A European success story
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Prof. Dr. h.c. Roland Berger |
Success came to Roland Berger at an early age, when he set up his first business as a student. Since then he has become one of the world's most requested consultants and a close adviser to politicians and top managers.
Today, his namesake company, which he founded in 1967 is the only global strategic consulting firm among the top five with European roots. In July 2003, Roland Berger was named the Chairman of its Supervisory Board.
The roots of his success as a European entrepreneur were laid at home, in Bavaria, where he grew up as one of two children. His father was director general of a food company and a ministerial counselor, his mother the general manager of a trading company. Their work ethic had a strong influence on young Roland - particularly his father became a role model for him.
After graduating from high school in 1956, he spent one semester studying electrical engineering before switching to economics and business – subjects where he says he "immediately felt right at home." Given his diverse interests, he also took courses in history, drama and psychology. His entrepreneurial stroke soon took hold: While still at university, he founded a laundry service in an upscale Munich neighborhood, ultimately employing 15 people. A hands-on manager, he personally delivered the laundry in a VW Beetle.
With his final exams approaching, Berger concluded he did not want to "end his career as a laundry millionaire." Inbetween studying for this final written and oral exams, he sold his company for DM 600,000 and opened a discount beverage store. A short time later, he also sold that business, again turning a profit.
Upon graduation in 1962, he joined Gennaro-Boston Associati, a consulting firm based in Milan. His talents were quickly recognized and he was promoted to Partner within five years. At Gennaro-Boston (founded by Bruce Henderson the creator of Boston Consulting Group, and Pietro Gennaro, the then doyen of Italian top management consulting) he learned the tricks of his trade, working on numerous international strategy consulting projects.
Today, his namesake company, which he founded in 1967 is the only global strategic consulting firm among the top five with European roots. In July 2003, Roland Berger was named the Chairman of its Supervisory Board.
The roots of his success as a European entrepreneur were laid at home, in Bavaria, where he grew up as one of two children. His father was director general of a food company and a ministerial counselor, his mother the general manager of a trading company. Their work ethic had a strong influence on young Roland - particularly his father became a role model for him.
After graduating from high school in 1956, he spent one semester studying electrical engineering before switching to economics and business – subjects where he says he "immediately felt right at home." Given his diverse interests, he also took courses in history, drama and psychology. His entrepreneurial stroke soon took hold: While still at university, he founded a laundry service in an upscale Munich neighborhood, ultimately employing 15 people. A hands-on manager, he personally delivered the laundry in a VW Beetle.
With his final exams approaching, Berger concluded he did not want to "end his career as a laundry millionaire." Inbetween studying for this final written and oral exams, he sold his company for DM 600,000 and opened a discount beverage store. A short time later, he also sold that business, again turning a profit.
Upon graduation in 1962, he joined Gennaro-Boston Associati, a consulting firm based in Milan. His talents were quickly recognized and he was promoted to Partner within five years. At Gennaro-Boston (founded by Bruce Henderson the creator of Boston Consulting Group, and Pietro Gennaro, the then doyen of Italian top management consulting) he learned the tricks of his trade, working on numerous international strategy consulting projects.
1967: One-man business
In 1967, at the age of 29 and supported by a single secretary, Roland Berger founded Roland Berger International Marketing Consultants in Munich. One of the fledgling company's first big projects involved tackling a marketing problem for Touropa, a tourism company. Roland Berger recommended focusing on charter flights and merging Touropa, Scharnow, Hummel and Dr. Tigges into TUI, a giant tour operator. With his support this was a huge success. This and other major projects for clients such as for Farbwerke Hoechst (as it was then called), Oetker (Germany's largest family-run company) and Barilla in Italy formed the beginning of an unparalleled success story.
Just three years later the young company was already generating DM 5.6 million (EUR 2.86 million) in sales. By 1980 it had grown to DM 35 million (EUR 17.9 million) and by 1990 to more than DM 175 million (approximately EUR 90 million). The company continued to grow from strength to strength following German reunification and by 2002, the last year under his management, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was firmly anchored among the top global consultancies, generating client fee income of EUR 526 million. His company continues to thrive: by 2007 his successors had increased sales to more than EUR 600 million.
