Liz Mohn
Elisabeth Mohn | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 21, 1941 Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Leadership roles in Bertelsmann media conglomerate and Bertelsmann Stiftung; founder of Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition and German Stroke Foundation |
Elisabeth Mohn (born Beckmann on 21 June 1941) is a German billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was married to Reinhard Mohn until his passing in 2009.
As a representative of the fifth generation in the family that founded the Bertelsmann media conglomerate, Liz Mohn played a pivotal role in its governance. She led the steering committee of the Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft (BVG) until 2021 and continues to serve as a committee member. Additionally, she holds various positions within Bertelsmann's supervisory entities. Up to June 2021, she acted as vice chairwoman of both the executive board and the board of trustees of the non-profit Bertelsmann Stiftung, after which she was honored with an honorary board membership.
The Liz Mohn Center unites her initiatives aimed at fostering global understanding, emphasizing contemporary management practices and cultural projects. Her extensive civic contributions have been recognized with numerous distinctions, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Life
Following her education, Mohn initially trained as a dental hygienist before starting her career at Bertelsmann, first as a telephone operator and subsequently within the company's book club division. At age 17, she encountered Reinhard Mohn. In 1963, she wed editor Joachim Scholz; their marriage ended in separation in 1978. Reinhard Mohn divorced his first wife in 1982 and married Elisabeth that same year. He adopted her children Brigitte Mohn, Christoph Mohn, and .
Over time, Liz Mohn deepened her involvement with Bertelsmann and its foundation. She became a member of the advisory council for the Bertelsmann Stiftung in 1986 and joined the shareholders' meeting of Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft in 1999, which governs voting rights at the media group's annual general meeting. In 2000, she entered the foundation's executive committee; notably, the Bertelsmann Stiftung holds a majority stake in the group indirectly. By 2002, she had ascended to chair Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft, acting as family spokesperson and joining Bertelsmann's supervisory board, thereby assuming a central leadership position.
After Reinhard Mohn passed away in 2009, Elisabeth succeeded him. He had endowed her with veto powers at Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft and granted her majority founder rights at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, including authority to nominate members for its board of trustees.
Her simultaneous leadership roles within both company and foundation attracted considerable media attention. Upon reaching her eightieth birthday in 2021, she transferred chairmanship of the steering committee at Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft to Christoph Mohn and resigned from the executive board of Bertelsmann Stiftung. She continues to serve as president of both the board of trustees of the and as president of the board of directors for the Bertelsmann Foundation North America, two legally autonomous foundations linked to Bertelsmann Stiftung.
Philanthropy
In 1987, Mohn founded the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition, motivated by Herbert von Karajan’s concern about insufficient platforms for emerging opera talent. Organized by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, this competition has become a prominent venue for discovering new opera singers. In 1999, she also launched an initiative aimed at enhancing music education among children, particularly targeting primary schools.
In 1992, she established the nonprofit German Stroke Foundation (Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe), dedicated to stroke prevention and public awareness. Prompted by a medical condition affecting one of her sons, she serves as president while her daughter Brigitte chairs its board of trustees. A key fundraising event is the Roseball, with proceeds supporting stroke-related programs.
Broadening her cultural philanthropic efforts, Mohn created the Liz Mohn Foundation for Culture and Music in 2005 and leads its executive board. This foundation promotes youth musicals and awards scholarships to opera performers, collaborating with organizations such as the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden. It also organizes an annual "Cultural Diversity with Music" program designed to encourage intercultural musical projects.
Awards and honors
Liz Mohn has been recognized extensively for her dedication to social causes. In 1996, she earned the European Philanthropy Prize, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Charity Bambi award. She made history in 1999 as the first German woman admitted to the Club of Rome. The German Medical Association bestowed upon her their Badge of Honor in 2000, followed by an honorary doctorate from the University of Tel Aviv in 2006. In 2008, UNESCO honored her with the Children in Need award.
In 2009, Mohn became the inaugural female recipient of the Karl Winnacker Prize and was awarded the Global Economy Prize a year later. France designated her as an officer of the Legion of Honor in 2013. The following year, she received the Euriade Badge of Honor in Gold from Queen Silvia of Sweden, and in 2016, Luxembourg presented her with the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown.
That same year, the city council of Gütersloh conferred upon her honorary citizenship.
Publications
- Liz Mohn, Liebe öffnet Herzen, C. Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich, 2001, ISBN 3-570-00367-1
- Liz Mohn (editor), Werte: Was die Gesellschaft zusammenhält, Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, 2006, ISBN 3-89204-908-4
- Liz Mohn and Ursula von der Leyen (editors), Familie gewinnt: Die Allianz und ihre Wirkungen für Unternehmen und Gesellschaft, Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, 2007, ISBN 978-3-89204-927-2
- Liz Mohn and Karin Schlautmann (editors), Positionen: Unternehmenskultur und Werte, Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, 2010, ISBN 978-3-86793-229-5
- Liz Mohn, Schlüsselmomente: Erfahrungen eines engagierten Lebens, C. Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich, 2011, ISBN 978-3-570-10110-0
Further reading
- Thomas Schuler, Die Mohns: Vom Provinzbuchhändler zum Weltkonzern. Die Familie hinter Bertelsmann, Campus Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, 2004, ISBN 3-593-37307-6