The strategy, IT and management consultancy zeb, which specializes in the European financial services industry, has made some targeted additions to its group of Partners, namely Detlev Ahrens (49), Bork N. Bröker (42), Udo Jacobasch (53), Dr. Bernd Liesenkötter (38), Dirk Queisner (39), Julian Schmeing (33), Martin Seidenberg (36), Andreas Sumper (46) and Christoph Wienert (34). All of them are highly experienced in their respective fields and have proven their expertise as financial services specialists. In total, the executive team of the strategy and management consultancy now consists of 69 Partners who support banking and insurance clients across Europe.
Three of the nine new Partners work at the Hamburg office. Detlev Ahrens specializes in hedge accounting and advises banks captives, leasing companies and European asset managers that operate under international accounting principles. Dirk Queisner is an expert in banking regulation and supports banks in implementing and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. He also advises institutions on licensing issues in the context of spin-offs and start-ups. Christoph Wienert is a specialist in strategic and operational issues at the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. His thematic focus is on the future-oriented implementation of processes in conjunction with effective change tools to achieve long-lasting organizational change. 
Another new Partner, Julian Schmeing, is based in the Munich office. The 33-year-old specializes in digital assets and DLT as well as in advising fintech companies. 
Udo Jacobasch from the Berlin office has also joined the executive team. His consulting focus is on digitalization, custom software development for large companies and the management of large digitalization projects. 
The new Partners based in Münster are Dr. Bernd Liesenkötter, Bork N. Bröker and Martin Seidenberg. Dr. Bernd Liesenkötter advises banks on topics relating to sustainability and ESG, focusing on both strategic and sales issues in the context of sustainable transformation. Bork N. Bröker supports banks in setting up an effective and efficient risk management and integrating it with their overall management. Martin Seidenberg’s activities are centered on sales (management) at the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe.
Austria’s newest addition to the group of Partners is Andreas Sumper. He advises banks on E2E digitalization, particularly in the lending business with retail and corporate customers. In this role, he supports banks in Austria as well as the entire DACH region.

Turnover increases to EUR 220 million
For the past financial year 2023, the consultancy founded and headquartered in Münster reports a continuation of its growth path. Despite the war in Ukraine, global crises and inflation-related uncertainties on the European financial markets, zeb’s turnover rose to a record level of over EUR 220 million, compared to EUR 200 million in 2022. zeb is thus successfully continuing its steady growth course of recent years with a clear focus on the needs of its often longstanding clients. This is also reflected in zeb’s recruitment activities. After 200 new employees were hired last year, the company aims for another 200 new hires in 2024. Currently, zeb employs more than 1,100 staff all over Europe.
Dr. Markus Thiesmeyer, Managing Director at zeb, puts the consulting company’s mission into clear words: “The holistic and sustainable transformation of the German and European banking and insurance industry remains the focus of zeb’s activities. As one of the key players specialized in this area, we expect continued growth in the demand for consulting services in the segments ‘new technologies’ and ‘environmental, social responsibility and good corporate governance (ESG)’, among others.” 
Against this background, zeb has continuously expanded its consulting profile and comprehensive financial services expertise, taken targeted digitalization measures and strengthened its network of office locations in recent years. zeb currently has international offices in Amsterdam, Kyiv, London, Luxembourg, Milan, Oslo, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw and Zurich.