Liz Mohn Explained

Liz Mohn
Birth Name:Elisabeth Beckmann
Birth Date:21 June 1941
Birth Place:Wiedenbrück, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Spouse:
    Children:3, including Brigitte and Christoph

    Elisabeth Mohn (née Beckmann; born 21 June 1941)[1] is a German billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist.[2] [3] She was married to Reinhard Mohn until his death in 2009.[4]

    Liz Mohn represents the fifth generation of the family that founded and continues to play a leading role at the Bertelsmann media group.[5] [6] [7] Until 2021, she was chairwoman of the steering committee of the Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft (BVG), and remains a committee member to this day.[8] She is also a member of the governance bodies at Bertelsmann.[9] Moreover, until June 2021 Liz Mohn was vice chairwoman of the executive board and board of trustees of the non-profit Bertelsmann Stiftung and since then has been an honorary member of the board of trustees.[10] [11]

    The Liz Mohn Center bundled her projects promoting international understanding, on business topics with a focus on issues of modern management, along with those in the cultural field.[12] Mohn has been recognized with numerous awards for her extensive civic engagement, among them the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[13] [14]

    Life

    After completing her schooling, Mohn began an apprenticeship as a dental hygienist. She later applied to become a telephone operator at Bertelsmann and subsequently worked for the company's book club. At the age of 17 she met Reinhard Mohn.[15] In 1963, she married the editor Joachim Scholz;[16] [17] the couple separated in 1978.[18] In 1982, Reinhard Mohn's first marriage ended in divorce.[18] [19] Liz and Reinhard Mohn married the same year.[20] He adopted their biological children Brigitte Mohn, Christoph Mohn and .[21]

    In the following years, Liz Mohn gradually began playing a greater role at the company and foundation.[22] In 1986, she joined the Bertelsmann Stiftung's advisory council.[23] In 1999, she was asked to become a member of the shareholders' meeting of Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft,[24] which controls the voting rights at the media group's annual general meeting.[25] In 2000, she also joined the executive committee of the Bertelsmann Stiftung;[26] the foundation indirectly holds a majority of shares in the Bertelsmann group.[27] In 2002, Mohn advanced to the top position at Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft,[28] where she also became the family spokesperson; in addition, she joined the supervisory board at Bertelsmann.[29] With that, she took on a leading role overseeing the company.[30]

    Liz Mohn became her husband's successor upon his death in 2009.[31] Among other rights, Reinhard Mohn had granted her a veto at Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft.[32] [33] She was also awarded a majority of the founder's rights at the Bertelsmann Stiftung,[34] [35] which allows her, for example, to propose members for the board of trustees.[36]

    As a result of her dual role at the company and the foundation, Liz Mohn has received considerable media attention.[37] [38] Upon reaching the age threshold of 80 years, in the year 2021 she handed over the chairmanship in the steering committee at the Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft to Christoph Mohn.[39] In addition, she stepped down from the executive board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Liz Mohn continues to serve as president of the board of trustees of the and president of the board of directors of the Bertelsmann Foundation North America. Both are foundations belonging to the Bertelsmann Stiftung, yet act legally independently.[40]

    Philanthropy

    In 1987, Mohn launched the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition.[41] She was inspired to do so by Herbert von Karajan,[42] who noted that too little was being done to promote new opera talent.[43] Organized by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the competition has since become an internationally recognized forum for discovering up-and-coming opera singers.[44] [45] [46] In addition, Mohn initiated a project in 1999 for promoting music appreciation and education among children, especially in primary schools.[47]

    In 1992, she founded the nonprofit,[48] which works to prevent and increase awareness of stroke.[49] [50] She was motivated to do so by a medical condition affecting one of her sons which caused symptoms that resembled a stroke.[51] [52] Mohn is president of the foundation and her daughter Brigitte serves as chairwoman of its board of trustees.[53] A key activity in this area is the Roseball, at which Mohn collects donations to be used for fighting the illness.[54] [55]

    In 2005, Mohn expanded her efforts to promote music appreciation and education by establishing the Liz Mohn Foundation for Culture and Music. She serves as the chairwoman of its executive board.[56] The foundation carries out numerous activities: staging musicals for children and young people, for example, and awarding scholarships to opera singers.[57] [58] To achieve its goals, the foundation partners with the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden and other organizations.[59] [60] In addition, it hosts the annual idea initiative "Cultural Diversity with Music".[61]

