beiersdorf up to be very well positioned today. For this, he deserves our sincere thanks and recognition. Our sympathies and condolences go out to his family,” said CEO Stefan F. Heidenreich.

Rolf Kunisch has earned great merit for his extraordinary commitment to the company and especially to the NIVEA brand. Beiersdorfer will not only remember Rolf Kunisch well for his technical competencies. He was a natural leader who could guide people and motivate employees to go the journey with him. We mourn with his family and will treasure his memory.

Curriculum Vitae of Rolf Kunisch

April 19, 1941 Born in Bad Arolsen near Kassel
1960 University entrance qualification
1960–1966 Studied economics and engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt
1966–1968 Research assistant at the University of Cologne
1968 Received his Doctorate in Economics (Dr. rer. pol.) at the Technical University of Darmstadt
1968 Product Manager at Procter & Gamble
1973–1975 Product Manager at Procter & Gamble in the United States
1976–1978 Marketing Manager at Procter& Gamble in Germany
1979–1991 General Manager at Procter & Gamble in various countries
1991 Executive Board member of Beiersdorf AG, Head of the cosmed division
1994–2005 Chairman of the Executive Board of Beiersdorf AG
2005–2011 Member of the Beiersdorf Supervisory Board
September 20, 2018 Rolf Kunisch died at the age of 77 in Frankfurt am Main

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Inken Hollmann-Peters
Vice President Corporate Communications & Sustainability

Beiersdorf AG
Unnastrasse 48
20245 Hamburg, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 40 - 4909 2001

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