Hans-Paul Bürkner
Hans-Paul Bürkner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Management consultant, executive |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Former President and CEO of Boston Consulting Group |
Hans-Paul Bürkner (born 1952) is a German expert in management consulting, who has held roles including managing director, senior partner, and global chair emeritus at the Boston Consulting Group. From 2004 until 2012, he served as President and CEO, marking him as the first European to lead the company.
Career
Bürkner started his professional journey in corporate finance at Commerzbank before joining BCG in 1981, during a period when the firm’s focus was predominantly in the United States. He played a key role in founding BCG’s offices in Düsseldorf (1982) and Frankfurt (1991). Before ascending to the CEO position, he was responsible for heading BCG’s global Financial Services division, chaired various Practice Groups, and was a member of the executive committee.
Chosen by his partners in 2003 and subsequently re-elected twice, Bürkner guided the firm through significant expansion—growing its workforce from 4,500 to more than 15,000 employees and launching twenty additional offices internationally. Under his leadership, the number of partners doubled. Following his tenure as CEO, he transitioned to Chairman until Rich Lesser took over in 2013.
His academic credentials include a diploma from University of Bochum, an M.A. from Yale University, and a D.Phil. from St Catherine's College, Oxford, where he was honored as a Rhodes Scholar. He remains actively involved with clients and teams across BCG’s operations in 46 countries.
Awards and recognitions
In 2003, Consulting Magazine recognized Bürkner as one of the top 25 consultants who have significantly influenced both their clients and their organizations.
See also
External links
- Commentaries by Hans-Paul Bürkner - BCG Perspectives
- Hans-Paul Bürkner Profile on BCG.com
- Hans-Paul article in HBR
- Hans-Paul article in FT
- Financial Times interview with Bürkner