Köhninger

What Köhninger does

Köhninger is a systemic management consulting firm headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, founded in 1993 by Volker Köhninger. The firm specializes in three integrated service pillars: Transformation (digital transformation, organizational development, culture change), Leadership (executive coaching, leadership programs, team development), and Strategy Work (systemic strategy development and implementation). Services are anchored in a proprietary methodology called the 6K-Digital Transformation Framework (6K-DTF), which structures change across six dimensions: Klarheit (Clarity), Kunde (Customer), Koordination (Coordination), Können (Capability), Kommunikation (Communication), and Kultur (Culture). Köhninger serves large enterprise clients — primarily DAX-listed corporations, international conglomerates, and German Mittelstand firms — delivering project-based engagements through a network of 30+ core consultants plus 20 associated partners, with senior consultants holding prior executive experience in large corporations. The firm also holds a Preferred Provider designation with the United Nations for Learning, Organization Development & Transformation services across global UN entities.

The firm's revenue model is professional services: project-based consulting engagements typically initiated via a free 30-minute executive consultation, with senior consultants driving relationship-led business development. Notable disclosed clients include Airbus, Audi, BASF, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daimler, EWE, Festo, Infineon, KUKA, ProSiebenSat.1, PUMA, Roche, RWE, and Hessischer Rundfunk — spanning automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, automation, media, and consumer goods. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales with no channel-based intermediaries. The legal entity is registered as "Köhninger GmbH i. L." (in liquidation), though the website remains active, ongoing consulting projects continue, and the firm continues to publish content and launch new methodologies through 2024. The firm is entirely founder-owned with no external capital or institutional backing.

Name

Köhninger

Legal name

Köhninger GmbH i. L.

Website

https://koehninger.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Köhninger is an Augsburg-based systemic management consulting firm serving DAX corporates, Mittelstand firms, and the UN with integrated transformation, leadership development, and strategy services delivered by 30+ senior consultants using its proprietary 6K-Digital Transformation Framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Change Management & Transformation Consulting (BPAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organization Design & Change Management Consulting (BPAHACAD), Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD), Organizational Change & Transformation Coaching (EDABANAG), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Management consulting
• Transformation consulting
• Leadership development
• Organizational development
• Digital transformation advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Project-based professional services engagements for transformation, leadership, strategy, and organizational development consulting. Engagements typically involve senior consultants working with executive teams on long-term transformation programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Köhninger is a systemic management consulting firm that delivers transformation, leadership, and strategy services to large corporations, German Mittelstand companies, and international organizations. Engagements cover digital transformation, organizational development, culture change, executive coaching, team development, leadership programs, and systemic strategy work, executed by senior consultants using proprietary frameworks such as the 6K-Digital Transformation Framework (6K-DTF).

