ABOUT

Alexander is the brother who wasn’t allowed to tear up his clothes, because his younger brother was going to wear them in a few years. He wasn’t allowed to play soccer because the risk of injury was too high. His bedtime was strictly enforced. Three hours of screen time a day, after that he was left to entertain himself. Maybe that’s why he read every book in the house. Maybe that’s why he immersed himself in the game of chess, becoming state champion in Rapid Chess at age 16. 

He’s also the brother who couldn’t wait to grow up, go to college, and start his career. And so he did. Law School and Doctoral Thesis in Heidelberg, a Master’s in Mediation in Frankfurt (Oder), first job with White & Case, next stop KPMG, multiple leadership roles in a decade as Partner, and recently reinventing himself by joining GSK Stockmann, one of the last big independent law firms in Germany.

On the side, he cultivated his skill and experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution, becoming one of Germany’s top mediators in the airline industry. In the financial services industry, he solves the hardest of labor law issues and helps banks navigate renumeration regulation in Germany and the European Union.

Interests and hobbies change frequently, but they are always pursued with a singular focus: going deep. Chess, Go, Field Hockey, Basketball, Table Tennis, Salsa and Tango Argentino Dancing, Modern Arnis, and most recently (mechanical) watches – it’s what makes him tick (pun intended and achieved).

Alexander lives in Seeheim near Frankfurt (Main) and is a loving husband and father of two.

René was allowed to tear up his - well, his older brother’s - clothes, and boy did he! The benefits of being the second child meant: Soccer? Sure. Sleepovers at friends’ houses? Yes. Bedtime? At some point. Screen time? Meh. Is it any wonder then that he’s the brother who had all the time in the world to grow up? Kid-life was heaven. Responsibilities? Later!

Then: Culture Shock! The family decided to move to Thessaloniki, Greece! A blessing that couldn’t have been disguised any better. Suddenly – click! School became interesting! He started reading books (in his free time). He learned some Greek. He windsurfed. He introduced inline hockey to the neighborhood (the blank expressions on the faces of the Greeks when hockey sticks showed up on the luggage belt at the airport - priceless).

Cultural Studies at the University of Passau (with lots of Mountain Biking), then the big crossing to North America to complete his MBA (and more hockey). For the next 15 years he went onward and upward: Nationwide Insurance, Intel, American Express, Charles Schwab, AIG, Morgan Stanley. René is a lifelong learner, earning professional certifications from Stanford and Cornell and recently taking sprints with Section 4, where he also enjoys his role as Teaching Assistant.

The theme of ‘creating’ over ‘consuming’, and maybe even ‘being’ over ‘doing’, dominates his free time these days: Playing the guitar, cooking, a little woodworking maybe. Also golfing, running, hot tubbing, and reading.

René lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and son.