Hans-Christian Pfohl

1942 Born on March 14 in Gablonz

1975 to 1982 Appointed Professor of Business Management at Essen University, where he held the Chair of Organisation and Planning

1982 Called to the TU Darmstadt University of Technology, where he creates and heads the Department of Company Management and Logistics; he turns down calls from the Universities of Mainz and Düsseldorf

Since 1984 Actively involved in the European Logistics Association (ELA) Brussels (umbrella association of all the national logistics federations in Europe), member of the Board since 1984; Vice-President in 1998, President from 1999 to 2001; Vice-President from 2001 to 2004; Head of the Research and Development Committee since 1995

1996 Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Veszpém in Hungary

2001 Literati Club Award for Excellence, Outstanding Pape,r International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

2006 Induction into the Logistics Hall of Fame

Numerous offices in science, associations and industry, including Director of the Institute for Logistics, Vice-President of the European Logistics Association (ELA), Head of the ELA Committee for Research and Development, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of BVL, and member of the Advisory Board of the VDI Society for Conveying Technology and Material Flow (FML)

• Germany is a leader in logistics research and teaching, and nowhere else are there more logistics professors. But when asked about a German logistics professor of world repute, it was the case for a long time that the only name known outside Germany was Hans-Christian Pfohl, Professor for Corporate Management and Logistics and the calling card of German logistics research worldwide for around 30 years. 
• Through his basic research, Hans-Christian Pfohl played a key role in the introduction of logistics as a scientific discipline in the German-speaking countries. It is not least thanks to him that logistics is increasingly part and parcel of modern business as a central function in the everyday operations of companies.
• The university department he created is known for its hands-on approach and is one of the best addresses for logistics training and education. Pfohl has authored many publications in the fields of corporate management and logistics/supply chain management, and sits on the publishing committees of several journals and literature series. His basic works ("Logistiksysteme" and "Logistikmanagement") are still compulsory reading today for all logistics students and the most-read of all logistics books.
• His research work focuses on the financial aspects of logistics and supply chain management. He has conducted important basic research, particularly in answering the question as to the contribution of logistics to the value of a company. It is due not least to his efforts in emphasising the economic and financial aspects of logistics that that logistics is increasingly a key function in modern corporate practice.
• Pfohl is one of the few German logistics professors of international repute and one of the most in-demand speakers at conferences worldwide. Through his activities in the ELA (European Logistics Association) and his guest professorships, he represents German logistics in research, teaching and practice both in Europe and around the world.