Professor Manfred Pohl (born 26 May 1944) is a German business historian. He is the author of over thirty corporate history books, as well as numerous articles and chapters. He has also published a number of poems and short stories. Manfred Pohl is an honorary professor at the
Goethe University Frankfurt
Goethe University (german: link=no, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is a university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealt ...
, Germany. He is also the founder of the ogranization My Europe 2100 and the Frankfurter Zukunftsrat.
Biography
Manfred Pohl was born on 26 May 1944 in the town of Bliesransbach, near
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken (; french: link=no, Sarrebruck ; Rhine Franconian: ''Saarbrigge'' ; lb, Saarbrécken ; lat, Saravipons, lit=The Bridge(s) across the Saar river) is the capital and largest city of the state of Saarland, Germany. Saarbrücken is S ...
in the
Saarland
The Saarland (, ; french: Sarre ) is a state of Germany in the south west of the country. With an area of and population of 990,509 in 2018, it is the smallest German state in area apart from the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, and ...
region of Germany. After completing an apprenticeship at the Saarland Credit Bank, he studied German, History, Philosophy and Economics. In 1972, he was awarded a doctorate for his thesis on the history of banking in the
Saarland
The Saarland (, ; french: Sarre ) is a state of Germany in the south west of the country. With an area of and population of 990,509 in 2018, it is the smallest German state in area apart from the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, and ...
.
Between 1972 and 2001, Manfred Pohl led the Historical Institute of Deutsche Bank. From 1981 he lectured at the
Goethe University Frankfurt
Goethe University (german: link=no, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is a university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealt ...
, Germany, leading courses on Corporate History and Corporate Culture. In 1992 he was awarded an honorary professorship by the university's School of Finance.
In addition to his academic position and his work at Deutsche Bank, Manfred Pohl has founded numerous
nonprofit organizations
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
including '' eabh'' (The European Association for Banking and Financial History), founded in 1990, the
Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs
An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body.
In some countries, institutes can ...
, founded in 2001 and the Frankfurter Zukunftsrat, founded in 2008.
In 1998 he founded Europoint, which supported the introduction of the Euro currency in the twelve EU countries that originally adopted the currency in 1999/2001. Activities of note included the "Euro-World" project, a competition where over 1000 children suffering from cancer painted designs for the forthcoming Euro coins. Fourteen winning designs were purchased by the European Central Bank, of which two remain on display at the Bank, with the other twelve being donated back to the hospitals of the children who created the designs. Europoint also commissioned the illuminated Euro sign that stands outside the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. After Europoint was dissolved in 2002, ownership of the sign was transferred to the then newly formed Frankfurter Kultur Komitee.
Manfred Pohl has written numerous histories of German companies and business ventures, among them Deutsche Bank,
M. DuMont Schauberg
M. DuMont Schauberg is one of Germany's oldest and largest publishing houses. It was founded by Bertram Hilden in 1620.
The company has been run by the Neven du Mont family since 1805, when Marcus du Mont acquired the ''Kölnische Zeitung'' ...
,
Hochtief
Hochtief AG is a German construction company based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.the Baghdad Railway. He has also authored and edited works on economic and social themes, especially related to
corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a form of international private business self-regulation which aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethicall ...
and
business history
Business history is a historiographical field which examines the history of firms, business methods, government regulation and the effects of business on society. It also includes biographies of individual firms, executives, and entrepreneurs. ...
(see publications list below).
Awards
*2001 - European Culture Prize
*2011 - German Federal Order of Merit, First Class (
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
, 1. Klasse)
Publications and edited works in English
* ''Responsible Business: How to Manage a CSR Strategy Successfully'', Ed. with Nick Tolhurst, Wiley, Chichester 2010
* ''The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility,'' Ed. with W. Visser, D. Matten and Nick Tolhurst, Wiley, Chichester 2007
* ''The ICCA Handbook on Corporate Social Responsibility'', with Nick Tolhurst, Wiley, Chichester 2006
* ''Merger of Equals'', Munich 2004
Hochtief
Hochtief AG is a German construction company based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.Deutsche Bank in London (1873 bis 1998)'', München 1998