Management issues in the context of the various shareholders, succession planning and evaluation of internal candidates & benchmarking against external candidates, family constitution, ownership strategy, composition of an effective family board, 360° assessment of management teams, interview training for family or family business representatives. Support in the recruitment, assessment and integration of external board members or management board members.
I do not advise publicly held companies with a less long-term focus.
I advise on family "leadership" (because having a family requires leadership) including personal mission statement, purpose, family vision, family "contract", healthy and robust family culture, long-term family cohesion based on effective family relationships (how to build, deepen and enjoy them); lessons learned from embedding strong family values successfully for the next generation and the generation after. The goals of effective family leadership are a clearer vision of the destination, a flight plan developed by the family and a values compass for turbulent times.
"All concepts, tools and frameworks are not new, but have all been conceived and created a long time ago. My value add consists of conveying these to my clients in a carefully researched, organized and clear form."
Owners of Family Businesses who are confronted with a business leadership or talent management issue that needs to be assessed and resolved by a neutral, experienced and independent professional.
Current or NextGen Family representatives with management functions who want a professional, objective outside-in view of their entire leadership team and leadership situation.
President / member of the Board of Directors or of Family Councils of family businesses that want to address existing or future management issues in due time.
Parents of either young or already older children for whom family and strong family ties are very important and who want to continue to enjoy, deepen or improve them.
All fathers or mothers for whom the relationship with their children, siblings or parents is of central importance in the long term or should become more important again.
Families of family businesses, for whom - regardless of the company - peace and a positive, constructive culture of dialog in the (extended) family/NextGen enjoys a high priority.
My consulting services are based on various pillars of knowledge and experience transfer: from questionnaire-based self-evaluation, reflection and needs assessment, one-on-one meetings, presentations of visualized concepts, customized workshops, etc. to support in the development of individual plans or the preparation of family papers.
The type of advice is adapted to the specific needs and preferences of my clients.
Fees are charged on a fixed amount basis. They are agreed upon after a non-binding initial consultation meeting and set out in a „letter of proposal“ together with the scope, focus and priorities of the consulting unit. It is based, among other things, on the estimated time and depth required, the complexity and the specific requirements of my consultancy work.
"The target group for family leadership advisory is small: only curious people for whom the family is absolutely key and who are willing to work long and hard on their priorities will be satisfied customers."
After graduating from high school with a degree in Ancient Greek and Latin in Zurich and studying law with a master's degree and doctorate at the University of Zurich, I worked at Citibank and for three years as an advertising consultant at Advico Young & Rubicam. I then completed a two-year MBA program at Kellogg/Northwestern University in Chicago/USA. Back in Switzerland, I worked from 1997-2001, most recently as a project manager, at McKinsey & Co. in Zurich and Paris in strategy consulting. From 2001-2022, I worked at Egon Zehnder International, first as a consultant and then as a partner, supporting listed and family-owned companies in the recruitment and assessment of executives. I focused on the consumer goods, retail, manufacturing and financial services industries. In my last 12 years until 2022, I led the family business practice group in Switzerland.
I have no background in psychology, but legal training coupled with extensive practical knowledge and a wealth of experience from around 12,000 interviews with executives over 22 years at Egon Zehnder. In addition to professional development and career planning, the focus of my discussions was on personal values, family background, upbringing, their family and legacy.
I have accumulated approx. 25 years of self-study, family research and practical application of universal principles in my own family. The basis was: "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" by Stephen Covey as well as lots of other relevant literature.
I am an integral part of the five extended families of Dr. Egon P.S. Zehnder. In addition to being an enthusiastic entrepreneur, my father was a passionate family man and a role model to his five children. He passed on both the company he founded in 1964, Egon Zehnder International, in the interests of the global partners, as well as his private legacy in the interest of peace within his extended family with wise foresight. He continues to serve his succeeding generations as an inspirational role model in many areas.
I am interested in all topics related to family, priority-based living or music/singing/lyrics. As a former karate black belt and tank grenadier officer, age-adjusted sports and a healthy diet still keep me reasonably fit today. Zurich guild life (serving 10 years as a member of the Board of the Constaffel Society) and reading (from happiness research to 4th Generation Time Management and all Martin Suter novels) also delight my mind and soul. I served on the Board of the Northwestern / Kellogg Alumni Club of Switzerland for 10 years.
My wife and I have 3 grown children and live (with a dog) on Lake Zurich.
"The most important values in a family business? Firstly, it depends. Secondly, values such as decency, honesty, integrity, commitment, respect, trust, modesty, humility, reliability, continuity and proportionality. In my own consulting work, absolute discretion is probably the most central value."
Andreas Zehnder Advisory (AZA) GmbH
Dr. Andreas Zehnder
Dufourstrasse 80
8008 Zurich
Switzerland
Mobile: +41 79 750 58 49
Email: a.zehnder@aza-gmbh.com
