On 22 February 2018, the chairman of Lufthansa’s supervisory board, Dr Karl-Ludwig Kley, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He was honoured for his entrepreneurial achievements in and for Italy, his commitment to the promotion of trade, research and cultural activities as well as his personality.
Kley was presented the Order of Merit with rank of Commendatore during a formal celebratory ceremony in Rome by the chief of protocol of the Italian Government, Gerardo Capozza. In his laudatory speech, Capozza stressed Karl-Ludwig Kley’s close bond with Italy and the great trust he has placed in the country over many years. “He enjoys a great deal of appreciation and respect in all regards for his undisputed professional skills and human qualities”, said Gerardo Capozza during the award ceremony in Rome.
With this award, the Italian state honours selected figures who have made valuable and outstanding contributions in the fields of science, literature, the arts or business.
Between 1998 and 2006, Kley was Executive Board Member and CFO at Lufthansa before joining Merck, where he was CEO from 2007 until 2016. Since 2013, he has been a member of the supervisory board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and its chairman since 2017.
