Living partnership, shaping the future: The Afileon Partners Council

What is the Partners Council and what makes it so unique?

In its Partners Council, Afileon has established a body that institutionalizes cooperative partnership on an equal footing. Under the chairmanship of Heiko Maas, the former German Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs, the Council amalgamates the expertise of Afileon professionals with that of management.

Objectives and responsibilities

The Council coordinates and optimizes central services across the various affiliates. It establishes common standards, transparent processes and future-proof structures, for example in the areas of IT, compliance, HR, and claims accounting. The goal is to create a uniform, efficient CI for the alliance as a whole while at the same time maintaining entrepreneurial individuality.

Structure and decision-making

The Council is based on equal representation: six elected professionals from the affiliates and six members of the Afileon management take joint decisions on strategically relevant topics, e.g. digital infrastructure, uniform communication standards and reporting. The six professionals are chosen annually by the affiliates.

This model ensures that the professionals shape the evolution of the alliance. Decision-making ensues through dialogue, with particular focuses on quality, client orientation and corporate responsibility.

Members of the Council

Chair: Heiko Maas

Afileon Management:
Uwe Richter
Frank W. Jacob
Chris Kreis
Christof Kurz
Alexander Libor
Carsten Tschöpe

Affiliates:
Mario Frisch (navigator Group)
Ingo Heuel (LHP Group)
Michael Mertens (Mertens Schabow)
Martin Noack (TLC)
Holger Petersen (TAX FBA)
Walter Schwarz (SchwarzPartners)

Voices from the Council

Heiko Maas Chairman of the Partners Council: 

"The Partners Council has swiftly become indispensable for building Afileon's own corporate culture. Comprised of management and affilate representatives, it is charged with taking all of the organization's important decisions. This lays the groundwork for organic growth and thus establishes Afileon as the innovative player in the consulting markets of today and tomorrow."

Michael Mertens, Mertens Schabow:

"In the Partners Council, we experience real, substantive exchanges between members on a level playing field. Every voice counts, every contribution is heard. It’s not about individuals – it’s about all of us together shaping the future of Afileon. The Council is more than a committee – it's the forum where ideas meet and meld, perspectives are shared, and decisions are reached with the big picture in mind. This creates a real togetherness that strengthens the alliance and lays the foundations for sustainable growth."

Mario Frisch, navigator Group:

"Our cooperation in the Partners Council is characterized by mutual respect, entrepreneurial vision and the shared goal of evolving Afileon in game-changing ways. Different perspectives meet in the round – always with a focus on quality, innovation, and sustainable growth. As an entrepreneur, I particularly appreciate the professional exchanges among equals – and the joy of making a difference together."

A successful model of modern collaboration

The Partners Council stands for equality, transparency and active participation. It is an expression of a modern, interdisciplinary vision of guidance and clearly differentiates Afileon on the market. As a result, it will continue to play a key role in Afileon's future development.

With the Partners Council, Afileon does not rely on centralised control, but on collegial responsibility and joint growth, supported by the professionals.