Hermann Simon (born 10 February 1947) is a German author and businessperson. He is chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners, a strategy and marketing consultancy. He is a strategy, marketing and pricing consultant. An ongoing online German-language survey voted him the second-most influential management thinker. Simon has authored numerous books and writes articles for international newspapers and business magazines.
1947 Born in Hasborn/Eifel, Germany
1966 High School leaving A-levels certificate, Cusanus High School, Wittlich
1967-1969 German Air Force, fighter bomber squadron 33, reserve officer
1969-1973 Studies of economics and business administration in Cologne and Bonn
1974-1979 Ph.D. and qualification as a university professor under Horst Albach in Bonn
1979-1989 Professor at the University of Bielefeld
1989-1995 Professor at the University of Mainz
1983-2002 Various guest professorships and visiting researcher positions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1978/79), Vienna Institute for Advanced Studies (1979), Keio University in Tokyo (1983), Stanford University (1984), INSEAD in Fontainebleau (1980–1985), Harvard Business School (1988/89), London Business School (1991–2002)
1985-1988 Director, USW The German Management Institute, Schloss Gracht/Cologne
1985 Founded the company Simon - Kucher & Partners Strategy & Marketing Consultants
1995-2009 CEO of Simon - Kucher & Partners Strategy & Marketing Consultants
Since 2009 Chairman of Simon - Kucher & Partners Strategy & Marketing Consultants
Simon's career spans three professions in his work as a management consultant, business professor, and author. His books have been translated into 25 languages and are widely read among managers. An ongoing online survey votes him a most-influential management thinker, second only to Peter Drucker. Simon was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2019.
He was CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners strategy and marketing consultants from 1995 until 2009. His consulting firm focuses on strategy, marketing, pricing and sales.