Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants

What Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants does

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants (legal entity Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Konsulenten AG) is a Swiss strategic communications and business consultancy founded in 1997 and headquartered in Zurich, with additional offices in Bern and Geneva. The firm is organised as an equal partnership of 12 equity partners, all of whom are co-owners and personally deliver every client engagement; there is no associate pyramid and no separately branded product or technology platform. Its 11 service lines span corporate communication, reputation management, issues and crisis management, M&A and IPO communication, cyber crisis communication, board and executive communication, litigation PR, investor relations, public affairs, corporate branding and ESG communications, supplemented by a 24/7 hotline and media training.

The firm targets large Swiss and internationally operating corporations, boards and C-level executives, and high-net-worth individuals in strategically sensitive situations. Pricing is custom quote-based per engagement and revenue is generated exclusively through advisory fees on professional services engagements. The go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven, anchored in personal partner networks across Swiss business, politics, administration, culture, research and science, with no paid marketing channels described.

International reach is delivered through network memberships rather than owned offices: the firm is the exclusive Swiss member of H/Advisors (1,500+ multi-disciplinary experts across 40+ offices globally, itself part of Havas) and a founding member of the MOSAIC Network for Economic and Policy Advisory with partners in 50 countries. The firm is privately held, has no parent company, no external investors and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants

Legal name

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Konsulenten AG

Website

https://konsulenten.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants is a Zurich-headquartered Swiss strategic communications consultancy founded in 1997, delivering partner-led advisory services across crisis, M&A/IPO, public affairs and ESG to large corporations, boards and senior executives from offices in Zurich, Bern and Geneva.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA), Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG), Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Reputation management services
• Crisis communications advisory
• Public affairs consulting
• Investor relations consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional consulting services for corporate communication, reputation management, crisis communication, M&A and IPO communication, public affairs, and ESG communications. Revenue generated through advisory fees for strategic consulting engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants is a Switzerland-based strategic communications and business consultancy that advises large corporations, boards, executives, and selected individuals on corporate communication, reputation management, crisis and cyber-crisis management, M&A and IPO communication, board and executive communication, litigation PR, investor relations, public affairs, corporate branding, and ESG communications. All engagements are delivered personally by equity partners from offices in Zurich, Bern, and Geneva, with international reach through the H/Advisors and MOSAIC networks.

Product overview

Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants is a strategic communications and business consultancy offering a unified portfolio of advisory services rather than a software product. The firm provides 11 distinct consulting service areas spanning corporate communication, reputation management, crisis communication (including cyber crisis), M&A/IPO communication, board advisory, litigation PR, investor relations, public affairs, corporate branding, and ESG communications. All services are delivered exclusively by equity partner consultants through offices in Zurich, Bern, and Geneva, with access to international networks H/Advisors and MOSAIC for global engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Communication Strategic communication consulting that positions companies internally and externally, including topic management and CSR communication positioning. Targeted at companies and organisations.
• Reputation Management Analysis of public perception and development of measures to build and protect reputation for companies and individuals in strategically demanding situations.
• Issues and Crisis Management Early identification of potential crises and development of appropriate communication measures, including support for shareholder activism and proxy fights. Targeted at companies facing or anticipating crisis situations.
• M&A and IPO Communication Precise communication strategies for mergers, acquisitions, and stock market listings, supporting companies from announcement through implementation.
• Cyber Crisis Communication Rapid response and targeted communication for cyber attacks, including development of individual contingency plans and coordination with expert networks.
• Board & Executive Communication Positioning and communications concepts for board members and executives, including coaching for public appearances and internal communications.
• Litigation PR Strategic public relations for ongoing or impending legal proceedings, managing legal framework, media impact, and discretion.
• Investor Relations

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• H/AdvisorsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Exclusive Swiss member of H/Advisors, a global network of strategic communications experts. Founded in 2001, H/Advisors employs 1,500+ multi-disciplinary experts in 40+ offices across Europe, Americas, APAC and the Middle East. Core competencies include crisis and reputation management, corporate communications, digital, investor relations and financial communications, litigation, M&A, shareholder activism, public affairs, sustainability, ESG, and transformation. H/Advisors is part of Havas, one of the world's largest media, creative and entertainment groups.
• MOSAIC NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive international network of experienced public affairs and government relations experts present on four continents. Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is a founding member with strong influence on the network. Offices in USA, China, South Korea, South Africa and many European countries. The network bridges public affairs and business development across markets and industries, with members discussing geopolitics, AI, and lobbying regulations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Weber Shandwick: Global public-affairs and corporate communications agency with strong financial-communications and crisis capabilities. Overlaps with HNS on M&A, IR, and crisis mandates for European multinationals.
• Edelman: World's largest independent public relations firm, with strong corporate-reputation, crisis and ESG practices. Provides a broad-incumbent alternative for multinational clients that might otherwise engage a Swiss boutique.
• FleishmanHillard: Global communications consultancy with deep corporate, public affairs and healthcare practices. Overlaps with HNS on reputation, crisis, M&A and public affairs, but operates as part of Omnicom's broader portfolio.
• Brunswick Group: Global strategic communications advisory firm specializing in M&A, IPO, IR, crisis and public affairs. Closely comparable on financial communication and capital-markets advisory mandates for Swiss and European listed companies.
• FTI Consulting (Strategic Communications): Global professional-services firm with a large Strategic Communications segment serving crisis, M&A, public affairs and litigation PR needs. Direct overlap on most of HNS's service lines, but at materially larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Farner Consulting: Switzerland's largest owner-managed strategic communications and public affairs consultancy. Direct competitor with the same boutique, partner-led model, similar premium positioning, and overlapping service lines in corporate communications, public affairs and digital strategy.
• Pohlmann & Company: Independent, owner-managed strategic communications consultancy in the German-speaking (DACH) market. Closely comparable boutique positioning focused on corporate communications, change and M&A communication.
• Kekst CNC: International strategic communications consultancy owned by Publicis. Closely comparable on M&A advisory, crisis, shareholder activism and CEO communications for European corporates.
• Dynamics Group: Swiss communications and public-affairs consultancy based in Zurich and Bern. Competes head-to-head with HNS for corporate communications, public affairs, financial communications and crisis mandates in the Swiss market.

Others

• Havas (H/Advisors parent): Global communications group that owns H/Advisors, the network of which HNS is the exclusive Swiss member. Provides ecosystem context on the corporate parent behind HNS's primary international partnership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Consultants