Our funds are advised by one of the longest established, largest and most experienced investment teams in its space globally.
Our partners’ background is as investors in growth companies, coupled with years of operating experience as founders or CEOs running these businesses. Thanks to that history, we have led, managed and chaired quite a number of growth companies through the corporate life-cycle, including all types of events from investment to reorganization and M&A.
ROLAND DENNERT
Managing Partner
MORERoland Dennert
Roland is a Managing Partner. He is located in Munich and is responsible for both new investments and portfolio management. He started his private equity career at 3i Group doing technology and mid-market buyout deals. Before 3i, Roland was a strategy consultant with Roland Berger and The Boston Consulting Group in Paris, as well as a robotics engineer with Hitachi Ltd. in Japan.
Roland holds an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and a Master of Electrical Engineering from ETH Lausanne, Switzerland.
| Title | Managing Partner |
| Function | Portfolio & Origination Management |
| Location | Munich |
| rdennert [at] cipiopartners.com |
WERNER DREESBACH
Managing Partner
MOREWERNER DREESBACH
Werner is a Managing Partner. He is located in Munich and is responsible for both new investments and portfolio management. He was Senior Principal of Atlas Venture, Boston/London, a global VC firm focused on IT, Communications and Life Sciences, and member of its Global Management and Investment committees. Before, Werner was VP Strategic Development for NASDAQ-listed Viasoft Corp., following the sale of his company, R&O Software-Technik, one of Europe’s largest system software developers. Werner founded R&O in 1984 after a career in IT strategy consulting.
He holds a MSc in Computer Science with a minor in Psychology from Bonn University.
| Title | Managing Partner |
| Function | Portfolio & Origination Management |
| Location | Munich |
| wdreesbach [at] cipiopartners.com |
DR. HANS-DIETER KOCH
Managing Partner, Director
MOREDR. HANS-DIETER KOCH
Hans-Dieter is a Managing Partner and serves as a Director to our Luxembourg entities. He is located in Munich and leads our funds’ operations and investor relations while serving on a number of boards. He was CEO of b-business partners BV, the global growth equity investment arm of Investor AB/Wallenberg Group, Stockholm. Previously, he was CEO of GE Capital IT Solutions, Europe, responsible for 7,000 staff and US$4bn in revenue. Hans-Dieter assumed that role following the sale of his company, CompuNet AG, Europe’s largest IT service provider, to GE Capital. Prior to co-founding CompuNet, Hans-Dieter was with McKinsey, Deutsche Bank and Matuschka Group.
He holds MBA and Ph.D. degrees from Frankfurt University.
| Title | Managing Partner, Director |
| Function | Operations & Investor Relations |
| Location | Munich, Luxembourg |
| hdkoch [at] cipiopartners.com |
CHRISTOPH N. KOSSMANN
Director
MORECHRISTOPH N. KOSSMANN
Christoph is a Director of our Luxembourg entities. He is located in Luxembourg and co-leads our Luxembourg operations. He has been a Managing Director of SGG, a Luxembourg based family office and investment services provider, since 2006. Prior to this role, Christoph served as a Senior Officer at Sal. Oppenheim’s Luxembourg headquarters with responsibilities for the group’s corporate and trust activities. Before that, he was a Member of the Executive Board of Luxembourg based EXPERTA Corporate and Trust Services S.A. of Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg. Earlier in his career he worked as a lawyer admitted to the Berlin courts.
He holds a law school degree from Freiburg University.
| Title | Director |
| Function | Luxembourg Operations |
| Location | Luxembourg |
| ckossmann [at] cipiopartners.com |
DIANA MEYEL
Managing Partner
MOREDIANA MEYEL
Diana is a Managing Partner and the company’s CFO/COO. She is located in Munich and leads fund structuring & administration as well as transaction structuring and is also responsible for investor relations. She works selectively with our portfolio on finance and M&A related projects. Prior to Cipio, Diana was a Finance Manager at Wellington Partners, the pan-European venture capital firm and worked as a Senior Risk Analyst for Dresdner Bank group nka Commerzbank in Germany and Bogotá, Colombia.
Diana holds a degree in Banking Administration from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
| Title | Managing Partner |
| Function | CFO/COO & Transaction Structuring |
| Location | Munich |
| dmeyel [at] cipiopartners.com |
CARLO SCHLESSER
Director
MORECARLO SCHLESSER
Carlo is a Director of our Luxembourg entities. He is located in Luxembourg and co-leads our Luxembourg operations. Carlo has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SGG, a Luxembourg based family office and investment services provider. Carlo began his career as tax advisor at Kredietbank Luxembourg, an international wealth manager and also worked for Arthur Andersen in Luxembourg.
He holds degrees from HEC Lausanne, Switzerland, Master in Economics and ESSF Brussels, Belgium, Diploma in upper taxation studies.
| Title | Director |
| Function | Luxembourg Operations |
| Location | Luxembourg |
| cschlesser [at] cipiopartners.com |
CHRISTOPH WEDEGAERTNER
Managing Partner
MORECHRISTOPH WEDEGAERTNER
Christoph is a Managing Partner. He is located in Munich and is responsible for both new investments and portfolio management. Before Cipio, he managed the private equity direct and fund investments of a family office and previously, he was an investment banker based in the UK and in the US, where he advised growth and mid-market companies across a number of industries in M&A and financing transactions.
