1/25/2000
"The Europeans, who were slowed by the Cold War, have
taken an Olympic-size jump," writes Meyer-Larsen. And how! Just look at the
penetration of such American strongholds as auto manufacturing and publishing by
the blue-chip German firms DaimlerChrysler and Bertelsmann, respectively. In
this thorough and authoritative study, the author — a former editor
and columnist on business affairs for the respected weekly magazine Der
Spiegel – focuses on the evolution and key strategies of 10 major German
companies, six of which have been formidable players for over 100 years. Of
special note are his incisive portrayals of leaders such as DaimlerChrysler's Jurgen E. Schrempp; Bertelsmann's Thomas Middelhoff;
Siemens' Heinrich von Pierer; and Lufthansa's Jurgen Weber.