ECM - Key Persons
Alexander Schönborn joined ECM in 2011. As a Partner, he is primarily responsible for the identification, implementation, and support of investment opportunities and is involved in the further development of our company.
Alex has many years of experience in the medium-sized investment business as well as in the further development of organisational structures in strongly growing companies. For example, he supports the establishment and expansion of our groups in the healthcare, dermatology, and uroviva sectors, and is responsible for our investment in SIS.
Prior to ECM, Alex worked for Commerzbank as an advisor on company acquisitions and sales transactions in the German Mittelstand. He studied economics at the University of Würzburg and holds a degree in business administration. He also studied restructuring law at the University of Heidelberg and graduated as LL.M. corp. restruc.
Axel Eichmeyer joined ECM in 1998. As Managing Partner, he is responsible for the identification, implementation, and subsequent support of investment opportunities on the one hand, and for the management of ECM as well as the Investor Relations department on the other.
Axel has more than 20 years of experience in the medium-sized investment business, particularly in working in partnership with shareholder and management teams in the sustainable development of portfolio companies. Historically, he was responsible for the investments MediFox, inTime and Casa Reha.
Before joining ECM, Axel worked for Price Waterhouse in London and Berlin in the areas of auditing and transaction consulting. Axel holds a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Edinburgh and is a Chartered Accountant (CA).
Benedikt Müller joined ECM in 2017. As an Investment Director he is mainly responsible for the identification and execution of new investments and the continuous support of portfolio companies.
Benedikt has several years of experience in the investment and transaction business. At ECM he has, among others, been in charge of the former portfolio companies MediFox and PikeTec and is jointly responsible for the existing investments in Intermate, DATAPART and Uroviva.
Prior to ECM, Benedikt worked in investment banking at Macquarie Capital in Frankfurt and advised financial investors and companies on M&A transactions. Benedikt holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and a master's degree in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics.
Christoph Demers joined ECM in 2017. As Investment Director he is jointly responsible for the implementation of new investments and the further development of the portfolio companies.
Christoph has gained experience with various corporate transactions in different industries and currently manages the investments in YellowFox, ETS Group and Apostroph Group.
Prior to ECM, Christoph worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in Frankfurt as a consultant for company acquisitions and sales, IPOs, and other capital market issues. Christoph holds a degree in International business administration and management from the WHU Otto-Beisheim-School of Management. He also studied at the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor.
Job Titles:
- Assistant / Office Management
Dominique Gerlach joined ECM in 2015. Dominique supports the investment team and is responsible for office management.
Prior to ECM, she worked as a personal assistant to the Rothschild management team and as a partner assistant in the M&A team at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dominique Gerlach holds a degree in office communication and is an auditor at the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Fabian Hentges joined ECM in 2022. As an Investment Manager, he plays a key role in the implementation of new investments and the further development of current portfolio companies.
Fabian has several years of experience in the investment business. Prior to ECM he was a consultant at Oliver Wyman where he supported international investors in multiple acquisitions and value creation initiatives for their portfolio companies. He studied International Business Administration at the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management as well as the USC University of Southern California, and holds an MBA from INSEAD.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Partner
Florian Kähler joined ECM in 2009. As Managing Director he is responsible for the management of ECM and in particular for the identification, implementation, and subsequent support of investments.
Over the last 20 years, Florian has developed a strong passion and leadership responsibility for the participation in and development of high-potential, medium-sized companies. Since 2009, he has been responsible at ECM for numerous successful transactions in succession and carve-out situations. The focus has always been on working in partnership with shareholder and management teams to develop and successfully implement a tailored growth strategy for the company. Florian is currently advising, among others, Uroviva in the healthcare market as well as the translation service provider Apostroph Group and the social media agency Intermate.
Florian started his career in Corporate Finance at Deutsche Bank in 2001. Before joining ECM, he worked for several years in the Acquisition & Leveraged Finance department of Deutsche Bank, where he was responsible for supporting financial investors in acquisition financing. Florian completed a banking apprenticeship and holds a degree in economics from the University of Hanover and the California State Polytechnic University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant / Office Management
Gudrun Brandau has been with ECM since 2023. Gudrun supports the investment team and is responsible for office management. She has extensive knowledge as an assistant in the financial services industry.
Prior to joining ECM, she was an Executive Assistant at Macquarie Capital.
As an Assistant at Harald Quandt Beteiligungskapital/HQ Equita and Office Manager at Electra Europe/Cognetas, Gudrun has many years of experience in the private equity business.
Gudrun has a degree in industrial business management assistant. In her spare time, Gudrun supports the Cäcilienchor Frankfurt in the alto and is the association's treasurer.
Isabel Berger joined ECM in 2021. As Finance Director she is responsible for all aspects of finance, tax and reporting at ECM.
Prior to ECM Isabel worked for more than 15 years at EY in Frankfurt and advised financial institutions in transaction related valuations, business plan analysis and financial due diligence. In addition, she supported annual audits according to German GAAP and IFRS with respect to impairment tests of corporate holdings and goodwill as well as purchase price allocations. Isabel studied at TU Ilmenau and Linköping University. She holds a degree in business administration and is a CFA charterholder.
Leopold Danner joined ECM in 2024. As Investment Associate, he plays a key role in the execution of new investments and the development of portfolio companies.
Leopold has several years of experience in the investment and transaction business. Before joining ECM, he worked in the investment advisory team at Deutsche Beteiligungs AG and in investment banking at Macquarie Capital in Frankfurt. Leopold studied business administration with a focus on finance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and the University of Göttingen with stays at the University of Warwick and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.
Paul Hansen joined ECM in 2019. As an Investment Manager, he plays a key role in the implementation of new investments and the further development of current portfolio companies.
Paul has several years of experience in the investment and transaction business. Prior to ECM, he worked in the investment banking division of William Blair International and accompanied various company purchase and sale transactions for corporate clients and financial investors. He studied Business Administration at the University of Mannheim and Newcastle University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mannheim.
Sofia Balogianni joined ECM in 2024. As an Investment Analyst she supports the execution of new investments and the further development of current portfolio companies. In addition, Sofia is actively involved in financial reporting and compliance at ECM.
Before joining ECM, Sofia worked in the strategy department at Berenberg where she supported the senior management. During her studies, she founded a blockchain startup and gained additional experience in transaction and restructuring services. Sofia earned a bachelor's degree in Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and also attended the University Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile.
Tim Krume joined ECM in 2020. As Partner, he is responsible for identifying and executing investment opportunities as well as for the further development of our portfolio companies.
Tim has many years of experience in the medium-sized investment business, especially in the management of succession and carve-out situations. Within the scope of his partnership-based cooperation with the portfolio companies, his focus is on the joint development and implementation of sustainable value enhancement measures, which include, for example, the successful implementation of buy-and-build strategies.
Before joining ECM Tim spent several years in the investment business at NORD Holding and in strategy consulting for Accenture. Tim holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degree from Maastricht University and a PhD from WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management.
Vanessa Crescencio Trageser joined ECM in 2022. As an Investment Associate she supports the execution of new investments and the further development of current portfolio companies. Vanessa has several years of experience in the investment and transaction business. At ECM she is jointly responsible for the existing investments in Intermate and Education Group.
Prior to ECM, she gained experience in the fields of structured finance, transaction services, investment banking, and private equity. Vanessa holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Cologne and a mMster's degree in Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. She also studied at Boston University.