Christian Haenel began his tenure as president of American Friends of AvH on January 1, 2023. He holds a master’s degree in history (with a focus on American history) and economics. His academic studies led him to the University of Bielefeld, Germany, and the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Christian began his career as a trainee in leadership development at the Robert Bosch Foundation in Stuttgart, Germany, one of Europe’s largest private foundations. In that capacity he also worked at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan. He rose through the ranks at Bosch, becoming the Senior Vice President of international relations, and ultimately a member of the executive board of directors and senior vice president of future issues and foundation development. Christian led various national and international teams, coordinated high numbers of staff across units and functions and co-led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which resulted in a significant increase in diversity among qualified applicants. He also co-led the strategic re-launch of Bosch’s international relations portfolio. Christian is also a member of the board of directors of Cultural Vistas, a nonprofit exchange organization located in Washington, DC, and Berlin, Germany.
Christian Haenel