    Awards and honors

    Liz Mohn has been recognized numerous times for her social engagement. In 1996, she was awarded the, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Charity Bambi.[62] In 1999, she was the first woman from Germany to become a full member of the Club of Rome.[63] [64] In 2000, she received the German Medical Association's Badge of Honor.[65] In 2006, the University of Tel Aviv awarded her an honorary doctorate.[66] [67] In 2008, she received UNESCO's Children in Need award.[68] In 2009, she was the first woman to be honored with the,[69] and she received the in 2010.[70] In 2013, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, France's ambassador to Germany, made her an officer of the French Legion of Honor.[71] In 2014, she received the Euriade Badge of Honor in Gold from Queen Silvia of Sweden.[72] In 2016, Xavier Bettel, prime minister of Luxemburg, awarded her the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown.[73] [74]

    In 2016, the Gütersloh city council made Mohn honorary citizen of the city.[75] [76]

    Publications

    Further reading

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Liz Mohn. 2013-07-09. Internationales Biographisches Archiv. Munzinger. de. 2017-07-20.
    2. News: Mit den Augen einer Mutter. 2001-01-07. Welt am Sonntag. 30. de.
    3. News: Das Mädchen aus Rheda-Wiedenbrück. Matthias Benirschke. 2011-06-21. Bonner General-Anzeiger. 2. de.
    4. News: 2009-10-04. Eine herausragende Persönlichkeit: Reinhard Mohn gestorben. de. Faz.net. 2017-10-04.
    5. Web site: 2013. Bertelsmann Stiftung. Liz Mohn: Entscheidung für ein engagiertes Leben. 2017-08-25. 6. de.
    6. Web site: 2011-01-30. Bertelsmann: Medienmonarchie aus Gütersloh. 2017-07-10. Handelsblatt. de.
    7. News: Holger Steltzner. 2016-06-17. Bertelsmann: Liz Mohn bleibt an der Macht. de. Faz.net. 2017-08-01.
    8. Web site: Liz Mohn und die Medien-Dynastie: Die Bertelsmann-Königin klärt ihre Thronfolge.. Spiegel. Isabell Hülsen, Alexander Kühn, Anton Rainer. 2021-06-11.
    9. Web site: Mitglieder der Aufsichtsräte von Bertelsmann. 2017-07-10. de.
    10. News: Annette Becker. 2009-10-10. Personen: Liz Mohn, die mächtige Frau in Gütersloh. de. 7. Börsen-Zeitung.
    11. Web site: Bertelsmann Stiftung: Liz Mohn scheidet zum 80. Geburtstag aus.. WirtschaftsWoche. 2021-06-21.
    12. Web site: Familienoberhaupt tritt kürzer: Bertelsmann Stiftung gründet Liz-Mohn-Center.. NTV. 2021-06-21.
    13. News: Margaretha Kopeinig. 2009-10-01. Eigentum verpflichtet. de. 8. Kurier.
    14. Web site: 2010-07-01. Bertelsmann-Erbin Liz Mohn erhält Bundesverdienstorden. 2017-07-10. Bild. de.
    15. News: Liz Mohn: Von der Telefonistin zur Medien-Matriarchin. Hans-Peter Siebenhaar. 2012-04-19. Handelsblatt. 6. de.
    16. News: Die Stimme ihres Herrn. Thomas Schuler. 2009-10-17. Berliner Zeitung. 2017-07-27. 3. de.
    17. Web site: Die komplizierte Romanze der Liz Mohn. Matthew Karnitschnig. 2003-12-08. Tagesspiegel. de. 2017-07-10.
    18. News: Die starke Frau bei Bertelsmann. Matthias Benirschke. 2011-06-21. Westdeutsche Zeitung. de.
    19. News: Die Schattenfrau. Magdalene Mohn, Minna Wagner. 2004-04-15. Bunte. 58. de.
