Udo Becker is responsible for the Energy + Industry sector and Crisis Communications at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Germany. He is specialised in transnational stakeholder programmes, corporate reputation, financial communications, crisis communications,  internal communications, Executive coaching and media training. He has been working especially for international clients such as Nord Stream, Nord Stream 2, Shell, IKEA, Ford, Statkraft und die Compass Group.

Prior to Hill+Knowlton Strategies he worked for Heyde AG, a publicly listed IT-Services company, as Head of Corporate Communications. Before that he was heading the European Corporate/Technology practice of Edelman Public Relations in Frankfurt. Among his responsibilities at Edelman was consult technology companies prior, during, and post their IPO at Deutsche Boerse.

Right after his studies he worked for Measurex Corporation where he held various management positions in sales and marketing. During his time with Measurex he spent a few years in their headquarters in Cupertino, California, managing the company’s global OEM program, including B2B communications.

Udo has a BSEE of the University of Osnabrueck. The active football referee also holds a number of honorary functions at the Football Association of Hesse, Germany.

Catherine Dächert-Tessier is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the executive board of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. She joined Hill+Knowlton, the communications and brand consultancy with the longest tradition in Germany and one of the top agencies worldwide, in 2014. ​

Catherine Dächert-Tessier has more than 20 years of experience in finance and administration management in international companies.  ​

Before joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Catherine had worked at Cohn & Wolfe for 13 years. As their Finance Director she worked for the German agencies before taking on the role of Finance Director Germany & France. Catherine started her career as administration and finance manager at GE Plastics in Germany. In 1995 she became financial reporting manager at Citibank in Frankfurt and four years later was named financial controller at Young & Rubicam. Two years later, she travelled for one year around the world, mainly to Asia and South America. ​

Catherine graduated from EPSCI (Groupe ESSEC) in Paris and Hanse Polytechnics in Groningen (The Netherlands).

Katja Gehrmann-Weide has worked in healthcare communications for more than 20 years and is currently responsible for the Medical + Science team at 3K, the German healthcare division of H+K.

Over the course of her career, she has been responsible for the development and implementation of many effective communications strategies, ranging from pan-European product launches and the creation of attention-grabbing PR campaigns to the development of media training and issue management materials.

The healthcare team’s mission is to deliver relevant and targeted content to both professionals and the general public, and to ensure the long-term success of its clients. She has worked for companies such as Eli Lilly, NovoNordisk, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Roche in the fields of oncology, immunology, diabetology and rare diseases.

Katja Gehrmann-Weide studied Oecotrophology at the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein and holds a Master of Business Administration from Pfeifer University in Charlotte, North Carolina. After work, she can often be found on the mat as a trained yoga instructor.

Romina Gerhards is one of Germany‘s leading experts in digital and content marketing. The passionate journalist and agency convert has 20 years of experience in developing customer centric content that drives reach and generates sales. Together with international companies – from both the B2B and B2C sectors – she has implemented many pioneering content marketing projects. She is confident in a wide range of industries – including Beauty + Fashion, FMCG, Technology, Financial Services and Travel + Gastro.​

Romina is responsible for Content + Publishing Strategy and Digital Planning + Optimization in Germany. With her teams, she advises companies and brands from all industries on topics ranging from the development of content strategies to the digitalisation of sales processes. Previously, she built up the Technology Practice at Hill+Knowlton Strategies.​

Before joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Romina Gerhards led Proof, an agency of Bauer Media Group specializing in digital storytelling. Previously, she was a director and management board member at the international communication agency Achtung, where she built the content marketing practice from the ground up. Prior to that, she worked as a journalist with various publishing companies such as Bauer Media Group and Funke Mediengruppe.​

The Queensland University of Technology graduate and Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes alumna holds a Master‘s degree in journalism. She gives keynnote speeches on digital and content marketing and mentors students and young professionals. 

Miriam Holbe is responsible for the Consumer Goods sector at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Germany.

