The American-German Institute (AGI) of Johns Hopkins University has honored Dr. Nikolas Stihl, chairman of the advisory board and supervisory board of STIHL, with the Global Leadership Award 2024. The award was presented at a gala dinner in New York and recognizes Stihl’s positive influence on the German-American partnership, as STIHL marks the 50th anniversary of its manufacturing presence in the U.S.
As the grandson of the founder of STIHL, he has chaired the advisory and supervisory boards of the STIHL Group for over ten years, setting the company’s path for worldwide growth and a strengthened position in the U.S.
“Through Nikolas Stihl’s leadership, STIHL has continued to succeed in a challenging international environment through innovation and investment in sustainable and future-focused technology. STIHL is an example of the best of German-American economic cooperation,” says Martin Richenhagen, chairman of the AGI Board of Trustees.
For the last fifty years, STIHL’s growth has included significant investments in American manufacturing in Virginia Beach, Virginia, creating thousands of jobs across the U.S. The STIHL Group generates around one-third of its sales revenue in the U.S., making this market its biggest.
“As the leader of a global brand with deep roots in Germany and a 50-year presence in the United States, it is an honor to be recognized by the only research institute in the United States that focuses exclusively on the German-American relationship,” Stihl says.