Dr Frank Appel joins the advisory board of IU International University of Applied Sciences
IU appoints former DHL CEO and Chair of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom to its strategic advisory body
IU appoints former DHL CEO and Chair of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom to its strategic advisory body.
Erfurt, Germany, 8 July 2026. IU International University of Applied Sciences is expanding its Advisory Board with one of Germany’s most experienced experts in digitalisation and business: Dr Frank Appel, former Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Post DHL Group, is currently External Vice-President of the Max Planck Society as well as Chair of the Supervisory Boards of Deutsche Telekom AG and RWE. Going forward, he will bring his many years of experience in leading and strategically developing large organisations to IU’s advisory body.
Appel adds a perspective to the Advisory Board of IU that combines entrepreneurial practice, scientific understanding and technological change. A neurobiologist by training, he is familiar with both the requirements of scientific organisations and the structures of large, digitally driven companies. With this experience, he strengthens the strategic direction of IU as a university that consistently combines academically sound, practice-oriented and modern higher education with the requirements of the labour market.
“By appointing Dr Frank Appel to our Advisory Board, we are gaining an outstanding figure who combines scientific experience, business acumen and a deep understanding of digital transformation – precisely the mindset we need if we want to prepare students in the best possible way for tomorrow’s AI-driven world of work. His perspective will support us in strategically developing IU further and in aligning digital education even more closely with the requirements of a changing labour market,” says Professor Holger Sommerfeldt, Rector of IU International University of Applied Sciences.
“IU International University of Applied Sciences understands that education only has an impact if it truly prepares people for the challenges of the world of work. Its consistent use of technology as a learning amplifier, its focus on practical relevance and employability, and its ambition to make higher education accessible to more people are compelling. I look forward to helping shape this path as a member of the Advisory Board and contributing insights from my own experience,” says Dr Frank Appel.
Dr Frank Appel studied chemistry at the University of Munich and completed his doctorate in neurobiology at ETH Zurich in 1993. After working at McKinsey & Company, he joined Deutsche Post DHL Group in 2000. He became a member of the Board of Management in 2002 and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2023. During his tenure, he drove the Group’s digital transformation and consistently positioned the company towards sustainable business models and new areas of growth. Appel has been Chair of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom AG since 2022 and of RWE since 2025. In 2024, he was appointed External Vice-President of the Max Planck Society, having been a member of its Senate since 2017. His current roles therefore bring together key future-facing topics such as digitalisation, research and innovation.
ABOUT THE ADVISORY BOARD OF IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
The Advisory Board was established by IU International University of Applied Sciences in 2022 and consists of high-profile representatives from companies and scientific institutions. It advises IU International University of Applied Sciences on fundamental practice-related issues in research and teaching. These distinguished experts from academia, business and politics share IU International University of Applied Sciences’ vision of future-oriented higher education that promotes greater educational equity and the key skills of tomorrow.
Members of the Advisory Board of IU International University of Applied Sciences include:
- Jimmy Wales
Founder of Wikipedia and a prominent advocate for the democratisation of knowledge on a global scale - Lucy Stonehill
Founder and former CEO of EdTech BridgeU, which uses AI to advise students worldwide on academic opportunities - Raffaela Rein
Founder of CareerFoundry, a leader in digital education and career development - Sascha Lobo
Journalist, bestselling author, and recognised expert on digital topics, as well as a key figure in the German AI debate - Prof. Dr Tobias Bonhoeffer
Neuroscientist and director at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, focusing on research into the brain and learning - Frank Weise
Chairman of the Executive Board with expertise in education and labour market development; former CEO of the Federal Employment Agency - Dr Frank Appel
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom AG and RWE; external vice president of the Max Planck Society
Further information is available here.
With nearly 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution, based in Erfurt, began teaching in 2000 and now has 37 campuses. IU stands for maximum flexibility in study: whether through dual study, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations tailor their educational path to suit their individual circumstances. With more than 200 degree programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and MBA level, IU imparts practical skills. Innovative learning concepts foster targeted, future-proof skills for an increasingly AI-driven world of work. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalised learning. As a pioneer in this field, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, ‘Syntea’, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently links academic teaching with practical experience. Further information at: iu.org
Contact
|
IU International University of Applied Sciences Press Department |