He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master in Management from ESCP-EAP, Paris.
| Title | Managing Partner |
| Function | Portfolio & Origination Management |
| Location | Munich |
| cwedegaertner [at] cipiopartners.com |
ALEXANDER BRAND
Venture Partner
MOREALEXANDER BRAND
Alexander is a Venture Partner. He is located in Munich and is responsible for both new investments and portfolio management. Before joining Cipio, Alexander has co-founded windeln.de SE, grew the business as its CEO to more than 200m€ in revenues and took the company public at the Frankfurt stock exchange. Previously, he worked for Siemens AG in various management roles and, before that, was a co-founder of 12snap AG. He started his career in management consulting at A.T.Kearney.
Alexander holds a Master of Science from Stanford University and a Diploma in Industrial Engineering from TH Karlsruhe, Germany.
| Title | Venture Partner |
| Function | Portfolio & Origination Management |
| Location | Munich |
| abrand [at] cipiopartners.com |
SOPHIE von EBERHARDT
Executive Assistant
MORESOPHIE von EBERHARDT
Sophie is an Executive Assistant. She is located in Munich and is responsible for marketing and PR activities. In addition, she assists the team with general administrative and investor relations matters. Before joining Cipio Partners, Sophie worked as a personal assistant at FOCAM AG, a multi-family office, and was several years self-employed as an event manager in Berlin and Munich.
Sophie has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW).
| Title | Executive Assistant |
| Function | Marketing and PR Activities |
| Location | Munich |
| seberhardt [at] cipiopartners.com |
DENNIS KOERNER
Associate
MOREDENNIS KOERNER
Dennis is an Associate. He is located in Munich and assists the partnership with fund controlling and reporting as well as in due diligences and portfolio management topics. Dennis started his career at Cipio Partners in Luxembourg where he worked for three years before moving to Munich.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Maastricht University.
| Title | Associate |
| Function | Financial Analysis & Due Diligence |
| Location | Munich |
| dkoerner [at] cipiopartners.com |
ELLEN KOSKA
Fund Administration
MOREELLEN KOSKA
Ellen is handling the fund administration and the day-to-day business of the Luxembourg entities in all legal and financial matters. She is further ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering requirements. Before joining Cipio Partners, Ellen worked as a corporate officer at SGG, a Luxembourg based family office and investment services provider.
Ellen holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of Trier.
| Title | Fund Administration |
| Function | Fund Administration |
| Location | Luxembourg |
| ekoska [at] cipiopartners.com |
DAVID KREPPEL
Associate
MOREDAVID KREPPEL
David is an Associate. He is located in Munich and assists the partnership with fund controlling and reporting as well as in due diligences and portfolio management topics. David started his career as a Research and Teaching Associate at University of Trier.
He holds a Master in Mathematics and Finance from University of Trier.
| Title | Associate |
| Function | Financial Analysis & Due Diligence |
| Location | Munich |
| dkreppel [at] cipiopartners.com |
ENDRIC MUELLER
Financial Analyst
MOREENDRIC MUELLER
Endric is a Financial Analyst. He is located in Luxembourg and assists the finance team with fund controlling and reporting as well as in due diligences and portfolio management topics.
He holds a Master in Business Administration from Trier University.
| Title | Finanical Analyst |
| Function | Financial Analysis & Due Diligence |
| Location | Luxembourg |
| emueller [at] cipiopartners.com |
KERSTIN PLANITZER-ZIPF
Director Finance & Legal
MOREKERSTIN PLANITZER-ZIPF
Kerstin is our Director Finance & Legal. She is located in Munich and supervises all legal, corporate and administrative functions relating to our funds and portfolio. Prior to Cipio, Kerstin was Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel at b-business partners, the growth equity affiliate of Investor AB, where she ran fund formation as well as all new-investment activities. Prior, Kerstin headed Finance and Legal at GE Capital IT Solutions Europe and handled all M&A and restructuring work.
She holds an MBA from Technical University of Berlin.
| Title | Director Finance & Legal |
| Function | Legal & Corporate Affairs |
| Location | Munich |
| kplanitzer [at] cipiopartners.com |
SANDRA SCHUERKMANN
Executive Assistant
MORESANDRA SCHUERKMANN
Sandra is an Executive Assistant. She is located in Munich and is responsible for the overall office management. In addition, she is responsible for organizing the annual investors’ day. Before joining Cipio Partners, Sandra was shop manager for her own cake design retail business, held several office management roles within the Bavarian medical association and started her career as a landscape architect..
Sandra has a Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Design and Ecology from the University of Sheffield.
| Title | Executive Assistant |
| Function | Office Management |
| Location | Munich |
| sschuerkmann [at] cipiopartners.com |
SYLVIA SEGL
Team Assistant
MORESYLVIA SEGL
Sylvia is a Team Assistant. She is located in Munich and assists the team with administrative matters. Furthermore, she schedules appointments, plans and organizes business trips and is in charge of the organization of internal and external conferences and board meetings. Before working for Cipio Partners, she was a Front Desk Secretary at leading law- and consulting firms such as Reed Smith LLP in Munich as well as a business class Cabin Manager for private airlines.
Sylvia is a qualified hotel professional as well as a foreign language correspondent.
| Title | Team Assistant |
| Function | Office Management |
| Location | Munich |
| ssegl [at] cipiopartners.com |
LUCIA SPIETH
Legal Counsel
MORELUCIA SPIETH
Lucia is a Legal Counsel. Located in Munich, she advises acquisitions, financing rounds and exits of portfolio companies. Lucia started her career at the international law firm Clifford and Chance in the corporate/M&A team. After leaving Clifford and Chance she opened her own law office and is since then advising clients in all aspects of corporate matters.
Lucia graduated with the 2nd state exam in law from Munich University.
| Title | Legal Counsel |
| Function | Legal Affairs |
| Location | Munich |
| lspieth [at] cipiopartners.com |