„Thank you, Michael!“: Farewell Ceremony for Professor Dr. Michael Frenkel

The WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management would look very different without him: Professor Dr. Michael Frenkel has shaped the institution for more than three decades and has been instrumental in its success both nationally and internationally. On November 21, WHU celebrated his transition into retirement – although, as many attendees remarked, he is not the kind of person to enter a “quiet” retirement. Professor Dr. Frenkel will remain closely connected to WHU as an emeritus professor.

Professor Frenkel had a decisive influence over WHU once Professor Emeritus Jürgen Weber appointed him dean in 1996, a role he served until 1998 and then a second time between 2005 and 2014. He helped drive forward the university’s strategic development and make the school the most international it had ever been up until that time, working consistently on expanding WHU’s network of partner universities abroad. Under his leadership, WHU achieved key milestones, including international accreditations by EQUIS and AACSB, the school’s debut in the Financial Times rankings, the expansion of the range of studying programs offered at the school (such as its MBA programs), and the establishment of a second campus in Düsseldorf. 

„He internationalized the school without diluting its identity. He expanded its footprint while keeping its culture intact. And he showed that leadership in academia can – and should – be deeply human“, said Professor Dr. Christian Hagist, representing the university’s leadership. Frenkel, he noted, had always understood leadership as service: “If you want to lead, you have to serve.” He was „ the dean who gave WHU wings – and yet, he always made sure those wings were anchored in academic excellence and institutional integrity. He was our Thomas Müller – the connecting link between talent and vision, the one who made others shine, the one who turned strategy into success through teamwork and intuition. And like Müller, he always played for the crest on the front of the shirt – not the name on the back“.

Frenkel’s long-time colleague, Professor Dr. Rolf J. Langhammer from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), also drew on a football metaphor, recalling the dramatic Bundesliga finale of 2001, when Schalke 04 were champions for four minutes – before the title, in the very last seconds, went to FC Bayern Munich. That moment, he said, perfectly reflected what defines Michael Frenkel: an unwavering will to never give up – “Weiter, immer weiter.” His passion for teaching and research, Langhammer added, is contagious, and his influence on generations of students unmistakable. As dean, Frenkel embodied both responsibility and humility. “If I didn’t do it, someone else would – so I’d rather do it right,” he once said – a guiding principle that aptly describes his mindset: to shape rather than to merely administer.

Later, Professor Frenkel himself took the stage with an engaging lecture titled “Are We Witnessing the Dawn of a New International Monetary System?” – a reminder of why so many students have benefited from his teaching and intellectual curiosity.

Companions of InPraxi as well as former students and his doctoral students shared their gratitude through anecdotes and memories gathered from many countries – at times humorous, at times deeply moving. His daughter provided musical accompaniment for the afternoon.

In his closing remarks, Professor Frenkel expressed heartfelt thanks to his wife and family for their patience, support, and understanding of his frequent absences. He also extended his gratitude to the WHU staff, colleagues, and students, who had become like a second family to him. Finally, he emphasized his appreciation for the many international encounters and friendships that have enriched his professional life and concluded with the words: “Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has accompanied me – and will continue to do so.”