Biography

Prof. Dr. Gottschalk worked in various divisions at Daimler-Benz AG, including Assistant to the CEO, Plant Manager Mannheim (Engines, Buses, Foundry) and President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil from 1972 to 1996. In 1992, he was appointed ordinary member of the Managing Board of Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for the Commercial Vehicles Division (trucks, vans, buses) worldwide. From 1997 until 2008, Prof. Dr. Gottschalk served as President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). Prof. Dr. Gottschalk also had various responsibilities in the national and international industry over the years: he was President of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) in Paris and Vice President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Prof. Dr. Gottschalk is also founder, Owner and Managing Partner of AutoValue GmbH, Frankfurt, a provider of automotive expertise. Prof. Dr. Gottschalk is also a member of supervisory boards of various publicly-listed companies such as Schaeffler AG, Jost Werke AG, and Compagnie Plastic Omnium SA, Paris. Since November 2020 he has served as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Benteler International AG. Prof. Dr. Gottschalk, born in Lübeck, Germany, studied economics at the Universities of Hamburg, Saarbrücken and Stanford, California. He earned his doctorate in 1971 at the University of Hamburg (Dr. rer. pol.).