A Businessman Committed to Society

Helmut Horten was a businessman in the truest sense of the word. His interest manifested early during his adolescence, he completed a business apprenticeship at the Leonhard Tietz department store in Düsseldorf. This was against his father's wishes, who, as president of the Senat at the Supreme Court of Cologne, would have preferred an academic career for his son. This unwavering determination, already noticeable, coupled with his solid business acumen became the key to his economic success.

Helmut Horten, tall, thin, with striking facial features, was a sensitive, reserved and vulnerable person. On the outside, he concentrated on high performance, success and recognition and was committed to these goals, while his inner self was constantly searching for values which would give his life purpose and meaning.

This helps to explain his great interest in medical and biological research for the protection of human health.

His employees were the first to benefit from this interest. Helmut Horten provided them with medical support which was unheard of in those days. He soon established a pension fund to improve existing retirement plans and often made generous contributions to the fund. His provision of a convalescent home for the firm's employees was also unusual.