Klaus Josef Lutz

Klaus Josef Lutz
Born	(1958-03-20) March 20, 1958 (age 66) Munich, Germany
Nationality	German
Alma mater	Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Occupation	Chief Executive Officer
Years active	1987–present
Employers	Digital Equipment Corporation Süddeutscher Verlag BayWa
Office	CEO of BayWa AG (2008–present)

Klaus Josef Lutz (born March 20, 1958)[1] is a German lawyer and business manager. In 2008, he took over as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of BayWa and had since shaped the listed group with activities in the agricultural, building materials, and energy sectors.[2][3][4] Previously, as managing director, he restructured, among others, Süddeutscher Verlag, which publishes the Süddeutsche Zeitung.[5] Lutz is considered an expert on cooperatives.[6]

Life

Luz was born and grew up in Munich, where he lives with his wife. After graduating from high school, he studied law at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. In 1987, he was admitted to the bar. In 2013, Lutz was appointed honorary professor of cooperative business administration by the Technical University of Munich.[7]

Career

Digital Equipment Corporation

Lutz started his career as a lawyer at a Munich law firm. In 1989, he moved to the technology industry to join Digital Kienzle, then Germany's second-largest software company.[8] The subsidiary of the U.S. Digital Equipment Corporation was in trouble. As managing director and labor director, Lutz oversaw the company's restructuring,[9] which included job cuts.[10][11] To mitigate the impact on the remaining employees, Lutz developed an employee company as an alternative to the traditional Auffanggesellschaft.[12][13]

Between 1996 and 2002, Lutz took on leading positions in various industries, such as managing director of the Burda printing plants and board member of i-center,[14] a wholesaler for electrical appliances that had previously belonged to Siemens.[15] As a member of the executive board of the mechanical engineering company Unaxis, he was also involved in a profound change in the company's traditional business.

Süddeutscher Verlag

Lutz gained greater notoriety through his appointment to the management of Süddeutscher Verlag (2002). For a time, he also managed the operations of Süddeutsche Zeitung (2003).[16] The entire group of companies had fallen into a crisis that threatened its existence due to declining advertising revenues.[17] Lutz put an end to the nationwide expansion course and developed a modernization program.[18] In doing so, he primarily pushed the development of new products, such as the "SZ Bibliothek" and the "SZ Editions."[19] The circulation of the daily newspaper itself stabilized.

Lutz was the lead negotiator in the sale of a majority stake in Süddeutscher Verlag, including Süddeutsche Zeitung, to Südwestdeutsche Medien Holding (SWMH).[20] After completed the transaction in 2007, the two parties parted ways.[21][22]

BayWa

In 2008, Lutz succeeded Wolfgang Deml as chairman of BayWa's board of management.[23][5] He took over an economically sound company that had never made a loss since its founding and had announced record profits the year he took office.[24] However, the group's historically grown structure proved unsustainable, making it difficult to invest in new business areas.[25] In addition, BayWa repeatedly struggled with fluctuating commodity prices as part of its business model.[26][27]

Lutz pushed for both diversification and internationalization of BayWa,[28] but preserved the group's historical roots.[29] An example of changes during his tenure is creating a renewable energy business unit,[30] which bundled all solar and wind energy companies to respond to the shrinking heating oil market.[31][32][33] The acquisition of New Zealand fruit trader Turners & Growers gave BayWa a better position in the Asian market.[34][35] Dutch agricultural trader Cefetra was purchased to give it a strong presence in European markets as well.[36]

Lutz sold BayWa DIY and garden centers and also divested the group's car dealership.[37][38] He also restructured the group's real estate portfolio. This freed up funds for the development of digital technologies for agriculture, known as smart farming.[39][40] BayWa considers itself a pioneer in this field,[41] in part due to acquisitions such as PC-Agrar (now known as FarmFacts).[42]

During Lutz's tenure at BayWa, revenues increased from around €8.8 billion (2008) to €19.8 billion in 2021.[43][44] Renewable energy now accounts for the largest share of the group's profits.[45] Most recently, Lutz's contract was extended in 2020.[46] In 2022, BayWa announced his move to the supervisory board in 2023, planning to become chairman.[47]

