Merlin Koene
ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Strategic communications advisor and founder of merlin & friends, specializing in transformation, reputation, crisis communication, and international leadership advisory
Key Skills & Expertise
- Strategic communications and reputation advisor for international companies, executives and organizations
- Expertise in crisis communication, transformation processes and leadership positioning
- Strong background across FMCG, media, retail, healthcare, public affairs and sustainability
- Extensive experience in corporate storytelling, stakeholder engagement and executive communications
- International leadership experience in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and global markets
- Founder of merlin & friends, a strategic consultancy network focused on trust, transformation and impact
Experience
- Founder and Managing Director of merlin & friends, Hamburg, Germany: strategic communications consultancy for companies, executives and public figures
- Former Global Director Relations and Communications Director DACH at Unilever: responsible for corporate communications, sustainability and stakeholder relations
- Former EVP Communications at ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Munich, Germany
- Former Director Company Communication and member of the Executive Committee at Action, Netherlands
- Former Partner at fischerAppelt: advising leading companies on transformation and reputation management
- Journalist and filmmaker for Reuters TV, CNN, BBC, CBS and Spiegel TV
- Lecturer for media economics, communication and intercultural management at universities and academies
- Advisor to organizations and institutions in crisis communication, fake news and AI-related communication challenges
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, studies in London and Grenoble
- International academic background with focus on economics, media and communication
- Continuous executive experience in leadership, transformation and strategic communications
- International Baccalaureate (IB) at International School Vienna, Austria