BrazilNew Simon Kucher co-CEOs earmark Middle East as strategic growth region
Global consulting firm Simon-Kucher has installed a new leadership duo at its helm: Gunnar Clausen and Joerg Kruetten. Their masterplan for the coming years ahead covers all corners of the globe, with the Middle East earmarked as a strategic growth region.
In their new role as co-CEOs, Gunnar Clausen and Joerg Kruetten lead a team of over 2,000 employees in 30+ countries. They succeed Andreas von der Gathen and Mark Billige, who led the firm for five years.
Headquartered in Germany, Simon-Kucher is a leading strategy consulting firm, specialised in areas such as commercial strategy, sales & marketing, pricing, and commercial excellence.
“We are honored to take the helm at Simon-Kucher,” said Clausen, who previously served as Managing Partner for Central & Northern Europe. “The global economy has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, and businesses increasingly recognize the critical role of pricing and commercial excellence. Our mission is clear: to help clients successfully navigate these times and achieve sustainable, long-term growth.”
Kruetten meanwhile steps up from the role of Global Managing Partner of the Healthcare & Life Sciences division – one of Simon-Kucher’s powerhouse sectors. “Our work has always been about making an impact,” he said.
“Better growth means more than just improving numbers – it’s about empowering businesses to unlock profitable growth and thrive by addressing their most pressing challenges. We’re focused on expanding our offerings across the commercial space to deliver innovative solutions that drive sustainable success.”
The ambitions
Discussing their goals, Clausen and Kruetten said that they aim to deepen the Simon-Kucher’s impact by refining its renowned pricing and monetization capabilities while driving innovation to meet evolving market needs.
“Our focus remains on supporting client success across industries and geographies by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and functional expertise,” said Kruetten. “We are committed to investing in capabilities and strengthening our collaboration with clients and partners.”
Continued growth is naturally also part of the plan (Simon-Kucher has booked growth in 19 of the last 20 years), and while home base Europe remains its core market, strategic growth opportunities have been identified in North America, the Middle East and Asia.
Middle East
Speaking about the importance of the Middle East to Simon-Kucher’s global agenda, Dubai-based Lovrenc Kessler and Saudi Arabia-based Salim Al Gudhea highlighted the region’s strong growth potential, the unprecedented transformation being worked on, and its key role as a hub for innovation.
“With our longstanding presence in Dubai, we’ve seen this region emerge as a hub of economic growth and innovation. We are committed to helping businesses achieve lasting success,” said Kessler.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the key global economies. Being closer to KSA clients allows us to better address high-demand areas such as digital transformation, commercial excellence, and innovative pricing strategies.”
In 2025, Simon-Kucher is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The firm was founded as a university spinoff by Hermann Simon, Eckhard Kucher, and Karl-Heinz Sebastian.
