News Item, 10/04/2009, Gütersloh: Reinhard Mohn -- We will miss his inquisitive mind

The death of our founder has affected us all greatly. We all mourn his loss, and extend our condolences to his family, above all his wife Liz Mohn and his children.

When Reinhard Mohn returned to Germany, a country in ruins, after being held as a prisoner of war, he hoped for the opportunity, the possibility of creating something new. Receive it he did, and he made the most of it in the truest sense of the word. The postwar history of the Bertelsmann Group is testimony to his drive, his creativity and his entrepreneurial sixth sense.

That, however, was only one side of his life’s work.

“Financial wealth entails social responsibility,” he said with utter conviction, and he made use of his company’s success to serve society as one of its citizens.

The Bertelsmann Stiftung, which he founded 32 years ago, is unique proof of his commitment. He transferred a majority stake in the Bertelsmann Group to it, thus giving it the financial resources to identify social problems and shortcomings and develop responses to them.
He always took a special interest in the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s employees, passionately entering into in-depth discussion with them every day and never resting until better solutions had been found. 

Until the last he was always informed of the foundation’s projects. It was very impressive how he listened and absorbed ideas before forming his own opinion.

If one asked him about the most important aspects of his life’s work, with complete earnestness he would name the corporate culture he himself developed.

This corporate culture is based on a fundamental respect for people. Its hallmarks are the partnership that brings together all parties within a business organization and the fair distribution of rewards resulting from successful performance among all who contribute to it. In addition, it accords each individual the freedom to achieve his or her full potential.

Especially in difficult times such as these, the above principles are timelier and more needed than ever, since only solidarity and equitable access will allow us to rise to the challenges society currently faces.

Up until this summer, despite his advanced age, Mr. Mohn came to the Bertelsmann Stiftung every day, joining in discussions and advancing new ideas in order to promote the foundation’s work. Until the very end he was a member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Board of Trustees. In the future we will all very much miss his suggestions, his advice and his unwavering ability to consider things in a new light and to bring forth new solutions. 

Throughout his many years he never retired from life. Instead, he observed what was going on with objectivity and curiosity, reflecting on developments and asking questions. His was an inquisitive mind, one that followed changes with great interest, comparing them with his own thoughts and viewpoints. He never ran out of innovative ideas and was always moving forward. His last book, “Learning From the World,” in which he very impressively reflected on his beliefs in light of events from his life, is certainly testimony to these qualities.

I worked extensively with him for a number of decades and had the pleasure of interacting with him on a very human level. I consider myself extremely lucky to have known him and to have engaged with him on such a diverse range of projects over such a lengthy period of time. During this time he became somewhat of a mentor to me, one who provided vital support but who also challenged me and others to reconsider our views and to search for new ideas and solutions. In light of his people-first attitude, his conscientiousness and his insistence on looking for what is new and better, he will always remain a role model for me.

Especially after his death, his untiring efforts will serve as a mandate for us to continue working in the manner he would have wanted and to use the foundation he created to shape change and implement reform. We will remember him and his achievements with great gratitude and respect.

Gunter Thielen