Early Life
Benjamin Otto was born on June 9, 1975, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up in Hamburg and is the grandson of Werner Otto, who founded the Otto Group in 1949. His father, Michael Otto, ran the business for 26 years until 2007 and now serves as the chairman of the supervisory board.
Rise to Success
Benjamin Otto joined the family company as an executive director in 2012 and became a "shaping shareholder" in the Otto Group's shareholder council in 2015. He also serves on the board of the Michael-Otto-Stiftung (the majority owner) and on the supervisory board of the Otto Group. In 2002, Otto founded Intelligent House Solutions. In 2012, he co-founded the Holistic Foundation with his wife, Janina Lin Otto. He also co-founded the e-commerce start-up Collins (now About You).
Key Business Strategies
Benjamin Otto's business activities are focused on sustainability, combining entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The Otto Group has a broad-based presence with various ranges of products for diverse target groups in important regions around the world, with several strategic partnerships and joint ventures offering the Group optimal conditions for the transfer of know-how and the use of synergy potential. He is known for his focus on digitalization and e-commerce, contributing to the Otto Group's position as a leading online retailer.
Philanthropy
Benjamin Otto and his wife, Janina, are actively involved in philanthropic organizations focused on healing through alternative treatment methods. He is a co-founder of the Holistic Foundation.
