WHU welcomes new junior professor: Dr. Schenkenhofer leads family research!

WHU welcomes new junior professor: Dr. Schenkenhofer leads family research!

Dr. Julian Schenkenhofer will be Junior Professor for Entrepreneurial Families at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management from August 1, 2025. With this appointment, the university is setting an example for the importance of family businesses within the economic landscape. Schenkenhofer, who comes from Augsburg, will work at the newly founded WHU Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Families, which is financially supported by LGT Privatbank.

The center's goal is to gain new scientific knowledge about family businesses and to provide practical inspiration. Professor Christian Andres, Dean of WHU, emphasizes that family businesses make a significant contribution to the economy and emphasizes the importance of public awareness of their challenges and opportunities. Dr. Florian Dürselen from LGT Bank adds that understanding these aspects is crucial for the future development of these companies.

Research focus of Dr. Schenkenhofer

Dr. Schenkenhofer has specialized in family businesses during his academic career and deals with topics such as organizational structure, family governance and the spillover effects of university knowledge. His research results have been published in numerous recognized journals and presented at international conferences. He has also written two monographs on hidden champions and niche entrepreneurship.

Before joining WHU, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bergamo in Italy and gained extensive teaching experience at universities, including the University of Augsburg and Indiana University. He received excellent reviews for his teaching activities and was nominated several times for the Best Teaching Award.

Development of the Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Families

The new center is not only run by Dr. Schenkenhofer, but also two assistant professors led by Professor Nadine Kammerlander, who holds the chair for family businesses, and Professor Nic Schaub, responsible for household finances, support the research work. The partnership between LGT and WHU is intended to last at least six years, indicating a long-term commitment to supporting research activities.

Professor Kammerlander is positive about the collaboration and the opportunities to address pressing issues facing family businesses. Her research has already received several awards, including the EIASM Best Conference Paper Award and the IFERA Best Paper Award.

WHU, with its new Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Families, is positioning itself at the forefront of research on family businesses, offering both academic and practical benefits to better understand and address the challenges and opportunities of these important economic players.

For more information, see the articles from WHU, Press portal and WHU research.