Markus Kirchschlager

Based in Munich, Markus Kirchschlager is in charge of building PANTARHEI Advisors’ operations in Germany. His work focuses on the crossover between strategy and communications in change processes, and he specializes in reorganising established communication structures by setting up Corporate Media Houses, change communications and European Affairs.

His client list includes Lufthansa, E.ON, MTU, Rohde & Schwarz, Heidelberger, NORD/LB and the TRATON Group (MAN, Scania, Volkswagen Truck & Bus).

Before joining the company, he was the spokesperson for and an advisor to the General Secretary of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. He was responsible for the planning, supervision and execution of communication activities across all common channels. In addition, he spearheaded the introduction of new communication formats and instruments, and the fine-tuning of the existing communication set-up. This primarily involved consulting with the Chamber’s senior management, coupled with the strategic development of the Data Media Centre, a corporate media house/newsroom. In his career to date, he has served as a spokesperson and head of political campaigns, as a consultant in PANTARHEI's Brussels office, and as a project manager at the European Commission’s Information Centre. Markus has won a number for awards for his work on communication projects, including the Austrian government’s European State Prize and the International Electoral Award presented by the International Electoral Commission.

Markus Kirchschlager is a computer scientist by profession, studied at the Department of Knowledge and Communication Management at the Danube University Krems, and at the Executive Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, where he obtained his MBA in finance. He is a graduate of the Global Advancement Programme and of the Centre International de Formation Européenne.

Markus Kirchschlager does voluntary work as a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum and as a member of the European Commission’s Team Europe. He also serves as board member at the youth association of Münchner Kaufmanns-Casino, founded in 1832, and at the Executive Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Previously, he was a board member at the Austrian National Youth Council, sat in the European Youth Parliament and headed the integration network of the Order of Malta in Austria.