Memberships

In 2013, Lutz was elected chairman of the supervisory board of Euro Pool System International (Rijswijk/Netherlands),[48] a leading logistics company for reusable packaging. Since 2015, he has also been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the banknote and smart card manufacturer Giesecke+Devrient (Munich/Germany).[49][50] In 2017, the German Raiffeisen Association, the umbrella organization of cooperatively organized companies in the German agricultural and food industry, elected vice president.[51]

Lutz sits on the advisory and supervisory boards of other business enterprises in Germany and abroad. In addition, as president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, as well as president of the Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, he is committed to the interests of the regional economy.[52][53] This was recognized in 2019 with the award of the Bavarian State Medal.[54]

Further reading

• Eichwald, Berthold; Lutz, Klaus Josef (2011). Erfolgsmodell Genossenschaften [Cooperatives as a model for success.] (in German). Wiesbaden: Deutscher Genossenschafts-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87151-145-5.

Notes and references

1. Kroneck, Stefan (March 20, 2018). "Klaus Josef Lutz wird 60". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
2. "Klaus Josef Lutz". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
3. Fasse, Markus (July 24, 2008). "Gott mit dir, du Land der BayWa". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
4. Thiele, Christian (August 30, 2012). "Der Gemischtwarenverkäufer". Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
5. Meier, Lutz (March 4, 2008). "Fremdelnd zum Erfolg". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 2.
6. "Praxiserfahrung befruchtet die Academia: BayWa-Vorstandschef Lutz wird TUM-Honorarprofessor" (in German). Technische Universität München. November 20, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
7. "Klaus Josef Lutz". Technical University of Munich (TUM). Retrieved May 4, 2021.
8. "Personalien". Handelsblatt (in German). July 17, 1991. p. 14.
9. "Topmanager als Bauernopfer". Focus Magazin (in German). November 14, 1994. p. 340.
10. "Digital Equipment kündigt Tarifvertrag". Handelsblatt (in German). July 4, 1994. p. 4.
11. "Digital Equipment: Beinahe jede zweite Stelle entfällt". Nürnberger Nachrichten (in German). September 6, 1994.
12. "Digital Equipment: Neue Wege zum Stellenabbau". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). October 20, 1994.
13. "Digital Equipment: Projekt einer Mitarbeitergesellschaft. Eine westdeutsche Alternative zur ostdeutschen Auffanggesellschaft". Handelsblatt (in German). September 12, 1994. p. 5.
14. "Namen". Handelsblatt (in German). February 19, 1999. p. 14.
15. Hack, Markus (October 17, 2001). "Notbremse gezogen: Nürnberger Elektrogroßhändler stellt Insolvenzantrag". Nürnberger Nachrichten (in German).
16. "Süddeutsche Zeitung: Der Kämmerer geht". Manager Magazin (in German). June 18, 2003. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
17. Bähr, Günther; Seitz, Josef (October 14, 2002). "Ungebremst in Richtung Wand". Focus Magazin (in German). p. 182.
18. Schuler, Thomas (March 14, 2003). "Gestoppte Expansion". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). p. 1.
19. Meier, Lutz (March 19, 2004). "Süddeutsche entwickelt Zusatzgeschäfte: Verlag der Zeitung sucht neue Erlösquellen als Weg aus der Krise". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 7.
20. "Süddeutsche geht an Medienholding". Faz.net (in German). December 21, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
21. Grimberg, Steffen; Raab, Klaus (February 29, 2008). "Es lebe der Wurstsalat!". Die Tageszeitung: Taz (in German). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
22. "Wachwechsel in München". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). March 1, 2008. p. 27.
23. Kroneck, Stefan (February 23, 2008). "Führungswechsel bei der BayWa". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 7.
24. Kroneck, Stefan (March 28, 2008). "BayWa erwirtschaftet Rekordgewinn: Ausschüttungsquote sinkt trotz erhöhter Dividende". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 13.
25. "Eine Firma mit gefühlten 400.000 Mitarbeitern". Heilbronner Stimme (in German). May 13, 2009. p. 9.
