Henkel Center for Consumer Goods
About us
The Henkel Center for Consumer Goods (HCCG) is a cooperation between WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. It was founded jointly by WHU and Henkel over 15 years ago and has since formed the basis for an intensive and trusting exchange in the consumer goods sector. Research and teaching activities are developed and realized together, thus ensuring an effective transfer of knowledge between science and practice.
The team of the Henkel Center for Consumer Goods
VAL V-104
DUS 5.1.17
DUS 5.1.17
VAL H-104
DUS 5.1.36
The advisory board of the Henkel Center for Consumer Goods
The HCCG is supported and advised by an advisory board of executives from Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and professors from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. The regular advisory board meetings allow the members to discuss current and future research projects and to develop formats offering students practical insights into the consumer goods world.
The advisory board members
Chair of Strategy and Marketing
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Chair of Family Business
WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management
The collaboration with Henkel
1 | Practice-oriented cooperation formats in teaching
The successful collaboration between WHU and Henkel is characterized by various teaching cooperation formats, which promote students' practical skills in consumer goods management.
Students regularly have the opportunity to meet top Henkel executives and gain in-depth insights into current company developments, strategic directions, and career opportunities. In inspiring events, for example, with Carsten Knobel (CEO of Henkel) and Töre Birol (Corporate Vice President Global Customer Excellence HCB), students could already learn first-hand about personal experiences and individual career paths and, at the same time, gain valuable impulses for their professional future. The events occur both on the WHU and Henkel campuses.
The HCCG lectures emphasize both theoretical fundamentals and their practical relevance and application. The strong practical orientation results, in particular, from the experienced Henkel managers who are regular guests in the lectures for presentations and case studies. Students gain in-depth insights into current challenges and developments in the consumer goods and retail industry, discuss strategies with the experts, and develop and present their solutions.
Practical experience is an essential part of the WHU programs. The internships at Henkel, which last at least 3 months, provide students at an early stage with in-depth insights into the various departments of an innovative and international company in the consumer goods industry. Students work as valued team members in day-to-day business and on projects.
As part of the internship/thesis program, students can combine an internship with a thesis at Henkel and, thus, link scientific questions with practical insights. The topics agreed between WHU professors and Henkel departments, as well as the application process, are introduced between December and February.
WHU students can find information on career options and application processes at Henkel on the intranet (link to Handshake).
2 | Cross-functional management research in the consumer goods industry
The HCCG focuses on cross-functional management research in the consumer goods sector. The research projects are performed both by WHU chairs and students and concentrate on the following key areas:
- Strategy and Marketing
- Sustainability
- Leadership
- Family Business
- Innovation
- Negotiations and procurement
As a strong practical partner, Henkel supports research activities in determining topics and collecting and analyzing data. Using the latest research methods and a sound theoretical basis, the HCCG thus achieves publications in renowned scientific and practical journals.
Connecting with the Henkel Center for Consumer Goods
The HCCG highly values close contact and active dialog with the consumer goods and retail industries. For us, a close collaboration with the consumer goods sector and retail forms an essential basis for applied research. To remain at the forefront of developments, the HCCG offers various opportunities for collaboration:
- Participating and initiating joint research projects
- Providing real-life case studies and guest lectures within our lectures at the WHU
- Developing case studies with your company for practice-oriented teaching
- Exchanging ideas and the latest research, providing customized keynotes, participating in panel discussions, training, and advising your company
We look forward to a dynamic exchange with the consumer goods and retailing industries. If you are interested in collaborating with us, do not hesitate to contact Assistant Professor Anna-Karina Schmitz.
Get in touch with us
VAL V-104
Our Location
WHU Campus Vallendar
56179 Vallendar