A German name - an international business
Key to these positive developments were the internationalization efforts spearheaded by Berger himself. Within eight years of its founding, Roland Berger had already established international offices in Milan and São Paulo, and strategic alliances in the United States, Japan, Paris, London and Madrid. In 1980, Roland Berger becomes the first European consulting firm to be admitted to the Association of Consulting Management Engineers (ACME) – the oldest and most prestigious association of consulting firms in the United States.
New opportunities opened up with the fall of the Berlin wall. Berger expanded the company's reach into Central and Eastern Europe, with offices in Moscow, Kiev, Prague, Riga, Budapest, and Bucharest. The firm opened further offices in the Far East in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing, and strengthened its Western European presence with additional offices in Brussels, Lisbon, London, Paris and Zurich.
Having sold a 75.1% stake in his business to Deutsche Bank in the eighties, the firm struck cooperative deals with local partners in the America, as the US Bank Holding act prevented it from opening independent offices. Not until the management buyout takes place in 1998, which hands sole ownership back to Roland Berger and his Partners, are barriers removed. Offices in Detroit and New York open soon thereafter. That same year, two-thirds of the company's sales are generated by projects for innovation and growth strategies.
Today, the company operates from 33 offices in 23 countries, including China, Japan and the Middle East.
In 1967, at the age of 29 and supported by a single secretary, Roland Berger founded Roland Berger International Marketing Consultants in Munich. One of the fledgling company's first big projects involved tackling a marketing problem for Touropa, a tourism company. Roland Berger recommended focusing on charter flights and merging Touropa, Scharnow, Hummel and Dr. Tigges into TUI, a giant tour operator. With his support this was a huge success. This and other major projects for clients such as for Farbwerke Hoechst (as it was then called), Oetker (Germany's largest family-run company) and Barilla in Italy formed the beginning of an unparalleled success story.
Just three years later the young company was already generating DM 5.6 million (EUR 2.86 million) in sales. By 1980 it had grown to DM 35 million (EUR 17.9 million) and by 1990 to more than DM 175 million (approximately EUR 90 million). The company continued to grow from strength to strength following German reunification and by 2002, the last year under his management, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was firmly anchored among the top global consultancies, generating client fee income of EUR 526 million. His company continues to thrive: by 2007 his successors had increased sales to more than EUR 600 million.
A German name - an international business
Key to these positive developments were the internationalization efforts spearheaded by Berger himself. Within eight years of its founding, Roland Berger had already established international offices in Milan and São Paulo, and strategic alliances in the United States, Japan, Paris, London and Madrid. In 1980, Roland Berger becomes the first European consulting firm to be admitted to the Association of Consulting Management Engineers (ACME) – the oldest and most prestigious association of consulting firms in the United States.
New opportunities opened up with the fall of the Berlin wall. Berger expanded the company's reach into Central and Eastern Europe, with offices in Moscow, Kiev, Prague, Riga, Budapest, and Bucharest. The firm opened further offices in the Far East in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing, and strengthened its Western European presence with additional offices in Brussels, Lisbon, London, Paris and Zurich.
Having sold a 75.1% stake in his business to Deutsche Bank in the eighties, the firm struck cooperative deals with local partners in the America, as the US Bank Holding act prevented it from opening independent offices. Not until the management buyout takes place in 1998, which hands sole ownership back to Roland Berger and his Partners, are barriers removed. Offices in Detroit and New York open soon thereafter. That same year, two-thirds of the company's sales are generated by projects for innovation and growth strategies.
Today, the company operates from 33 offices in 23 countries, including China, Japan and the Middle East.
A "political animal"
His obvious contribution to keeping Germany's export motor running, by helping companies to enhance their performance, did not go unnoticed by the country's leading politicians. "I advise individual politicians on business topics – strictly pro bono, person-to-person and irrespective of party membership," explains the consultant, who describes himself as something of a "political animal".
Over the years, he had been appointed to a number of expert panels and committees at both the federal and state government levels, among them the "Lean State" Expert Commission under Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the Expert Group on the Reform of German Bundesbank Structures, Roman Herzog's "Presidential Advisory Council for Innovation" and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's "Commission for the Long Term Health of Germany's Social Security System" (Rürup Commission).
