He died at the age of 89. Klaus-Michael Kine, heir of a shipping empire and wealthier man in Germany, who turned Kuehne + Nagel International AG into one of the largest groups worldwide in maritime and air freight.
His death, in Sindelengi, Switzerland, was confirmed Monday by the company.
Under Kine's leadership, the Kuehne + Nagel developed for decades into a global giant in the transport sector, with more than 1,300 offices worldwide and 88,000 workers.
"With Klaus-Michael's death we lost a visionary, a great businessman and an excellent personality," said Kuehne + Nagel president, Jorge Vole, expressing his condolences to his widow, Christine Kine.
Kine was born on 2 June 1937 in Hamburg And he was the only child of Alfred Kine and former Mercedes Griff.
Through his Swiss-based holding company, Kine owned 55% in Kuehne + Nagel. His estate was estimated at approximately 49 billion dollars, according to Bloomberg Billion Index.
The launch of profits in the pandemic
Kuehne + Nagel recorded vertical increase in its profits during the coronavirus pandemic, when global supply chains faced severe disturbances and freight prices were launched.
The company, having considerable expertise in the transport of healthcare products, played an important role in the transport of vaccines against Covid-19.
At the same time, it strengthened its activity as consumers who remained in their homes turned massively to electronic markets, increasing demand for freight transport.
