Prof. Dr. Michael Otto

Prof. Michael Otto (born 1943) led the Otto Group as Chairman of the Executive Board and Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1981 to October 2007. The company developed into an international mail-order group under his stewardship. Prof. Otto recognized the potential of online retail as early as the mid-1990s and transformed the Otto Group into one of the world’s most successful e-commerce companies. He was honored with the special Digitization Driver Award at the Digital Champions Awards in 2016 in recognition of this achievement. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board, he continues to play a significant role in shaping and promoting the company’s digital transformation. The Otto Group now has 123 major companies in over 30 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and is among the world’s largest online retailers.

After graduating from high school, Michael Otto completed a banking apprenticeship and then studied economics, obtaining a doctorate (Dr. oec. publ.). He started his own business in real estate and financial brokerage during his time as a student.

Prof. Michael Otto joined the Otto Group in 1971, where he took a seat on the Executive Board with responsibility for the Textile Purchasing division, in which he established a new organizational structure.

The numerous honorary positions he holds pay testimony to his desire to give something back to society. Among others, Prof. Otto is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gesellschaft für Politik und Wirtschaft e. V., Hamburg (Haus Rissen); Deputy Chairman of the Board of Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI, Berlin; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Environmental Foundation Michael Otto; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Werner Otto Foundation for Medical Research; Chairman of the Executive Board of KlimaWirtschaft Foundation (formerly Foundation 2° – German CEO Alliance for Climate and Economy); Member of the Board of Trustees of the Helmut and Loki Schmidt Foundation; Honorary Senator of Deutsche Nationalstiftung; Member of the International Club of Rome; Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Environmental Foundation WWF Germany; Honorary Member of the World Future Council.