Gotthard Kleine

Dr. Gotthard Kleine was born on 24 June 1955 in Orsoy, Germany. He graduated in Physics and Theology and obtained his doctorate with honors from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the RWTH Aachen. For his doctoral thesis, he was awarded the “Borchers Medal” from the RWTH Aachen University.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kleine has held numerous senior consulting positions and supported several companies in their strategic, organisational and personnel development, as well as with quality assurance. In 1995, he assumed a leadership role in industrial engineering at a research institute in Bremen, alongside a teaching assignment at the University of Bremen’s research division for production technology.

Since 2000, Gotthard Kleine has been Managing Director of an international child welfare organisation and shareholder of the fair trade company GEPA. He is also member of the board of several foundations and member of the board of trustees of the Egidius-Braun-Stiftung of the German Soccer Federation (DFB). Additionally, he is member of the board of the Grünenthal Foundation and member of the Supervisory Board of a cooperative bank.