    20. News: Probier's mal. Du schaffst das!. Hans-Peter Siebenhaar. 2011-09-16. Handelsblatt. 77. de.
    21. News: Bertelsmann: Szenen einer Ehe. Günther Bähr, Tatjana Meier. 2003-12-08. Focus. 188. de.
    22. News: Matriarchin, fest im Sattel des Imperiums. 2011-06-21. Wiener Zeitung. 3. de.
    23. News: Zehn Jahre Bertelsmann Stiftung – Organe und Geschäftsstelle. Dritter Tätigkeitsbericht der Bertelsmann Stiftung 1985–1986. 127. de.
    24. News: Reinhard Mohn regelt Besitzverhältnisse neu. 1999-07-02. Tagesspiegel. 19. de.
    25. News: Reinhard Mohn verzichtet auf seine Stimmrechte. 1999-07-02. Börsen-Zeitung. 13. de.
    26. News: Bertelsmann Stiftung: Neue Organisation der Führungsstruktur. 2000-09-30. Frankfurter Rundschau. 18. de.
    27. News: Bertelsmann gehört jetzt mehrheitlich der Stiftung. 1993-10-14. Deutscher Drucker. 4. de.
    28. News: Die starke Frau von Bertelsmann. Petra Schäfer, Simone Wermelskirchen. 2002-07-31. Handelsblatt. 22. de.
    29. News: Liz Mohn greift nach der Macht bei Bertelsmann. Burkhard Riering. 2002-07-30. Welt. 1. de.
    30. News: Die Dame im Hintergrund. Lutz Meier. 2002-07-30. Financial Times Deutschland. 2. de.
    31. News: 2009-10-10. Liz Mohn tritt die Nachfolge an. de. 29. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
    32. News: 2009-10-09. Liz Mohn bekommt Vetorecht bei Bertelsmann. de. 14. Handelsblatt.
    33. News: 2009-10-09. Liz Mohn übernimmt Vetorecht bei Bertelsmann. de. 30. Berliner Zeitung.
    34. News: Johannes Ritter. 2009-10-08. Alle Macht für Liz Mohn. de. Faz.net. 2017-07-10.
    35. Web site: 2011-01-30. Bertelsmann: Medienmonarchie aus Gütersloh. 2017-08-01. Handelsblatt. de.
    36. Web site: 2014-04-02. Satzung der Bertelsmann Stiftung. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160404132409/http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/BSt/Corporate/Organisation/Satzung_BertelsmannStiftung_20140402.pdf. April 4, 2016. 2017-10-05. de.
    37. News: 2010-08-16. Konzerne: Mit Liz und Tücke. de. Spiegel. 2017-08-25.
    38. Web site: Harald Schumann. 2006-09-25. Macht ohne Mandat. 2017-07-10. Tagesspiegel. de.
    39. Web site: Generationswechsel in Gütersloh: Liz Mohn übergibt Macht bei Bertelsmann.. Tagesschau. Thomas Spinnler. 2021-06-21.
    40. News: Carsten Heil. 2017-03-14. Unsere Wurzeln sind uns wichtig. de. 4. Neue Westfälische.
    41. News: Musik gehört zu meinem Leben. 2013-03-13. Westfalen-Blatt. de.
    42. News: Die Idee hatte Herbert von Karajan. Bernhard Hertlein. 2012-11-28. Westfalen-Blatt. de.
    43. Book: Schlüsselmomente: Erfahrungen eines engagierten Lebens. Liz Mohn. 2011. C. Bertelsmann Verlag. 978-3-641-07123-3. München. 69, 78. de.
    44. News: Talentschmiede der weltbesten Opernstimmen. 2008-10-05. Neue Westfälische. de.
    45. News: Talentschmiede gewährt Blick hinter die Kulissen. 2016-09-29. Die Glocke. 21. de.
    46. Web site: Neue Stimmen. de. 2017-07-10. Bertelsmann Stiftung.
    47. News: Liz Mohn will Kinder fordernd fördern. Annette Westhoff. 1999-09-19. Welt am Sonntag. 103. de.
    48. Web site: Wirksame Strategien gegen den Schlaganfall. Pete Smith. 2009-08-28. Ärzte Zeitung. de. 2017-07-10.
    49. News: Not-Helferin. Klaus Ahrens, Hanno Pittner. 1999-01-01. Manager Magazin. 226. de.
