Stephan Grüninger

Prof. Dr. Stephan Grüninger is a W3 Professor of General Business Administration (Managerial Economics) at HTWG Konstanz – University of Applied Sciences for Engineering, Business and Design. He serves as Scientific Director of the Konstanz Institute for Corporate Governance (KICG), Chairman of the German Network for Business Ethics (DNWE), and Director of the Forum Compliance & Integrity (FCI) and Forum Compliance Mittelstand (FCM). His academic roles include lectures at Zeppelin University and European University Viadrina on topics like 'Corporate Responsibility & Leadership'.

Grüninger earned his doctorate in 2001 from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg on 'Trust Management – Cooperation, Morality, and Governance'. His professional experience spans management consulting (Ernst & Young, KPMG) and auditing, focusing on integrity and compliance management.

Research priorities include corporate governance, compliance integrity, business ethics, and trust/risk management. Over 100+ publications span monographs (e.g., Trust Management), edited volumes (e.g., Handbook of Compliance Management), and peer-reviewed articles on anti-corruption strategies, leadership ethics, and compliance frameworks. Key contributions address compliance effectiveness in high-risk regions and leadership development for integrity.

Grüninger advises organizations on compliance system design, risk governance, and corporate culture projects. He chairs academic boards at HTWG Konstanz and collaborates with institutions like DICO (German Institute for Compliance). His work bridges academic research and practical compliance solutions for multinational corporations, SMEs, and NGOs.