Before joining Hill+Knowlton, Miriam spent several years working for some of the leading international PR networks such as Fleishman-Hillard in New York, Ketchum Pleon in Düsseldorf, Grayling in Berlin and Burson-Marsteller in Madrid. She also owned her own PR agency. Miriam has a distinguished 15 year track record in a wide variety of industry sectors planning and executing national and international PR campaigns. Her client portfolio included Gillette, Braun, Carpe Diem Kombucha, Hitachi, Smart, Pizza Hut, Mexico Tourism, LAN Airlines, and ABAMA Golf&Spa Resort. ​

Miriam holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Sorbonne University in Paris and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Strasbourg. She gained first work experiences as a Robert-Schuman-Scholar at the European Parliament in Brussels and working at the Delegation of the European Commission at the United Nations in New York. 

Dr. Andreas Kloevekorn is responsible for the Technology sector at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Germany. With more than 20 years of agency experience he has consulted clients in various industries, both nationally and internationally. He has worked across communications disciplines with a strong focus on digital and integrated communications.

Andreas started his career during the New Economy era as an Online Editor at Kabel New Media in Hamburg. In 2001, he joined Proximity and consulted clients on digital CRM topics. From 2005 to 2013 he worked at Tribal DDB Hamburg (now: DDB Hamburg), first as a Senior Consultant, then as Client Service Director and Member of the Board, working mainly for the client Volkswagen. From 2013 to 2020 he was at Edelman, starting as Managing Director Digital while working the last two years as COO.

Andreas has studied Modern History, Economics and Economic History in Hamburg, Bonn and Dublin and holds in PhD in Modern History.

André Wigger is responsible for the Employee Engagement and Change Communications services in Germany. With his team, he supports companies in improving employee engagement, developing and building their employer brand, recruiting employees and communicating in transformation projects including restructurings, post-merger integrations, culture changes with mission and values development processes.

Before joining H+K, André worked for strategic communications consultancy Deekeling Arndt Advisors, international PR network Burson-Marsteller, now BCW, and communications agency Ahrens&Behrent, now A&B One, among others.

Thomas Wimmer is Managing Director and responsible for Public Affairs at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Germany. He has 25 years of experience in communications and public affairs consulting for numerous German and international companies and organizations. He focusses on the areas of corporate & public affairs and stakeholder communications and also works for clients aiming to raise public acceptance for specific projects or topics.​

Prior to joining H+K, Thomas was a Partner at the Brunswick Group, a global communications consultancy. Earlier in his career, Thomas worked at Burson-Marsteller in Frankfurt, New York and Berlin for eleven years. ​

Thomas is an experienced professional who has consulted clients from various sectors, among them media and technology, energy, biotechnology, chemicals, mining and raw materials, consulting, agriculture, sports as well as transport and infrastructure.​

He is a founding member of  the „Netzwerk Public Affairs” and actively involved in a number of other organizations and networks. He contributes regularly to trade publications and speaks at conferences and seminars. Thomas studied history, political science and American studies at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, the University of California and the University of Colorado.​

As Managing Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Anja Zwetz is responsible for Consumer + Patient Communications at 3K, the German healthcare division of H+K. She has many years of experience in B2C and B2B communications for products and services in the OTC, personal health and nutrition sectors.

Her career in communications consulting includes several positions in international network agencies, where she served both pharmaceutical companies and consumer goods manufacturers. Since 2018, as a team lead at 3K Agentur für Kommunikation, she brings in her expertise and passion for creative and effective audience and patient communications.

With her team, she designs relevant healthcare communications across all touchpoints and channels: From awareness campaigns for the general public to targeted activation measures for patient groups to specialist communication with physicians and pharmacy teams.

Already during her studies, Anja Zwetz worked as a freelancer in the field of PR and graduated from the University of Bamberg as a sociologist with a focus on communication, PR, marketing and andragogy.

Radwan Atwi is Creative Director and leads the creative team in Germany. He is responsible for delivering creative excellence for all local and international clients.

Radwan has many years of experience in creating outstanding creative communication working for a number of the world’s leading creative agencies such as JWT, Grey, Leo Burnett and Publicis. He has worked in Dubai, Kuwait, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, among others. Before joining H+K his last stop was at Vice/Virtue in Zurich.

