FROM AN ENTREPRENEURIAL OUTFIT TO AN INSTITUTION: THE GROWTH OF BERTELSMANN

In an industry dominated by US companies, Bertelsmann, the German media conglomerate, stands out as one of the most innovative firms in this sector. It is neither the largest nor the most profitable firm in the industry, but it has certain qualities – beyond its business model and performance – that make it very unique in the business world. In fact, it is one of the most respected companies in Europe, both for its business activities and it social impact.

Bertelsmann was founded by Carl Bertelsmann in 1835 in Gütersloh, Germany, as a publisher of Christian books and songs. It is a family business, controlled by the Mohn family (the fifth generation of the Bertelsmann family) and the Bertelsmann Foundation. After the collapse of the German economy in World War II, Reinhard Mohn started to rebuild the firm in 1947; he changed it into a global player in the media world and took it to new levels of excellence.

The growth of Bertelsmann after World War II and its transformation into a huge media conglomerate and a respected institution cannot be explained without acknowledging the work, leadership, charisma and ideas of Reinhard Mohn, one of the most successful European entrepreneurs of the twentieth century and the driving force behind Bertelsmann's development.