Product overview

Köhninger GmbH is a systemic management consultancy offering integrated consulting services organized around three pillars: Transformation (including digital transformation, organizational development, and culture change), Leadership (including executive coaching, leadership programs, and team development), and Strategy Work (including systemic strategy development and implementation). The firm utilizes proprietary methodologies such as the 6K-Digital Transformation Framework for managing complex change processes and offers specialized tools like Agile Conflict Management canvas. Services are delivered by a network of 30+ core consultants and 20+ associated experts, with particular expertise in international and cross-cultural consulting engagements. The firm operates as a professional services organization rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transformation Consulting (Transformationsberatung) Comprehensive transformation management consulting covering digital transformation, organizational development, and culture change for executive teams at large enterprises and Mittelstand companies. Uses the 6K-Digital Transformation Framework to guide organizations through complex change processes.
• Digitalization Consulting (Digitalisierungsberatung) Digital transformation consulting that addresses business model innovation, leadership mindset, and human factors. Guides organizations through comprehensive digital transformation beyond pure technology implementation.
• Systemic Strategy Work (Systemische Strategiearbeit) Systemic strategy work combining strategy development and implementation from the outset. Uses iterative approaches to adapt strategy in shorter intervals while embedding strategy in change and culture work.
• Strategy Implementation (Strategie-Umsetzung) Strategy implementation services focusing on practical measures, transparent communication, and active employee involvement to create a learning organization that flexibly responds to changes.
• Strategic Competence Development (Strategie-Kompetenz) Strategic competence development programs that build forecasting abilities, confident action in complex environments, and sustainable strategic steering capabilities for organizational leaders.
• Organizational Development (Organisationsentwicklung) Modern organizational development acting as a catalyst for future-ready company development, promoting steering competence and learning desire while networking potential across all levels.
• Culture Development (Kulturentwicklung) Corporate culture development analyzing existing cultural patterns and identifying potentials for successful further development in alignment with business objectives.
• Leadership Programs (Leadership-Programme) Leadership development programs combining leadership and management competencies to address current and future challenges of digitalization and transformation, with a focus on leadership culture development.
• New Leadership Manifest A values-based, systemically reflected, and adaptable leadership approach serving as an impulse generator for future-capable leadership, strengthening executives to act effectively and connect people.
• Executive Coaching (Führungskräfte-Coaching) Executive coaching services for key personnel to become better entrepreneurs and directors, developing them into strategic leaders who can steer creatively and authoritatively.
• Coaching & Team Development Coaching-on-the-job formats and team development services providing targeted support for leaders and teams in personal development, role strengthening, and efficient collaboration.
• Sustainable Business Consulting (Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften Beratung) Sustainability consulting as part of corporate sustainability transformation, offered in partnership with fors.earth and timesarechanging. Addresses environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects.
• UN Preferred Provider Services Consulting services for United Nations organizations in Learning, Organization Development & Transformation. First project focused on agile transformation with UNFPA country offices across multiple countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vision and guiding principles process executed for units with up to 20,000 employees
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Köhninger is a Preferred Provider for the UN's Inhouse Consulting, specifically providing services in Learning, Organization Development & Transformation. They support all UN organizations (WHO, UNICEF, Climate Secretariat, etc.) globally. First completed project involved agile transformations with leadership teams from 11 country offices including Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Laos, Malawi, and others.
• fors.earthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic partnership for Corporate Sustainability consulting. The three firms (fors.earth, Köhninger, timesarechanging) formed a cooperation to provide integrated sustainability consulting. Fors.earth brings established strategy consulting for sustainability as a strategic business objective.
• timesarechangingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic partnership for Corporate Sustainability consulting. The three firms combined their expertise for integrative sustainability consulting. Timesarechanging provides expertise in cooperations, marketing and sales for Corporate Sustainability.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ifok: Bensheim-based systemic consulting firm focused on organizational development, change management, and stakeholder dialogue. Comparable boutique scale and methodology to Köhninger.
• Metaplan: German systemic and strategy consulting firm known for its 'systemic' methodology applied to strategy and transformation — closely comparable to Köhninger's systemic approach. Similar size and boutique profile with enterprise clients.
• Kienbaum: Germany-based management consulting firm with a strong focus on leadership, executive coaching, and HR/organizational consulting. Direct overlap with Köhninger's leadership development and transformation practices.
• hkp/// group: Frankfurt-based HR and leadership consulting firm with services in executive compensation, leadership development, and organizational design — directly comparable to Köhninger's leadership programs and transformation services.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong leadership consulting and executive coaching practice. Comparable senior-executive client base and transformation advisory scope.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm offering CEO succession, board advisory, and leadership development — overlapping with Köhninger's executive coaching and leadership development offerings.
• Osb international: Vienna-based systemic consulting firm specializing in organizational development, change management, and leadership. Closely aligned with Köhninger's systemic consulting methodology and DACH-market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Roland Berger: One of the leading global management consultancies founded in Germany, with a large transformation, leadership, and organizational practice that overlaps Köhninger's service lines — but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting incumbent with a large Organization Practice and leadership development offerings that compete for the same enterprise transformation mandates Köhninger serves, but at much larger scale.
• Deloitte (Germany): Big Four advisory firm with a sizable Human Capital and transformation consulting practice in Germany, competing for many of the same DAX and Mittelstand transformation and change-management engagements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k-hninger-personal-und-managemententwicklung
• Xx.com/kohningerg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Köhninger