Over the past 15 years, Radwan accumulated experience in developing creative and innovative solutions and ideas addressing business and communication challenges alike, ensuring culturally relevant solutions suitable for what the audience likes to see, hear and experience.

Throughout his career, Radwan has worked for several different industry sectors and some of the biggest brands in the world such as IKEA, McDonald’s, Mondelez, COOP Switzerland, Renault.

Radwan has studied art and visual communication.

Anja Baudisch has worked in healthcare communications for more than 20 years and currently works as a Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in the Medical + Science team at 3K, the German healthcare division of H+K.

Her professional career includes various positions in both national healthcare communications agencies and international networks. Since 2022, Anja Baudisch has been working as Team Lead at 3K Agentur für Kommunikation, bringing her extensive experience in Rx communications to her work with clients in the fields of oncology, hematology as well as immunology.

Over the course of her career, she has worked for companies such as Roche Pharma, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck and Novartis in the areas of hemato-oncology, gastroenterology, dermatology, gynecology as well as reproductive medicine, among others. She designed and accompanied communication around new product approvals, developed attention-grabbing PR campaigns, coordinated international projects and developed workshop concepts.

Anja Baudisch studied media culture, sociology and biological anthropology at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena and at the Bauhaus University in Weimar and graduated with a degree in cultural studies (media).

Felix Brecht is Director and Head of Industrials with Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K).

His consulting activities for national and international B2B clients focus on energy production and distribution, the raw materials and primary industries as well as the manufacturing industry, especially mechanical and plant engineering. He is experienced in dealing with medium-sized companies and corporations, as well as with associations and academic institutions.

He started his professional career in the communications and marketing department of MAN Group. After positions in internal and external communications, including editor-in-chief at the employee newspaper, he was promoted team leader responsible for the communications of a large business unit, advising executives and top management. After 10 years as a communicator at MAN Group, he moved to the energy industry before becoming head of business unit in a medium-sized publishing house. There he complemented his professional experience with publishing and corporate services and was responsible for three trade journals dealing with energy and industry, such as the renowned magazine “gwf Gas + Energie”.

Felix Brecht studied communication sciences at the RWTH Aachen University. As a communicator he has a profound understanding of technical contexts. Privately, he is a fan of professional cycling and keeps himself fit by running.

Dr. Anika Burkard has been working in healthcare communications since receiving her doctorate in 2014. As a Director with experience in both units, she represents the interface between the Medical + Science and Patient + Consumer teams at 3K, the German healthcare division of H+K.

The natural scientist discovered her passion for healthcare communications while working at the University of Heidelberg and has since steadily expanded her skills – both in owner-managed agencies and in international networks. Competent in the areas of Rx, OTC, patient and consumer communications, Dr. Anika Burkard and her team currently advise clients in the fields of multiple sclerosis, medical cannabis and nutritional supplements, as well as on topics related to digitalization in medicine, such as digital health applications. Further she was responsible for the realignment of the 3K brand in 2021 as well as social media.

In the course of her career, she has worked for companies such as Roche Pharma, Novo Nordisk, ratiopharm, Omega Pharma and Tilray. Creative concepts around lifestyle topics for diverse target groups as well as classic technical communication characterize her work. In order to develop the agency sustainably, acquiring new business is particularly important to her.

Dr. Anika Burkard studied biology with a focus on microbiology, immunology and genetics at the University of Rostock. She then worked as a research assistant at the Research Center for Experimental Orthopaedics / Research Field Molecular and Regenerative Medicine, where she also received her doctorate.

Jan Hemme is Director in the Public Affairs service unit. He has many years of experience in issues management, stakeholder engagement and media relations. He serves clients from sectors such as defense and technology and provides senior counsel and strategic advisory for clients from the energy industry. ​

Prior to H+K Jan worked at German Energy Agency (dena). Earlier in his career, he was a staffer and consultant for the chairman of a political party and a public affairs consultant at an owner-managed consultancy in Berlin.​

Jan studied political sciences at the University of Münster in Germany and at Luther College (Decorah, IA, USA). He has spoken at various conferences and seminars on topics such as online democracy and crowdsourcing.

