K.E.R.N ? Die Nachfolgespezialisten ? was awarded a double prize as best medium-sized business consultants by the business magazine WirtschaftsWoche on 15 November in Düsseldorf. For the first time, WirtschaftsWoche had also announced its annual competition ?Best of Consulting? for awards as Germany’s best consultants for specialised, smaller management consultancies.

In the summer of this year, the advisory group K.E.R.N ? Die Nachfolgespezialisten decided to take part in the most comprehensive consultant check in Germany. With detailed project and process descriptions as well as many client references, the group applied for this significant award.

Under the direction of industry experts Dr Höselbarth and Prof Wellejus, the customers were interviewed individually and the reference project was evaluated by a jury of experts.

The SME consultants from K.E,R.N demonstrated in particular their process quality in succession planning for smaller companies. In addition to intra-family succession, non-family generational change is becoming increasingly important. Currently, about 50% of all German family businesses will be affected by the succession issue by 2020. Many small and medium-sized companies in particular are insufficiently or not at all prepared for the upcoming generational change.

On Tuesday evening, the founder of K.E.R.N, Nils Koerber, together with his partners, was honoured with the “K.E.R.N. Award” at a ceremony at the Intercontinental in Düsseldorf. first place for the best reputation of satisfied customers in reception. Another Award for Project Excellence in the M & A segment (company sale/purchase) characterised the lean processes in the SME consultancy.

For Nils Koerber, this honour is a confirmation of the individually tailored and customer-oriented advice: “We are very pleased about these prestigious awards. For all partners and employees of K.E.R.N at the 20 locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, this is a significant recognition of the daily consulting work around business succession in medium-sized companies?

Since its foundation in 2004, K.E.R.N has focused exclusively on business succession. With its services for medium-sized family businesses, K.E.R.N has meanwhile developed into one of the leading and largest consulting groups for the topic of business succession in the D-A-CH region. K.E.R.N is the only management consultancy in the German-speaking region that not only accompanies purchase and sale projects in the context of succession solutions, but also advises on intra-family generational changes in family businesses.

Currently, 11 business mediators or systemic coaches are active in the team of advisors. With great expertise, they accompany old and young on their joint path to handover and takeover.

The ‘Best of Consulting’ award was presented by WirtschaftsWoche magazine for the eighth time. For the first time, Germany’s most comprehensive consultant check also included the award “Best of Consulting for medium-sized consultancies”. The prizes were awarded in seven categories, including “Best Reputation”. See herewho else has received an award.