Egon Zehnder Opens Eighth Office in Germany
March 5, 2025 – Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has opened its eighth office in Germany unveiling a new location in Dreden. “The opening of our office in Dresden is an important milestone – and not just for us,” said Hanns Goeldel, managing partner at Egon Zehnder Germany. “We are the first global consultancy specializing in top leadership to open a presence for our clients in eastern Germany.”
Egon Zehnder believes that the eastern regions in Germany are experiencing strong growth and transformation dynamics. In addition to major international companies from the optics, semiconductor, and automotive industries, there are promising tech startups in cleantech, energy, and biotechnology in the region. “We want to support these companies by giving them access to our global network – and also put a spotlight on leaders with Eastern German biographies to advance their global careers and help shape the issues of our time,” said Wasko Rothmann, who leads Egon Zehnder’s Dresden office.
A team of experienced consultants from the greater Dresden area will develop the new location into an anchor point for executive search and leadership advisory in eastern Germany, focusing on local companies as well as global players. “The best breeding ground for successful collaboration between clients, talents and consultants is an intensive exchange and personal encounters on site,” said Uta Allenstein, consultant in the Dresden office.
Mr. Rothmann, who has been with Egon Zehnder since 2020 and previously worked as an associate partner at McKinsey & Company after holding positions in research and teaching in the fields of leadership and organization, will take over the management of the Dresden office. He focuses on the intersection between traditional industries and the technology sector. He is also a member of the advisory board of the East German Economic Forum.
Dresden has earned a reputation as “Silicon Saxony” and has the highest density of researchers in Germany, alongside leading microelectronics and IT companies. The economy of Germany is a highly developed social market economy. It has the largest national economy in Europe, the fourth-largest by nominal GDP in the world, and fifth by GDP (PPP). Of the world’s 2000 largest publicly listed companies measured by revenue, the Fortune Global 2000, 53 are headquartered in Germany, with the Top 10 being Allianz, Daimler, Volkswagen, Siemens, BMW, Deutsche Telekom, Bayer, BASF, Munich Re, and SAP.
Related: Egon Zehnder Opens New Office in Seattle
Of the world’s 500 largest stock-market-listed companies measured by revenue, the Fortune Global 500, 37 are headquartered in Germany. Thirty Germany-based companies are included in the DAX, the most popular German stock market index. Well-known global brands are Mercedes-Benz, BMW, SAP, Siemens, Volkswagen, Adidas, Audi, Allianz, Porsche, Bayer, BASF, Bosch, and Nivea.
Top 5 Search Firm
Egon Zehnder currently ranks as a Top 5 global executive search firm, according to Hunt Scanlon Media. With more than 500 consultants in 67 offices and 36 countries around the globe, Egon Zehnder works with public and private corporations, family-owned enterprises, and non-profit and government agencies to provide board advisory services, CEO and leadership succession planning, executive search and assessment, and leadership development solutions. Since 1964, the firm has been at the forefront of defining top leadership in the face of changing economic conditions as well as major transitions in the executive search field.
Egon Zehnder Names Co-Leaders of the Global Technology Officers Practice Group
Egon Zehnder has named Joon Yoon and Sven Michaelis as co-leaders of the global technology officers practice group. “I am thrilled to take on this new co-leadership role for the global technology officers practice group at Egon Zehnder,” said Mr. Yoon. “As technology and innovation continue to advance at an unprecedented pace, the demand for well-rounded and progressive technology leaders has never been greater. Egon Zehnder is uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate this dynamic landscape and find the leaders who will drive their success.”
“It is a great time to co-lead the global technology officers practice group at Egon Zehnder,” Mr. Michaelis said. “The rapid advancements in technology and the disruption with AI are reshaping industries and the business world. This creates even more critical need for visionary technology leaders. At Egon Zehnder, we are committed to getting these leaders into the right place to help our clients and their organizations thrive in this era of innovation.”
Egon Zehnder also opened a new office in Vancouver, British Columbia. The expansion came on the heels of opening a Seattle office the previous year and reflects the firm’s efforts to serve clients across the Pacific Northwest. “We are thrilled to expand our footprint into Vancouver, a city known for its innovation and unique, vibrant business community,” said Ed Camara, CEO of Egon Zehnder. “As British Columbia continues to grow as a global business hub, this additional Pacific Northwest office will enable us to be even closer to our clients, partners, and the industries we serve in Western Canada.”
The Vancouver office is led by three founding consultants: Constantin von Oppen, the Pacific Northwest region leader along with Chris King-Sidney, and Anne-Laure Brault. “This founding team of leadership advisory experts, all based in the Pacific Northwest, will bring local expertise and a global perspective to support the Vancouver market across sectors and industries to meet the local market needs,” Egon Zehnder said.
Related: Egon Zehnder Names U.S. Leader
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
