BUSINESS

Mathias Doepfner

Publisher and business leader

Publishing mogul Mathias Doepfner, the chairman of Germany’s sprawling Axel Springer company, has never made a secret of his support for Israel. In May 2021, the Israeli flag flew over the company’s Berlin headquarters for a period of 11 days, as the Jewish state entered into a new round of hostilities with the Hamas terror organization. “I think, and I’m being very frank with you, a person who has an issue with an Israeli flag being raised for one week here, after antisemitic demonstrations, should look for a new job,” Doepfner told employees on a conference call. Among the five “values and principles” the company abides by, one reads: We support the Jewish people and the right of existence of the State of Israel.” (Photo: Tech Open Air / YouTube Screenshot)