A significant trend is emerging within Germany’s top corporations, as former employees of consulting firms increasingly populate executive leadership roles. Two new studies, commissioned by the Handelsblatt and conducted by the University of Göttingen and the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI), highlight a growing influence of this cohort within the supervisory boards and management teams of Germany’s DAX 40 companies.
The research indicates that nearly one-third of supervisory board members overseeing the 40 DAX corporations now possess backgrounds in the consulting industry. This represents a substantial presence, reflecting a consistent influx of individuals with expertise in strategic management and organizational restructuring.
Furthermore, the impact extends to the executive level. The studies reveal that one in five members of DAX corporate boards have gained experience working or training at leading management consulting, auditing and advisory firms. This prevalence suggests a potentially increasing alignment of perspectives and approaches among corporate leadership, driven by the methodologies and analytical frameworks often associated with the consulting sector. The findings offer a detailed look at the evolving composition of German corporate governance and its potential implications.