Early Life and Education
Stefan von Holtzbrinck was born on May 15, 1963, in Ettlingen, Germany. He studied law and German studies at the University of Tübingen and the University of Munich, earning a doctorate from the latter.
Rise to Success
Von Holtzbrinck began his career with the Kirch Group and later worked in the New Media division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, where he became the managing director of Nature Publishing Group and director of Macmillan. He apprenticed at Bloomsbury Publishing in London before joining Holtzbrinck in 1994. In 2001, he became the CEO of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its reach and diversified its portfolio, including investments in various internet and e-commerce startups through HV Capital.
Key Business Strategies
Von Holtzbrinck has focused on digital advancements and strategic partnerships within the publishing industry. He spearheaded the acquisition of the social network StudiVZ in 2007 and, despite an offer from Mark Zuckerberg, chose to retain control of the network. He has also overseen the restructuring of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, including mergers and acquisitions, such as the merger of Macmillan Science and Education with Springer Science+Business Media to form Springer Nature.
Philanthropy
Stefan von Holtzbrinck is actively involved in philanthropy. He is the chairman of the Max-Planck-Förderstiftung and the Kuratorium Kinderfreundliches Stuttgart, and a member of the board of the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart.