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Mourning for Prof. Dr. Christina Günther: A loss for research!
Prof. Dr. Christina Günther, once a junior professor at WHU, died on April 18, 2025. Her research shaped the economics of innovation.
Mourning for Prof. Dr. Christina Günther: A loss for research!
On April 18, 2025, Prof. Dr. Christina Günther with her family after a long illness. Her death leaves a noticeable gap at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, where she made a significant contribution to science and teaching for years. Prof. Günther completed her studies in international economics at the University of Maastricht before receiving her doctorate from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 2009. Her doctoral thesis, which dealt with innovation drivers and the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies in German machine tool manufacturing, was completed at the Max Planck Institute for Economics in Jena.
From 2010 to 2014, Prof. Günther was junior professor for “Industrial and Innovation Economics” at WHU. From April 2014 she took over the management of the IHK chair for small and medium-sized companies. Her scientific work and research results have received international awards and demonstrate her commitment to working with small and medium-sized companies in the region.
Appreciation of their achievements
Her commitment to equal treatment and promoting independent, critical thinking among students will be remembered by everyone who worked with her. In addition to her teaching activities, Prof. Günther was a member of the Executive Board of the Academy of Management, Entrepreneurship Division, and a reviewer for numerous scientific conferences and specialist journals. She was also editor of the scientific journalSmall Business Economicsand was actively involved in the WHU Code of Conduct and MLB program.
She not only leaves behind an honorable memory, but also her vision and passion for research. WHU will always honor her memory and for her human warmth.
Influential research at WHU
Especially in difficult times, it is impressive to see how the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management continues to flourish in research. The university currently occupies first place in the productivity of family business research kellogg.whu.edu reported. This ranking is based on the number of publications in leading academic journals between 2018 and 2022. Research into family businesses, which are typically the most common form of business worldwide, provides practical results and shows relevance to the business world.
Prof. Dr. Nadine Kammerlander, who takes second place in the individual ranking of researchers worldwide, comments on the ranking as a significant recognition of WHU's scientific dedication. Her achievements were also recognized externally when she was honored in 2022 byFamily Capitalwas named one of the 15 most influential researchers.
WHU’s Supply Chain Management Group was also ranked number one in Europe last year, further underscoring WHU’s overarching strength and influence in academia. Prof. Günther contributed an important part to this success through her support of the research at the Institute for Family Business and Medium-Sized Enterprises.