Klaus Schwab

Klaus Schwab
Schwab in 2011
Chairman of the World Economic Forum
In office
24 January 1971  21 April 2025
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byPeter Brabeck-Letmathe (acting)
Personal details
Born (1938-03-30) 30 March 1938
Ravensburg, Free People's State of Württemberg, Germany
Spouse
Hilde Schwab
(m. 1971)
Children2 (including Nicole Schwab)
EducationETH Zürich (Dr. Sc. Tech)
University of Fribourg (Dr. Rer. Pol)
Harvard University (MPA)

Klaus Martin Schwab (German: [klaʊs ˈmaʁtiːn ʃvaːp]; born 30 March 1938) is a German mechanical engineer, economist, and founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He acted as the WEF's chairman since founding the organisation from 1971 until 2025 when he was replaced by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.