Haniel, Elon Musk, Douglas, SAP, heat stress – that was Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Large financial fortunes can melt like ice in the blazing July sun. When the approximately 220 shareholders of the Haniel family, once one of the largest entrepreneurial families in the country, gather for their annual meeting, they break into a real sweat: The assets of the Ruhr dynasty, which grew up on iron and coal, have shrunk dramatically, and the remaining investment portfolio is confusing and low-yielding.

What to do when the inheritance and the generous dividends are at risk? First, replace the CEO. With former MAN CEO Joachim Drees (60) succeeding the busy Thomas Schmidt (53), a new spirit has entered the Haniel empire: jacket instead of hoodie, sober calculation instead of an ambitious ESG agenda. Haniel should no longer be "grandchild-proof" (Schmidt), but above all become permanently profitable: Drees therefore intends to sell, among other things, its holdings in Ceconomy (MediaMarkt, Saturn), Emma (mattresses), and KMK Kinderzimmer (daycare centers), as my colleague Christoph Neßhöver reports. A family office is even supposed to manage half of the assets. Read here how the new Haniel CEO intends to turn the portfolio upside down and save the Ruhr dynasty's fortune.

• The test of nerves for Bayer shareholders continues: The Supreme Court has sent the legal battle over the weed killer glyphosate into another extension. The top U.S. justices first want to know exactly which side President Donald Trump (79) stands on this sensitive issue. The U.S. government's representative is expected to submit his opinion to the Supreme Court this fall. Thus, the uncertainty for Bayer remains. For CEO Bill Anderson (56) personally, this has a pleasant side effect, as my colleague Dietmar Palan reports. What you need to know about Bayer's glyphosate drama.

• Europe's largest perfumery chain, Douglas, returned to the stock market in March 2024, but since then, about half of its market capitalization has evaporated. In an interview with my colleagues Martin Mehringer and Simone Salden, Douglas CEO Sander van der Laan (56) explains how he plans to change course and revive the share price – and why people don't just order a new luxury fragrance online.

• A board position at the crisis-hit US company Boeing is, I can't help but say today, a hot seat. Chief Financial Officer Brian West is leaving his post in mid-August . His successor and new hope for Boeing is the former CFO of Lockheed Martin, Jesus "Jay" Malave . Who, if not Jesus?

• Let's stay with the climate, or more specifically, the work environment. Always being nice and ensuring a good working atmosphere is a mistake, as our colleagues at Harvard Business Manager report. Six misconceptions about psychological safety in the workplace.

• To keep track of her daily schedule, Christina Diem-Puello (37), founder of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Germany, keeps two calendars. My colleague Katharina Hölter was able to take a look at the double weekly schedule. Find out why Diem-Puello even sends emails to employees at night here: "I like to work when others are sleeping."

• By the time you're reading this, it's already cooled down a bit. But there's no reason to breathe a sigh of relief, because tomorrow it's going to be even hotter. Doctor Talia Varley presents six strategies for staying productive in the office despite the heat. When room temperature in the workplace reaches 26 degrees Celsius, employers need to take action; often, a few simple measures are enough. I could list the best tricks right here, but it's far too hot for me. Read for yourself: How to escape heat stress.

I wish you an evening in the ice bucket (greetings to Per Mertesacker).

Yours, Kai Lange

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