Despite his strong involvement in political life, he has always declined to run for political office. "A job in politics does not fit my personal and professional plans," he says. However, holding steadfast to his personal motto inspired by the German philosopher Hegel, he remains committed "to contributing to the progress of society."
His obvious contribution to keeping Germany's export motor running, by helping companies to enhance their performance, did not go unnoticed by the country's leading politicians. "I advise individual politicians on business topics – strictly pro bono, person-to-person and irrespective of party membership," explains the consultant, who describes himself as something of a "political animal".
Over the years, he had been appointed to a number of expert panels and committees at both the federal and state government levels, among them the "Lean State" Expert Commission under Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the Expert Group on the Reform of German Bundesbank Structures, Roman Herzog's "Presidential Advisory Council for Innovation" and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's "Commission for the Long Term Health of Germany's Social Security System" (Rürup Commission).
Despite his strong involvement in political life, he has always declined to run for political office. "A job in politics does not fit my personal and professional plans," he says. However, holding steadfast to his personal motto inspired by the German philosopher Hegel, he remains committed "to contributing to the progress of society."
Turning over a new leaf
In July 2003, Roland Berger became the Chairman of his company's Supervisory Board, turning over the reigns to a new five-person Executive Committee under Burkhard Schwenker, who remains committed to the company's fundamental values: Excellence, Entrepreneurship and Partnership. This new leadership structure has allowed the company to grow further and extend its geographical reach. While Berger continues to hold 10% of the shares in the group, the 150 international partners hold the remaining 90%.
The new role has allowed Berger to play a more active role in the wider business world. He is a member of several supervisory boards, including those of Fiat in Turin and Alcan in Montreal. The consultant sits on many advisory councils, such as those for the Sony Corporation in Tokyo and the Blackstone Group in New York.
And even though he has stepped back from the operational leadership of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, Berger continues to work as a consultant in economics and politics. His involvement in the academic world also continues unchanged, where he serves as a member of the Council of the Ludwig Maximilian University and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, and a Member of the Board of Directors at INSEAD .
In July 2003, Roland Berger became the Chairman of his company's Supervisory Board, turning over the reigns to a new five-person Executive Committee under Burkhard Schwenker, who remains committed to the company's fundamental values: Excellence, Entrepreneurship and Partnership. This new leadership structure has allowed the company to grow further and extend its geographical reach. While Berger continues to hold 10% of the shares in the group, the 150 international partners hold the remaining 90%.
The new role has allowed Berger to play a more active role in the wider business world. He is a member of several supervisory boards, including those of Fiat in Turin and Alcan in Montreal. The consultant sits on many advisory councils, such as those for the Sony Corporation in Tokyo and the Blackstone Group in New York.
And even though he has stepped back from the operational leadership of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, Berger continues to work as a consultant in economics and politics. His involvement in the academic world also continues unchanged, where he serves as a member of the Council of the Ludwig Maximilian University and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, and a Member of the Board of Directors at INSEAD .
A rich, diverse life
Roland Berger is a man of many accolades and honors. His services have been widely recognized with national awards, including the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland and the Grand Officer Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. For all of the success he has had in business and in public life, his wide interests have led him to contribute to society in other ways.
Passionate about art and music, Roland Berger started the company art collection, which now spans around 1000 works, in his early days as a consultant. He and his wife Karin support leading classical music festivals all over the world, a tradition, which the company now continues.
Always active, always interested in meeting new people from all walks of life, Roland Berger remains as committed to influencing society today as he was as a student, when he laid the foundation of what was to become one of the world's most successful consulting companies:
Happy 70th Birthday, Roland Berger!
Roland Berger is a man of many accolades and honors. His services have been widely recognized with national awards, including the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland and the Grand Officer Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. For all of the success he has had in business and in public life, his wide interests have led him to contribute to society in other ways.
Passionate about art and music, Roland Berger started the company art collection, which now spans around 1000 works, in his early days as a consultant. He and his wife Karin support leading classical music festivals all over the world, a tradition, which the company now continues.
Always active, always interested in meeting new people from all walks of life, Roland Berger remains as committed to influencing society today as he was as a student, when he laid the foundation of what was to become one of the world's most successful consulting companies:
Happy 70th Birthday, Roland Berger!
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