The Henkels are the German family behind cleaning and beauty products company, Henkel. Established more than 140 years ago, the Henkel company produces, among its well-known brands, Schwarzkopf, Dial, Persil and All. Drawing on his passion for science, Fritz Henkel founded Henkel & Cie with two partners in 1876. Today, Henkel is one of the world’s largest cleaning product companies, with annual revenue of over $20 billion.
After Fritz Henkel’s death in 1930, his youngest son, Hugo Henkel, became head of the company, followed by Hugo’s eldest son, Jost Henkel, who assumed control of the Henkel company in 1950 until his passing in 1959. Chemist Konrad Henkel, Jost’s younger brother, became head of the Henkel group in 1961 and remained an active management member until his death in 1999. During Konrad’s leadership, the company went public in 1985.
Konrad’s son, Christoph Henkel, inherited his father’s shares in the Henkel company and, today, is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion. He serves as vice chairman of Henkel AG’s shareholders’ committee and is the founding partner of investment firm Canyon Equity.
Hugo Henkel’s daughter, Lisa Maskel, founded the Gerda Henkel Foundation in 1976 to honour her mother. The foundation is involved in the promotion and advancement of scientific endeavours.
