Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt will become the new president of Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). Following an intensive selection process and a unanimous vote by the relevant university committees, he will assume office at the start of the upcoming summer semester on April 1, 2027. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Martin Butzlaff, who has played a decisive role in shaping the university’s development over the past 18 years in a leadership capacity.
The change in presidency comes during a phase of rapid growth and institutional development. With an annual budget of approximately 80 million euros, 3,700 students in the fields of health, business, and social sciences, around 11,000 alumni, and over 900 employees, the university is now one of the region’s largest employers. With its interdisciplinary “Studium fundamentale” program, its successful ten-year accreditation by the German Science Council, and comprehensive doctoral and postdoctoral qualification rights in all departments, UW/H holds a special position among non-state-funded colleges and universities in Germany.
This strong institutional foundation is also the result of Martin Butzlaff’s leadership. For nearly two decades, together with colleagues on the Executive Board, in the faculties and administration, with university committees, and with advisory and supporting partners, he has guided the university through a phase of strong growth and academic distinction, leaving a decisive mark on its development. Building on this foundation, Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt is now taking the helm for the next phase of development—with the mission of further advancing the UW/H’s profile in research, education, and societal impact during a time of profound change.
With Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt, UW/H gains a scholar and leadership expert whose profile is exceptionally well-suited to both of its faculties. As a psychologist and economist, he uniquely bridges the perspectives of the Faculties of Health and of Economics and Society. His academic and professional work brings together psychology and business administration, research and teaching, management consulting, and university self-governance. In doing so, he embodies key elements of Witten’s identity: academic excellence and entrepreneurial thinking, personal development, and social responsibility. For many years, his research has focused on the value that organizations create for society and how leadership succeeds in the face of rapid and constant change.
Meynhardt currently holds the Dr. Arend Oetker Chair in Business Psychology and Leadership at the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. He also heads the Center for Leadership and Innovation in Society at the University of St. Gallen. His work demonstrates a strong spirit of experimentation: he approaches new technological and societal developments with scholarly rigor and uses them to test innovative forms of education, collaboration, and social impact. In doing so, he brings a perspective that is of particular importance for the next phase of development at UW/H.
Dr. Janosch Dahmen, Chair of the Supervisory Board and the university’s search committee:
“Witten/Herdecke University was born out of the courage not only to conceive of a university differently but also to rebuild it from the ground up as a model institution. Since its founding, three guiding principles have defined this unique spirit: encouraging freedom, striving for truth, and promoting social responsibility. This ‘esprit engagé’ is not merely a historical legacy we wish to preserve, but a mission that each generation must breathe new life into.
For the future and for the newly elected president, what will matter is not merely how we grow, but why we grow and what we can and want to achieve through that growth. In his scholarly work and professional career, Timo Meynhardt combines insight and conviction, entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to the common good. I am convinced that he is the right person to boldly lead Witten/Herdecke University into its next phase of development, building on its strong tradition.”
Prof. Dr. Sabine Bohnet-Joschko, Chair of the Senate and member of the search committee:
“Timo Meynhardt has impressed us with his proven academic expertise, his broad experience in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer, as well as his clear vision for future-oriented education. He brings a deep understanding of the unique characteristics of a university that thrives on academic freedom, personal responsibility, and the drive of its members. We look forward to shaping the future development of Witten/Herdecke University together with him.”
Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt, future president of Witten/Herdecke University:
“Since its founding, Witten/Herdecke University has addressed important societal questions that have also long been central to my work: How can we combine academic excellence, personal development, entrepreneurial thinking, and societal impact? How can a university combine disciplinary depth with thematic vision and practical relevance?
What’s exciting about Witten/Herdecke University is that it not only asks important questions—it also provides bold, exemplary, and compelling answers. I am very much looking forward to further developing this unique university together with its members and diverse partners and to taking on responsibility for its future in a special way.”
About the Person: Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt
Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt is a psychologist and economist. He is 54 years old, married, and the father of two daughters and a son. Prof. Meynhardt studied psychology at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. He earned his Ph.D. in business administration at the University of St. Gallen and completed his habilitation there with a focus on human resources and organizational management.
After working at McKinsey & Company, he served as a professor of management at Leuphana University Lüneburg. Today, he holds the Dr. Arend Oetker Chair in Business Psychology and Leadership at the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and directs the Center for Leadership and Innovation in Society at the University of St. Gallen.