Berlin Global Advisors continues internationalisation and expands its Government Affairs team in Berlin

 

Berlin Global Advisors, the independent government affairs consultancy based in Germany, has opened a new office in London. BGA offers international government affairs and geopolitical consulting, and transaction advisory services.

The UK office will be led by Felix Dane, former head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in London. The office will provide consulting services to globally operating companies and to investors based in the UK who have business interests on the European continent. Felix brings extensive international experience to the role, having previously led KA Foundation teams in Ramallah and Rio de Janeiro, and worked for several years in the European institutions in Brussels.

As an expert in international trade relations, Rhian Chilcott will strengthen the team at BGA as Senior Advisor. Rhian previously spent over 15 years at the Confederation of British Industry in senior management roles, including Chief of Staff to the Director General and International Director.

With Joachim von der Goltz, BGA is bringing on board another experienced investment banker as Senior Advisor, who will advise BGA clients particularly in the area of transactions. Joachim has previously held senior positions at Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan and was most recently responsible for Credit Suisse’s Equity Capital Markets business in Northern Europe as Managing Director.

BGA had already expanded its roster of consultants significantly during 2023. Former ambassadors Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven and Peter Schoof joined as new Senior Advisors. Arndt was formerly German ambassador to Poland and the Czech Republic, Vice President of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), and Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security at NATO in Brussels. Peter served as German ambassador in Indonesia and Greece, headed the representation of the Federal Republic of Germany at ASEAN, and worked as the Inspector General of the Foreign Office. BGA also brought on board as Senior Advisor the lawyer Denise Feldner, who is a specialist in emerging technology and infrastructure. She is the founder of the consultancy firm Bridgehead Advisors, and previously held leading positions in research and innovation management.

In January 2024, BGA also welcomed Ralf Brauksiepe, a former member of the German Bundestag, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as Senior Advisor. Having most recently served as Member of the Executive Board and Labour Director at Vivawest, Ralf strengthens BGA’s Government Affairs team in Berlin.

Martin Wiesmann, Managing Partner of BGA said:

“We are excited about the high-profile additions to our BGA team. They bring extensive global expertise and valuable experience from the German and international political arena to our consulting business, strengthening all three pillars of our business model: international government affairs, geopolitics, and transaction advisory.”

At the same time, Jan Kallmorgen, the founder of BGA, is stepping down as BGA Partner. Jan founded BGA in 2017 and, together with Ralf Welt since 2019, has built it into a leading international government affairs and geopolitical consultancy in Germany.

From 1 February, Jan will join the Strategy & Transactions division of the professional services firm EY as an equity partner, where he will be jointly responsible for the expansion of the Economics & Politics Hub. He will remain associated with BGA as a minority shareholder. The majority shareholding in BGA will in future be held by Managing Partners Ralf Welt and Martin Wiesmann.

Ralf Welt, Managing Partner, said:

“With Jan Kallmorgen, a highly respected and competent geopolitics expert is leaving us. His entrepreneurial energy has shaped BGA greatly.  We’re delighted that he will remain associated with us as a shareholder and as a friend, and we wish him every success in his new role. BGA is in an excellent position to successfully continue our growth trajectory of recent years.”

 

For inquiries please contact:

Ralf Welt, BGA Managing Partner
ralf.welt@bga.global

Martin Wiesmann, BGA Managing Partner
martin.wiesmann@bga.global