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To succeed in the coming decade, companies in every industry will have to act like tech companies—using technology to build strong relationships with customers and suppliers, and empowering employees to innovate.

All companies are people businesses. Whether you are a manufacturer, a pharmaceutical company, or a consulting firm, it is people who make the difference.

Hans-Paul Bürkner
Managing Director and Global Chair Emeritus
Frankfurt

Hans-Paul Bürkner was president and chief executive officer of The Boston Consulting Group from 2004 to 2012—the company’s fifth CEO. Before taking on that role, he was head of BCG’s global Financial Services practice, the chair of the practice areas, and a member of the Executive Committee.

Consulting magazine named Hans-Paul a Top 25 Consultant in 2003. Under his leadership, BCG established the Public Sector and Sustainability practices, the social-impact and education initiatives, and the Insurance and Marketing and Sales practices. In addition, 18 offices were opened around the world. The partner group and the global staff more than doubled and revenues tripled.

Hans-Paul’s key focus areas have been globalization and transformation. The opening up of economies around the world and connectivity through technology have created enormous momentum,  opportunities, and challenges for countries and for companies—in both emerging and developed markets.

Business models in essentially all industries have changed or are in the process of changing. This requires companies to transform their business portfolios, organization, processes, leadership styles, and cultures—if they are to continue to grow and flourish. BCG’s focus has become supporting clients in making good use of these opportunities and enabling their people and organizations to deal proactively with the challenges.

Hans-Paul joined BCG in 1981, and over the course of those three-plus decades he has counted among his clients many of the world’s leading companies. He has helped to redefine strategies and organizations, spearheaded major global expansion initiatives, and supported companies in the fundamental transformation of their businesses.

Today, Hans-Paul travels extensively in the 46 countries in which BCG operates in order to support key clients and teams.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • PhD, social sciences, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar)
  • MA, development economics, Yale University
  • Diplom-Oekonom, business and economics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

HONORS AND AWARDS

Publications and Videos

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For CEOs, the Future Is a State of Mind

Pessimism may rule the day. But business leaders who look to the future with optimism can guide their companies toward long-term success.
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Is Your Culture Ready for a Fractal Redesign?

Big companies have competed on scale for a century, but they are losing ground to smaller firms that can respond with precision to the needs of local customers.
Cities of Choice: Are People Happy Where They Live | Hero

Cities of Choice: Are People Happy Where They Live?

Leaders must learn what works in their city—and expeditiously address what doesn’t. Residents’ satisfaction is key to whether they move or stay.
Why Global Companies Need to Become Fractal Innovators | Rectangle

Why Global Companies Need to Become Fractal Innovators

Markets are fragmenting quickly. Scale and pedigree are no longer guarantees of success. To be contenders, global champions must design products differently.
The Organization of the Future Is Fractal - rectangle

The Organization of the Future Is Fractal

Scale isn’t dead. But it’s critical to find the right balance between scale and fractal principles—and to do it before your competitors do.
How Public-Private Ecosystems Can Help Solve Societal Problems - rectangle

How Public-Private Ecosystems Can Help Solve Societal Problems

Governments and companies must find new ways to collaborate if they are to solve the big multigenerational challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Building Fractal Advantage in a Fragmenting World - rectangle

Building Fractal Advantage in a Fragmenting World

Powerful forces are reshaping the global business environment. To stay competitive, companies need to evolve beyond the traditional quest for scale.
Governments Should Think Big, Act Fast, and Start Small to Solve Tough Problems - Rectangle

Governments Should Think Big, Act Fast, and Start Small to Solve Tough Problems

When addressing critical issues such as nutrition access, clean water, and the digital divide, multilateral solutions aren’t the only answer.
What Governments Can Do to Curb Inequality

What Governments Can Do to Curb Inequality

Inequality is a complex challenge. To tackle it, governments should not only provide safety nets for citizens but also create trampolines that help them advance.
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Three Steps to Turn Your Company into a Learning Powerhouse

Companies compete on their capacity to learn quickly—and building an effective learning ecosystem is essential to gaining advantage in this critical area.
squaring-the-circle-rectangle.jpg

Squaring the Circle

What is the secret to good decision making when reality clashes with the traditional way of doing things?
Why It’s Time to Bring Learning to the C-Suite

Why It’s Time to Bring Learning to the C-Suite

Revolutionary tech advances, the changing paradigm of training, and the rise of the bionic company demand radical rethinking of the corporate L&D function.