Corporate Center
Legal & Compliance
Corporate Communications
Corporate Programs
Corporate Sustainability, Environment & Politics
Corporate Affairs
Born 1958, studied economics at Ruhr University Bochum, graduated (Dipl.-Ökonom) and subsequently gained doctorate (Dr. rer. oec.).
Dr. Claassen began work with the Krupp group in 1985, where he was assistant to the Executive Board Chairman of Krupp Stahl AG from 1985 to 1989. In 1989 he was appointed head of the Organization and Communications department of Krupp Stahl AG and later that year head of Corporate Communications and Executive Affairs at Fried. Krupp AG, from December 1992 Fried. Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp.
After the merger of Krupp and Thyssen in 1999 Dr. Claassen became Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications and Executive Affairs at ThyssenKrupp AG. In 2003 Dr. Claassen was appointed Executive Vice President of ThyssenKrupp AG and Head of Corporate Communications and Strategy. From 2009 to 2011 he was in charge of Corporate Center Communications, Strategy & Technology.
On January 2011 Dr. Claassen was appointed member of the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG, where he is responsible for Legal & Compliance, Corporate Communications, Corporate Programs, Corporate Sustainability, Environment & Politics and Corporate Affairs as well as ThyssenKrupp Management Consulting.