26. Hagl, Wolfgang (September 18, 2009). "Landpartie mit neuen Zielen". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 24.
27. Hartmann, Jens (January 22, 2012). "Ganz ohne Spekulation geht es nicht". Welt am Sonntag (in German). p. 38.
28. Werner, Kathrin; Clausen, Sven (September 11, 2012). "Aus Bayern in die Welt". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 6.
29. Lutz, Klaus Josef (April 7, 2009). "Trotz Internationalisierung bleibt BayWa ein bayerischer Konzern". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 10.
30. "BayWa setzt auf erneuerbare Energien". Handelsblatt (in German). April 1, 2010. p. 30.
31. "BayWa: In neuem Glanz". Focus Money (in German). September 30, 2009. p. 23.
32. Zerbel, Miriam (August 7, 2011). "Die Energiewende wird unser Exportschlager". Welt am Sonntag (in German). p. 4.
33. "BayWa sucht die Alternative zum Heizöl". Heilbronner Stimme (in German). November 13, 2009. p. 8.
34. Kroneck, Stefan (August 3, 2012). "BayWa strebt im Obsthandel an die Weltspitze – Neuerwerb Turners & Growers als Sprungbrett für weitere Einkaufstour". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 13.
35. Hartmann, Jens (November 25, 2012). "Asiaten lieben süßere Äpfel". Welt am Sonntag (in German). p. 58.
36. "Agrarkonzern: BayWa verdoppelt sein Getreidegeschäft". Handelsblatt (in German). September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
37. Kroneck, Stefan (March 27, 2009). "BayWa ordnet sich nach Rekordjahr neu. Vorstandschef sucht Lösung für Autohandel und Gartenbaumärkte". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 12.
38. Kroneck, Stefan (August 7, 2009). "BayWa stößt Autohandel ab. Gewinneinbruch: Agrarhandelskonzern spürt Preisverfall". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 10.
39. Dierig, Carsten (November 7, 2015). "Digital Farming schont die Ressourcen". Die Welt (in German). p. 12.
40. Lutz, Klaus Josef (September 29, 2018). "Täglich Brot dank Big Data". Focus Magazin (in German). p. 66.
41. "Digitalisierung: BayWa nimmt Smart Farming für kleine Betriebe ins Visier". Agra Europe (in German). June 17, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
42. "Smart Farming: BayWa übernimmt Anbieter von Agrar-Software". Computerwoche (in German). January 15, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
43. Hegmann, Gerd (March 27, 2009). "BayWa steigert den Umsatz um 22 Prozent". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 5.
44. "Baywa steigert Umsatz auf fast 20 Milliarden Euro". Baumarkt Manager (in German). March 1, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
45. "BayWa meldet Gewinnsprung dank erneuerbarer Energien". Focus Online (in German). March 4, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
46. Kroneck, Stefan (March 26, 2020). "BayWa-Chef Klaus Josef Lutz macht bis 2025 weiter". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
47. "BayWa: Vorstandsvorsitzender Lutz soll Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender werden". Top Agrar (in German). March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
48. "Klaus Josef Lutz aangesteld als voorzitter van de RvC Euro Pool System" (in Dutch). AGF. September 11, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
49. "Neue Kontrolleure bei Giesecke & Devrient". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). April 10, 2014. p. 16.
50. Kroneck, Stefan (September 23, 2015). "BayWa-CEO wird AR-Chef von G&D". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 16.
51. "Vizepräsidenten gewählt – DRV-Präsidialausschuss wieder komplett" (in German). Deutsche Raiffeisenverband. June 22, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
52. "Verbände: BayWa-Chef Lutz wird IHK-Präsident". Zeit Online (in German). June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
53. "Neuer BIHK-Chef Lutz kritisiert Politik: Für Schulterschluss". Zeit Online (in German). July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
54. "Bayerische Staatsmedaille für IHK-Vizepräsidenten Obermeier-Osl und Lutz" (in German). IHK München und Oberbayern. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2020.

External links

• Klaus Josef Lutz at BayWa
• Munzinger-Archiv: Klaus Josef Lutz (in German)