Nils Kuhlwein von Rathenow sees transformation and restructuring initiatives as an end-to-end approach that requires a combination of operational, structural, and strategic measures as well as top-line and cost optimizations. He believes this also requires a deep understanding of business models to bring the company back to health.

“My motto—suaviter in modo, fortiter in re, loosely translated as speak softly, and carry a big stick—has always been particularly important for me and helped me navigate my many transformation projects,” Nils says. “Even when major cuts are necessary, it is always important to implement these changes together with the company’s workforce to achieve buy-in for actions taken by the business.”

Nils has extensive experience in the automobile industry, in machinery, and in plant construction as well as in consumer goods and retail. With more than 25 years of experience as a management consultant and public auditor, he has initiated and completed a host of international transformation and restructuring programs for conglomerates and assisted many mid-sized enterprises in navigating a business crisis. “One of my most important and successful projects includes supporting the 2009 rescue efforts for an automobile manufacturer at risk of bankruptcy and the associated financial aid provided by the federal government,” he says.

The cornerstone for his work and his deep understanding of various industries lies in his vocational training at Siemens AG, his business administration degree from the University of Passau, and his subsequent work as a public auditor. Nils is a partner in Kearney’s Düsseldorf office; the managing director of Kearney in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; and the managing director of Kearney Restructuring GmbH.

Nils is a cofounder of the German Society for Restructuring and has been an executive officer of this professional association for 15 years. He regularly publishes on issues related to transformation and restructuring. His latest publication is The Kearney Restructuring Score, which measures how economic conditions have impacted a company and influenced its financial performance.

Whenever he isn’t working, Nils is pursuing his passion with his wife and their three children: skiing in the mountains.

Nils Kuhlwein

Kuhlwein, Nils - Bio