Otto Beisheim (3 January 1924 – 18 February 2013) was a German businessman and founder of Metro AG.

In 2010, his net worth was estimated at US$3.6 billion.

 

WWII

According to journalist Michael Radtke, during World War II he served in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. According to a report in theSüddeutsche Zeitung, Otto Beisheim Sturmmann (equivalent to corporal) in the 1 SS Panzer Division was assigned to the Bavarian Ministry of Culture, according to the Ministry, he was probably not involved in atrocities. He has never publicly explained himself.

 

 

Business

The first Metro Market, opened in November 1963 in Essen-Altenessen.

On 10 January 2004, Beisheim Center was officially opened on the northwest side of Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, built for 463 million euros, and including the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott chains.

In 2009, he sold sold 5.2% of the shares of Metro AG to various national and international investors; a further 3.1% could be sold.

 

 

Philanthropy

The WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, in Koblenz is named for him.

 

 

References

^ Julie Cruz (18 February 2013). "Metro’s Billionaire Founder Otto Beisheim Dies, Aged 89". Bloomberg. ^ http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Otto-Beisheim_SEMX.html?partner=contextstory ^ http://redblog.twoday.net/stories/1187584/ ^ http://blogs.taz.de/schroederkalender/2006/08/22/otto-beisheim-kundigt-immer-fristlos/ ^ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/otto-beisheim-sells-52-stake-in-metro-ag-2009-10-07 ^ http://www.whu.edu/cms/index.php?id=433 ^ http://www.topuniversities.com/university/322/whu-otto-beisheim-school-of-management---koblenz ^ http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/kelloggwhu-otto-beisheim-school