Early Life
Susanne Klatten was born Susanne Hanna Ursula Quandt on April 28, 1962, in Bad Homburg, West Germany. She is the daughter of Herbert and Johanna Quandt.
Rise to Success
Klatten's early career involved working at the advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt from 1981 to 1983. She also gained experience at Dresdner Bank and McKinsey. Klatten holds a degree in business finance and an MBA from IMD Business School in Lausanne. Upon her father's death, she inherited a 50.1% stake in Altana AG, a pharmaceutical and chemicals manufacturer. She played a pivotal role in transforming Altana into a world-class corporation, which was listed on the German DAX. She was appointed to the supervisory board of BMW with her brother Stefan Quandt in 1997.
Key Business Strategies
In 2006, Altana AG sold its pharmaceutical activities to Nycomed for €4.5 billion, distributing the proceeds as dividends. Klatten retained her majority share and later bought almost all the remaining shares in Altana.
Philanthropy
Klatten is known for her philanthropic efforts and is a major donor to the Christian Democratic Union.