• The consultancy specializing in corporate governance and strategic HR management acquires a majority stake in the European Center for Board Effectiveness GmbH 
  • Expansion of expertise in the areas of evaluation, organization, and cooperation of supervisory bodies in Germany and Europe

Frankfurt, October 30th, 2023. hkp/// group has acquired 75% of the shares in the European Center for Board Effectiveness GmbH. The ECBE specializes in evaluating and advising on the work of supervisory and administrative bodies. In a scientifically supported process, information from questionnaire-based digital evaluations is analyzed using personally structured interviews and discussed in moderated follow-up workshops to guide action. The two companies had already cooperated on client projects in the past. In the course of the takeover by hkp/// group, the ECBE will remain an independent company and brand. 

The ECBE will combine the existing evaluation activities of hkp/// group and their own qualitative assessments as they continue to operate independently with their professional specialization. With this takeover, hkp/// group, the market leader in corporate governance consulting, is strengthening its business in the field of organization and cooperation of supervisory bodies in particular. 

The takeover creates a European   platform for independent advice to Supervisory Boards that meets legal and regulatory requirements,  justifies the increasingly international composition of Supervisory Boards, and eliminates conflicts of interest, which persist due to the use of auditors and executive search firms in evaluating the work of Supervisory Boards.

On the motivation for the takeover, Regine Siepmann, hkp/// group Senior Partner and Head of the corporate governance advisory segment comments: "Evaluating the organization and cooperation of supervisory bodies has established itself as a key instrument of good corporate governance. It does more than just review regulatory requirements; it enables a fact-based, systematic, and future-oriented further development of the Supervisory Board – even against the backdrop of ever-increasing pressure from investors. This increases the demand for professional support, particularly in the combination of specialist know-how, state-of-the-art technology, and confidentiality".

ECBE Managing Director Dr. Lukas Berger remains on the board and will continue to act as Managing Director & Board Advisor. He explains: "In our new organizational structure, we can support supervisory bodies even more effectively, diversely, and internationally in reflecting on and improving their work. Supervisory bodies appreciate our innovative approach with digital and personal elements and a systematic best-practice comparison when using the latest and most secure technologies.”
Other personnel constants as ECBE co-shareholders and Senior Board Advisors are the multi-Supervisory Board member Daniela Mattheus and the corporate governance expert Prof. Dr. Michael Wolff, economist at the University of Göttingen, who is part of the ECBE founding team.

About hkp/// group

hkp// group is an international management consultancy in the field of strategic HR management and corporate governance. Our partners are long-term oriented owners and shape the consulting topics for our clients as much as our own organization. As passionate consultants, we are valued for our innovation and topic leadership. Together with our employees, we are committed to the guiding principle: sustainable performance through people. We support our clients as a trusted advisor for transformational issues around people strategy and good & responsible governance. We combine strategic foresight with in-depth expertise and also support our clients during implementation. 
www.hkp.com

About ECBE – Member of hkp/// group

ECBE – European Center for Board Effectiveness GmbH is a company specializing exclusively in the evaluation of Supervisory Boards. It is part of the management consultancy hkp/// group, which focuses on strategic HR and corporate governance, but operates as an independent company and brand. With an innovative and tool-based approach, ECBE conducts evaluations to the highest quality standards in order to further develop the work and effectiveness of supervisory bodies and their committees. The experienced, interdisciplinary, and diverse team has many years of experience in working with Supervisory Boards and in conducting tool- and interview-based evaluations of Supervisory Boards in a wide variety of companies.

Contact Thomas Müller, Mobil: +49 176 100 88 237, E-Mail:thomas.mueller@hkp.com
 

Author Regine Siepmann

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