Sara Ketzer is Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

She supports and advises clients from medium-sized companies and listed corporations in the context of organizational and cultural transformation. Her consulting focus includes the development and implementation of corporate mission statements, internal strategy and change communication, executive communication as well as the design of processes and measures for employee engagement.

Sara moved in 2016 from Deekeling Arndt Advisors in Communications (DAA), a leading strategic communication consultancy focused on change communications and corporate and public affairs.
Before joining DAA, Sara worked both on agency and corporate sides, including RWE, Vodafone and Ketchum Pleon. In behavioral research projects she dealt with questions of how to gain managers‘ and employees‘ acceptance for corporate changes and developed approaches to support transformational leadership behavior and employee involvement.

Sara holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Twente, located in The Netherlands. There she specialized on corporate and organizational communications.
Previously she graduated in marketing communications at Düsseldorfer Akademie für Marketing und Kommunikation e.V.

Sara Lübking is a Director in the Energy + Industry sector. She advises national and international clients on all aspects of corporate communications. Her expertise includes brand positioning, media and stakeholder relations, event and campaign organization, and executive positioning. She also advises on crisis and restructuring projects.

Prior to joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies more than a decade ago, Sara supported the agency part time, gaining experience in media relations, media trainings, event organization and administration. During her studies, she further obtained valuable insight into political relations, campaigning and public affairs through her work for the non-profit, non-partisan political research organization Project Vote Smart in the USA.

Sara studied American Literature, Media and Psychology as well as Social Ethics at Philipps-University of Marburg and Fresno Pacific University, CA, USA. She is native German, fluent in English and has basic knowledge of Spanish and Norwegian. Outside of work, Sara is an avid traveler and photographer.

Nikolaus is Senior Creative Strategist at H+K. In this role, he is responsible for the cross-client and cross-sector development of communication and positioning strategies as well as further development of strategic excellence and the expansion of the Data + Analytics department within the Innovation + Creative Hub.

Nikolaus has profound experience in strategic planning, creative conception and data-based evaluation of national and international communication campaigns, brand appearances and product positioning.

Before joining H+K, he worked as a strategist for the creative agency thjnk, where his agency responsibilities included global brand communications for Audi and Austrian Airlines.

Before that, he worked as a communications strategist at the Hamburg-based agency K16, which specializes in integrated communications solutions in the B2B environment. Here he was responsible for projects in the tech/teleco, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, among others.

Nikolaus studied Political Science, Sociology, German (B.A.) and Linguistics (M.A.) in Bonn and Hamburg.

Claudia Müller is Director in the Public Affairs service area and advises clients on a national and international level. Her sector expertise includes the energy sector, and the IT, automotive, construction as well as pharma industries.

She supports clients in all aspects of external and internal communications – from media relations to corporate publishing, stakeholder engagement, event organization, crisis communications and reputation management, change management, and employer branding.

Claudia is part of H+K’s German Better Impact team which helps clients build long-term, sustainable and impactful strategies.

Claudia studied English and Spanish at Humboldt University Berlin and Universidad Complutense in Madrid. Prior to joining Hill + Knowlton, Claudia Müller has worked at a Berlin-based advertisement agency and for German polling firm TNS Emnid.

Christine Schulze-Grotkopp is Director Public Affairs at the Berlin office of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. She has more than 15 years of experience in political communications. Her focus is on clients in the healthcare and digital sectors.

Christine gained a diverse set of experience in the field of public affairs during her previous professional positions in the German Bundestag, a digital association and a state ministry. As a research assistant and office manager at the German Bundestag, she primarily dealt with issues related to digitalization. Christine gained experience in business and advocacy as Senior Manager Public Affairs at the German Games Industry Association. Most recently, Christine lead the Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Schleswig-Holstein for a period of five years. She has a lot of experience in project management and advocacy in the multi-level political system.

Christine studied Political Science, Public Law and Political Science at the Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg (M.A.).

Photo-Copyright: Dennis Conrad