    50. News: Stiftung setzt auf Prävention und Aufklärung. 1998-06-02. Frankfurter Neue Presse. 4. de.
    51. Book: Liebe öffnet Herzen. Liz Mohn. 2010. Goldmann Verlag. 978-3-570-00367-1. München. 243. de.
    52. News: Schlaganfall-Stiftung hat in kurzer Zeit viel bewegt. 1999-05-10. Ärzte Zeitung. 14. de.
    53. Web site: Jahresbericht 2016. 3, 7. de. 2017-07-10. Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe. https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100029/https://www.schlaganfall-hilfe.de//documents/10156/1230381/2016_jahresbericht_schlaganfall-hilfe.pdf. December 9, 2017. dead.
    54. News: Lasst uns die Herzen der Menschen öffnen. Liz Mohn. 1999-10-17. Welt am Sonntag. 105. de.
    55. Web site: Rosenball 2016: Der Promi-Tanz in den Mai. Annika Schönstädt. 2016-04-30. Berliner Morgenpost. de. 2017-07-10.
    56. Web site: Stifterin. Liz Mohn Kultur- und Musikstiftung.
    57. News: Martina Helmig. 2015-04-23. Eintauchen in eine neue Welt. de. 2. Berliner Morgenpost.
    58. News: 2017-03-24. Verrückte Reise durch die Zeit. de. 12. Neue Westfälische.
    59. News: 2007-09-29. Seit an Seit mit Daniel Barenboim: Die neue Liz Mohn Kultur- und Musikstiftung fördert ein Internationales Opernstudio in Berlin. de. Neue Westfälische.
    60. Web site: Internationales Opernstudio. 2017-08-25. Staatsoper Unter den Linden. de.
    61. News: 2017-07-14. Ideen für interkulturelle Musikprojekte gesucht. de. 12. Gütersloher Zeitung.
    62. News: Das Schöne mit dem Guten verbinden. Ivette Wagner, Dietrich Nixdorf. 2008-01-16. Sächsische Zeitung. 8. de.
    63. News: Liz Mohn als erste deutsche Frau im Club of Rome. Regina Goldlücke. 1999-01-31. Welt am Sonntag. 104. de.
    64. News: Liz Mohn: Eine Frau bezieht Position. Madlen Hillebrecht. 1999-03-07. Welt am Sonntag. 48. de.
    65. News: Ehrenzeichen der Ärzte für Liz Mohn. 2000-03-13. Ärzte Zeitung. 2. de.
    66. News: Talar und Doktorhut für Liz Mohn. Ludger Osterkamp. 2006-05-22. Neue Westfälische. de.
    67. News: Gleichauf mit Reinhard Mohn: Die Universität Tel Aviv verleiht Liz Mohn die Ehrendoktorwürde. Stefan Brams. 2006-03-03. Neue Westfälische. de.
    68. News: Starauflauf in der Domstadt. Monika Salchert. 2008-09-13. Rheinische Post. de.
    69. News: Liz Mohn als erste Frau ausgezeichnet. 2009-07-31. Neue Westfälische. de.
    70. News: Wirtschaftspreis geht an WTO-Chef und Liz Mohn. 2010-05-22. Welt. 42. de.
    71. News: Französischer Orden für Liz Mohn. 2013-12-10. Handelsblatt. 46. de.
    72. News: Einsatz für soziale Projekte. 2016-03-05. Neue Westfälische. 14. de.
    73. News: Ehrung für eine Weltbürgerin. 2016-02-16. Neue Westfälische. 11. de.
    74. Web site: Xavier Bettel verleiht Liz Mohn das Komturkreuz im Orden der Eichenlaubkrone des Großherzogtums Luxemburg. 2016-02-15. de. 2017-12-06. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208175330/http://www.gouvernement.lu/5712930/15-bettel-mohn. December 8, 2017. dead.
    75. Web site: Liz Mohn wird Gütersloher Ehrenbürgerin. 2016-06-03. de. 2017-07-10. Stadt Gütersloh.
    76. News: Güterslohs erste Ehrenbürgerin. 2016-12-17. Neue Westfälische. 11. de.

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