Klaus-Michael Kühne is a German businessman, the billionaire Honorary Chairman of Kühne + Nagel International AG (SWX: KNIN), one of the world's largest logistics and freight forwarding companies. His wealth is generational, tied to the industrial empire founded by his grandfather, August Kühne, in 1890.

Kühne's career is defined by generational stewardship and aggressive expansion in the global logistics sector. He joined the family business in 1963 and quickly focused on internationalization. His philosophy centers on vertical integration, operational efficiency, and strategic investment in maritime and transport assets.

• Kühne + Nagel International AG (Honorary Chairman & Controlling Shareholder): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in sea freight, air freight, contract logistics, and ground transportation.
• Hapag-Lloyd (Major Shareholder): He controls a substantial stake (over 30 percent) in the world's fifth-largest container shipping line.
• Logistics Pioneer: He successfully industrialized and globalized the freight forwarding and contract logistics model.
• Philanthropy: He founded the Kühne Foundation, a massive philanthropic vehicle dedicated to logistics and management education.

Klaus-Michael Kühne's strategic genius was his early and aggressive push into global logistics (expanding to over 100 countries). He became CEO of Kühne + Nagel in 1966. His structural contribution is tied to the successful development and modernization of the global supply chain and freight forwarding industry. His long-term goal was to connect the logistics provider (Kühne + Nagel) with the physical shipping infrastructure (Hapag-Lloyd).

His wealth is secured by his controlling stake in Kühne + Nagel and his strategic, massive stake in Hapag-Lloyd (container shipping). He has been honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2009). He stepped down from executive roles but remains Honorary Chairman of Kühne + Nagel. His fortune is tied to the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global logistics and maritime sectors.

Klaus-Michael Kühne's social impact is structural, stemming from Kühne + Nagel's role in providing essential logistical and supply chain services that underpin the world economy. His company contributes significantly to global trade efficiency. His Kühne Foundation is a major structural contributor to logistics and business education (funding the Kühne Logistics University).

His structural contribution is tied to the successful generational transition and long-term private control of one of the world's most important logistics companies.

Klaus-Michael Kühne maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global logistics sector.

Residing in Schindellegi, Switzerland, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to logistics management, strategic investment, and philanthropy.