[3] In December 1993 he took over as president and chief executive officer at financially troubled Metallgesellschaft Corp. on an interim basis and successfully restructured the company in a period of seven months.

[7] The Karl and Mary Ellen von der Heyden Pavilion was completed in 2005, and remains a popular student eatery, meeting, and study space on Duke University's West Campus.

[8] Travel + Leisure Magazine has included the Karl and Mary Ellen von der Heyden Pavilion in their list of America's most beautiful college libraries.

[12] In 2017, the Mary Ellen von der Heyden Fellowship was established at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers of the New York Public Library.

[13] Karl von der Heyden is the recipient of The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

[15] Karl von der Heyden has served on the boards of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., Macy's, Inc, AstraZeneca, NYSE Euronext, DreamWorks Animation, Aramark, Cadbury Schweppes, and numerous other companies.