Eberhard von Koerber (11 June 1938 – 3 August 2017), often called Ebbo, was a German corporate executive and manager who held senior positions at major industrial companies and international organizations. His career bridged automotive sales and global industrial management, and later turned toward global stewardship and systems thinking through involvement with the Club of Rome.

Career highlights

Von Koerber served on the Board of Management of BMW, where from 1984 to 1986 he was responsible for sales and marketing for the automaker. He later joined Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), based in Zurich, and between 1988 and 1998 oversaw the company’s operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa as a vice president on the Group Executive. These roles placed him at the center of multinational strategy, product positioning and regional organization during years of rapid globalization.

  • BMW — Board of Management, sales and marketing (1984–1986)
  • Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) — Vice President, EMEA responsibilities on the Group Executive (1988–1998)
  • Profile — Recognized as an experienced international manager and corporate leader

Leadership and influence

Von Koerber’s work combined commercial responsibilities with organizational leadership. At BMW he guided sales and marketing initiatives in competitive markets; at ABB he managed a complex portfolio of industrial businesses across diverse regions. His executive positions required aligning local operations with group strategy, managing cross-border teams and adapting to technological and market shifts typical of late 20th century industry.

After his corporate career he engaged with global issues. From 2007 to 2012 he served as co-president of the Club of Rome, an international think tank known for promoting long-term, systems-based approaches to sustainability, development and economic policy. In that role he supported efforts to broaden public debate on planetary limits and integrated solutions for society and business.

Von Koerber died on 3 August 2017 at age 79. He is remembered for combining commercial management experience with an interest in broader societal challenges, and for helping to steer major European enterprises through periods of international expansion and change.