| Type | Incorporated Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Market Expansion Services |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Key people | Jörg Wolle (CEO) Adrian Keller (Chairman) |
| Revenue | CHF 7.3 billion (2010) |
| Employees | 22,500 (2011) |
| Website | www.dksh.com |
DKSH Ltd. also known as DiethelmKellerSiberHegner is a Swiss Market Expansion Services Group. Although its headquarters is in Zurich, DKSH is deeply rooted in communities all across Asia Pacific.[1]
The company offers any combination of sourcing, marketing, sales, distribution and after-sales-services and is organized into four Business Units: Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Performance Materials, and Technology. Its core business is supporting other companies to grow their business in new or existing markets.[2]
With 610 business locations in 35 countries - 590 of them in Asia - and 22,500 specialized staff, it is one of the top 20 Swiss companies ranked by sales and employees. In 2010, DKSH generated annual gross revenues of CHF 7,300 million.[3][4]
The company has its origin in the activities of three Swiss entrepreneurs who sailed in the 1860s east to Asia. Independently and within a few years of each other, Wilhelm Heinrich Diethelm set off for Singapore, Eduard Anton Keller for the Philippines, and Hermann Siber for Yokohama.
As the oldest of the original companies, Siber & Brennwald was founded in 1865. Eduard Anton Keller joined in 1868 C. Lutz & Co., which was founded 1866 in Manila, and renamed this enterprise into Ed. A. Keller & Co. after the acquisition in the year 1887. In a similar manner, Wilhelm Heinrich Diethelm joined in 1871 Hooglandt & Co., Singapore, established in 1860, acquired the company in 1887 and founded Diethelm & Co. Ltd. in Singapore.[5]
The three companies expanded their business primarily in Asia. Although the European market played a subsidiary role each headquarter was situated in Switzerland what illustrates the intensive contact to the home country.
Established in 1906 on the banks of Chao Phraya River, today the company is one of Thailand's leading business organizations, with annual sales of THB 98 billion in 2008.[6] DKSH had over 10,000 employees and a comprehensive network of 203 branches all across Thailand in 2010.[6]
In 1931 Diethelm & Co., Ltd. was granted permission by Royal Warrant to display the royal Garuda emblem, the official seal of the Royal Household of Thailand.[6]
Even though the two families Diethelm and Keller always had a close-knit business and private relationship the two companies merged not until summer 2000 into Diethelm Keller Holding. Two years later, in 2002, Sibner Hegner joined as well and this resulted in the establishing DKSH.[6][7]
DKSH is privately held with Diethelm Keller Holding as a majority shareholder.[8]