Farewell to Professor Hartmut Holzmüller
In the summer of 1998, Professor Hartmut H. Holzmüller took the Marketing professorship, moving from the Vienna University of Economics and Business to Dortmund. After 26 years of successful and spirited research and teaching at the Department of Business and Economics and dedication to the region, he is now retiring.
Practical relevance has always played a central role in Professor Holzmüller's teaching. Whether through cooperation in project seminars with Dortmund companies, guest lectures by companies or working with case studies, the courses offered by the Chair of Marketing have always introduced students to business realities at an early stage.
Mr. Holzmüller's research had a strong international focus. His research interests included intercultural (consumer) research, internationalization and intercultural competence. Numerous international research stays and visiting professorships are part of his academic CV, for example in Newcastle in Australia and at Bosie State University in Idaho. Guest lectures and teaching, such as in the training of young academics, have been international as well - from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, to the University of South Carolina and the University of Vaasa in Finland.
Hartmut Holzmüller has strengthened the department’s international networks by regularly hosting international guest researchers and helping to establish the department’s cooperation with Lehigh University for the Global Village program.
In addition to his interest in international and intercultural topics, Mr. Holzmüller has always shown a high level of commitment to the region. In the summer of 2003, together with Professor Welge, then holder of the Chair of Strategic Management and Leadership, and well-known Dortmund companies, he developed the concept of the Center for Enterprise Development (CEFU), the aim of which is to strengthen the links between academia and business in the Dortmund area. Through these and many other activities, Mr. Holzmüller has always promoted the department's links with the regional economy.
The Deans, the Dean's Office and the entire department would like to thank Professor Holzmüller very much for his active commitment! The department is particularly pleased that Mr. Holzmüller will remain a part of it for a further three years as a senior professor. The aim will be to develop a cooperation network to promote medium-sized companies in the region.