Markus is an experienced executive and entrepreneur who helped build and run some of Germany's most successful digital start-ups. With a business background and programming expertise, he bridges C-suite strategy discussions with technology-design debates. He encourages customer- and data-driven digital investments that delight users and foster future growth.
During more than 15 years in executive roles, Markus steered large and small organizations through fast-growth periods and turnaround situations.
Since joining McKinsey in 2015, Markus has helped clients grow and improve new and existing digital businesses. Applying agile methodologies and design-focused thinking, he specializes in fine-tuning the business model and scaling operations rapidly. For example, he recently helped a leading insurance company build agile and design capabilities to digitize their customer experience. Markus understands firsthand what it takes to make an organization agile from a management perspective.
Keenly interested in the future of the digital industry, Markus cofounded the Berlin chapter of H2. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Silicon Valley with chapters globally, H2 connects senior executives, entrepreneurs, and domain experts at start-ups and top firms worldwide. Also passionate about causes that support children, economic empowerment, and education, he offers guidance to the Berlin Metropolitan School and is an advisor to the not-for-profit social-development organization Ashoka.
Select published work
“Overcoming the European tech IPO challenge,” McKinsey & Company, October 2024
“How CEOs are turning corporate venture building into outsize growth,” McKinsey & Company, October 2024
“From raw data to real profits: A primer for building a thriving data business,” McKinsey & Company, July 2024
“New-business building: A winning strategy in uncertain times,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023
“CEOs’ choice for growth: Building new businesses,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023
“The direct-to-customer edge: Increasing shareholder value through business building,” McKinsey & Company, August 2023
“A bigger, bolder vision: How CROs are propelling growth from the C-suite,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023
“A new approach to impact investing from entrepreneur and venture capitalist Fabian Heilemann,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023
“Bringing a digital platform to the home heating services market: Lessons from thermondo,” McKinsey & Company, June 2023
“Transforming cutting-edge science into a business: Lessons from C1,” McKinsey & Company, May 2023
“The executive’s guide to new-business building,” McKinsey & Company, February 2023
“Buy and scale: How incumbents can use M&A to grow new businesses,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022
“How start-ups can manage uncertain times: Insights from leading European venture capitalists,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022
“New-business building in 2022: Driving growth in volatile times,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022
“How to build a unicorn: Lessons from venture capitalists and start-ups,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022
“How good are you at business building? A new way to score your ability to scale new ventures,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021
“Entrepreneurship zeitgeist 2030,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021
“Building new businesses: How incumbents use their advantages to accelerate growth,” McKinsey & Company, December 2019
“How industrial incumbents can create new businesses,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019
“Transforming life insurance with design thinking,” McKinsey & Company, May 2016
Past experience
Note: This section lists roles held 1 year or more and is not intended to be a comprehensive list; usually only the most senior title held is listed
MyHammer, CEO
VZ Networks (StudiVZ), CEO
Jamba/Jamster, COO and CEO
Education
Columbia University Business School
Exchange program
MBA
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
German “Diplom Kaufmann” degree
Activities & Interests
Cofounder, H2, Berlin chapter
Advisory board, Berlin Metropolitan School