Honorary Professor at the University of Mannheim

Prof. Dr. Helmut Merkel was born on June 16th 1949 in Achern, Germany.

1980: he finished his studies of Business Administration (logistics, manufacturing, computer science) with degree Dr. rer. pol. (Summa Cum Laudae).

1980: he started to work for the German ADV/ORGA (SEMA Group) in Wilhelmshaven as a Senior Consultant and Project manager.

1986: Dr. Merkel became a member of the executive board of ADV/ORGA (SEMA Group) and was in charge of the Consulting Business (Retail, Public Administration, Defense).

1989: he became the CEO of DAT AG, a major German consulting and IT-Services Company.

1990: Prof. Dr. Merkel was appointed as Professor of Mannheim University in Business Administrations and Computer Sciences, Coorporate Planning and International Logistics.

1993: he became Managing Director and Executive board Member of Deichman Group, an International Retail Company. He was in charge of the international business in Europe and in the US.

2000: Prof. Dr. Helmut Merkel was appointed Executive Board Member of Arcandor AG (former KarstadtQuelle AG) responsible for IT, Logistics and Group Buying.

2002: between 2002 and 2009 he was member of the Supervisory Board of the GS1 Germany, in 2004 he became the Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

2003: Merkel became CEO of the Karstadt Warenhaus AG, a subsidiary of the Arcandor AG.

2004: In 2004 Prof. Merkel was unanimously elected the president of the BAG (until 2009), the Federal Association of Large and Medium sized Retailers in Germany. He also became a member of the University board at the University of Mannheim (until 2007) and a member of the board of the National Employers Association - BDA (until 2009).

2006: the general meetings of the HDE and the BAG agreed on the coorporate membership of the BAG in the HDE and Prof. Dr. Merkel was elected Vice President of HDE (German Trade Association). Merkel handed over his board seat at Karstadt Warenhaus AG to Peter Wolf after the successful restructuring of the company. He was again appointed Executive Board Member of Arcandor AG on August 1st resuming his former responsibilities.

2007: Prof. Merkel was appointed president of the IGDS (International Group of Department Stores), after two years, in december 2009 he handed over his presidency to Donnie Tantoco.

2008: Prof. Dr. Helmut Merkel resigned from the Arcandor Executive Board and started to concentrate on his own Business in Europe and Asia, he also continues his engagement at the University of Mannheim.