Kühne+Nagel logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kühne, Lufthansa’s largest individual shareholder, has died at the age of 89 in Schindellegi, Switzerland. He died in the night to Monday, and his holding company confirmed the death. Kühne had built one of Germany’s best-known business empires and held a stake of a little more than 20% in Lufthansa through his investment vehicle.
Kühne was also a major shareholder in Hapag-Lloyd and Brenntag, and his holding had interests in Flix and other assets. His death raises questions over the future of his stake in Lufthansa and the wider succession of his investment portfolio, although no immediate transfer, disposal or governance plan has been disclosed. Reports had identified him as an influential and at times critical investor in Lufthansa since he increased his position in 2022.