Dr. Arend Oetker was born in March 1939, before the outbreak of World War II. From 1962 to 1966, he studied business administration and political science in Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne, as well as marketing at Harvard Business School. He received his doctorate in political science from the University of Cologne in 1966.

Arend Oetker is managing partner of Dr. Arend Oetker Holding, a member of the supervisory board of COGNOS AG, and a member of the supervisory board of Leipziger Messe. He is honorary chairman of the board of directors of the food company Hero AG and an honorary member of the supervisory board of KWS Saat SE.
Arend Oetker is involved in a number of activities, including as president of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), member of the executive committee of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), and honorary member of the executive committee of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

As a lover of music and contemporary art, Arend Oetker is involved in the Cultural Circle of German Business within the BDI e.V. Among other things, he supported the renovation of St. Petri Church in Lübeck and the founding of the Gallery for Contemporary Art in Leipzig. He also chairs the board of trustees of the Bach Archive Foundation in Leipzig. In 2007, he was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Arend Oetker is married and has five children.