Draft:Johannes Kern

Johannes Kern (born November 8, 1985 in Augsburg) is a German economist and university lecturer at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Loerrach. Since 2023, he has served as Vice-Rector and Dean of Business Studies at the university. Johannes Kern spearheaded the establishment of ties between the university and Shanghai Zhongqiao University in China and co-founded the Sino-German Training Center for Vocational Education Teachers. He also champions initiatives to broaden the partnership between Trakya University Edirne and Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Loerrach.

Education and Early Career
Johannes Kern completed his Abitur at the Maristenkolleg in Mindelheim. From 2005 to 2007, he did his military service with the Mountain Battalion in Murnau am Staffelsee and participated in the EUFOR Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He pursued higher education at the University of Bayreuth, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. His further education included a trinational Master's program, obtaining degrees from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Emlyon Business School and Aston University.

He completed his doctoral studies at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where his research focused on the selection of logistics service providers in China, incorporating the concept of Guanxi.

Professional Experience
Kern worked as Project Manager, Logistics Manager and Senior Purchasing Manager at Bosch (company) in Asia, where he led teams and strategic projects in China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and India. He then founded Xiezhi Supply Chain Consulting in Suzhou, which provided specialized consulting services to foreign enterprises operating in China.

Academic and Research Contributions
Johannes Kern is a Professor of Digital Business Management at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW). His research primarily explores areas of digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management. His practice-oriented research has been published by Harvard Business Publishing[, the OECD, the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society and in books by Springer, Elsevier and Wiley.

Further Engagement
Johannes Kern serves as an academic advisor for collaborations with Shanghai Zhongqiao University in China and Trakya University in Turkey.

He is collaborating with the city of Lörrach on practical projects, such as optimizing the local recycling yard and improving the downtown area.