Tatweer Holding Company

Klaus Johann Jacobs was a German-born Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist renowned for his contributions to the coffee and chocolate industry. He studied at the University of Hamburg and Stanford University. In 1962, he became Director of Purchasing and Marketing at Jacobs AG, eventually rising to General Manager by 1972. In 1982, he orchestrated the merger of Jacobs AG with Swiss group Interfood/Suchard, creating Jacobs Suchard AG, a prominent player in the European coffee and chocolate market.

In 1990, Jacobs sold Jacobs Suchard AG to Philip Morris, which later became part of Kraft Foods, and founded Jacobs Holding AG in 1994. He was also deeply committed to philanthropy; in December 1988/1989, he and his family established the Jacobs Foundation in Switzerland, aimed at enhancing education and youth development globally. In 2001, he transferred his entire shareholding in Jacobs Holding AG to the foundation, ensuring its long-term financial sustainability. The foundation continues to honor his legacy through the “Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize” and the “Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize” for advancements in learning and youth development.

Jacobs received numerous accolades for his contributions, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel in 2005 and the Leibniz Medal from the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences in 2008. He is survived by six children, including Andreas Jacobs, and is remembered for intertwining industrial success with social impact.