C-Level Executive Search
General Management
Entrepreneur
Art Collector
Political Commentator
ok@kempkens.me
About
I am an executive, entrepreneur, and researcher with a deep interest in science and over 20 years of experience in founding ventures, transforming organizations, and exploring human behavior.
I co-initiated a supernanocapacitor research project, backed by Horst Julius Pudwill (Chairman & Co-Founder of Techtronic Industries). Earlier, I founded Adapt or Die Ventures, a Munich-based consultancy that supported companies such as Merck and Plansee in embedding design as a strategic driver. Today, I am the co-founder of Kempkens x Kohler, an executive search firm based in Munich, which I lead with my partner and friend Sebastian Kohler. We pride ourselves on challenging the status quo and consistently outperforming traditional industry players.
My professional journey spans roles with global brands, including SAP in Palo Alto/US and Walldorf/DE, Russell Reynolds Associates in Frankfurt, Munich, and London, and Sber in Moscow.
I led high-stakes cross-border corporate intelligence mandates—including asset tracing for Burfold Capital, out-of-court dispute resolution with Gazprom, and risk assessment for Chinese investors in German renewables—delivering actionable outcomes in politically sensitive, legally complex, and reputationally charged environments.
My work has been recognized with several awards, including Headhunter of the Year 2019, the iF Design Award, and two Red Dot Awards (1, 2). I was also nominated for the Cannes Lions in 2022. I regularly speak and write on the topics of Design and Design Thinking.
Academically, my research began with a dissertation on misinformation: “Rumours and Fake News - Effects of Message Credibility on Human Behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic”, completed at my alma mater, MGIMO, where I am currently pursuing my habilitation. My publications address sociological aspects of mass and political management.
Beyond work, I collect constructivistic art, play the game of Go, and most importantly, cherish time with my daughter, Anna Wilhelmina.
The book Design Thinking - All relevant tools in one Book serves as a practical guide for those who want to grow their business and aren’t afraid to experiment.
Read my books
The book Design Thinking explores design thinking as a method for solving business challenges through a creative approach. It is grounded in a simple philosophy: prioritizing human benefit, showing empathy, and understanding the needs of the target audience. (in Russian)
This book should be seen as a continuation of my best-selling first book, “Design Thinking – all Tools in one book” which explores the embedment of the mindset of design—and by extension, human- and user-centricity—systematically into the DNA of an organization.
This book explores decades of Soviet advertising for travel to the largest territorial state on earth as well as the geographical diversity of the USSR from the mountains of the Caucasus to the Crimean peninsula and the Baltic States.
Wait for my new books
Select Academic Writing
Orcid:
2025
2023
2022
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4034-699X
“Balancing Universal Principles and Local Contexts: A Geopolitical Interpretation of Friedrich Carl von Savigny's Concept of the Volksgeist”
to be published
“How Competing Epistemic Communities Envision International Order in the Context of the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict”
to be published
“Politics of Remembrance in German-Russian Relations: WWII Memory, State Legiti-macy, and Diplomatic Tensions”
to be published
“A critical attitude and its influence on behavior change in terms of forming a negative position towards governmental mitigation measures during a pandemic”
ex-Vestnik Universiteta, 04.09.2023
“Children in Times of a Pandemic – Do Parents More Frequently Believe in Rumors and Fake News on Social Media?”
ex Communicology, 2.4.2023
“On the Development of Resistance against the Corona Policy of the German Government”
ex Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: Political Science, V23, 5 - 2023
Rumours and Fake News – Effects of Message Credibility on Human Behaviour during the Corona Pandemic
ex Kemerovo Bulletin, 28.03.2022
Selected Political Commentaries
2025
2024
2023
“Friedensverhandlungen helfen Russlands Wirtschaft wieder auf die Beine – was Trump für Putin opfert”
ex Münchener Merkur, 19.02.2025
“Putin in Sorge um russische Wirtschaft” https://www.merkur.de/wirtschaft/putin-ist-besorgt-um-russlands-wirtschaft-zentralbank-ignoriert-forderung-vom-kreml-chef-93531483.html
ex Münchener Merkur, 23.01.2025
“Lukaschenko geniesst tatsächlich viel Zustimmung in der Bevölkerung” • ⁃
ex RND, 24.01.2025
Putin durch Rubel-Verfall in Bedrängnis: Ökonom tarnt Kritik auf
ungewöhnlichem Weg https://www.merkur.de/wirtschaft/russlands-wirtschaft-in-der-krise-putins-oekonom-bittet-weihnachtsmann-um-stabileren-rubel-zr-93466450.html
ex Münchener Merkur, 13.12.2024
„Russland stoppen Notfalls ohne die USA“ - eine Replik
auf Markus Häßler
ex NZZ 13.12.2024 (print)
ex Münchener Merkur, 20.08.2024
ex Frankfurter Rundschau, 02.10.2024
ex Münchener Merkur, 27.11.2024
ex Münchener Merkur, 28.11.2024
“Warum Russlands Wirtschaft so robust ist”
ex FAZ, 23.04.2023 (print)
“Ex-Manager der Russischen Sberbank: Westliche Sanktionen haben ihr Ziel verfehlt“
ex Berliner Zeitung, 20.04.2023 (print)
„Russland-Sanktionen gescheitert: Ex-Manager der Sberbank fordert die Ampel heraus”
ex Berliner Zeitung, 26.08.2023 (print)
„Streit um LNG-Terminal: Ex-Topbanker erklärt Vorgänge gegen deutsche Banken in Russland“
ex Berliner Zeitung, 27.07.2023 (print)
„Russland: Wirtschaft bleibt trotz Sanktionen stark”
ex Wirtschaftswoche, 19.04.2023 (print)
„Der Westen hat die Stärke der russischen Wirtschaft schlicht unterschätzt“
ex RND, 21.12.2023.
„Warum blockiert Deutschland plötzlich neue Sanktionen gegen Russland?“
https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wirtschaft-verantwortung/warum-blockiert-deutschland-ploetzlich-neue-sanktionen-gegen-russland-li.2225157
Selected Media
2022
2021
2018
Seine Plakate offenbaren den Geist Russlands
ex Weltwoche (print) 06.23
Кадровое решение: чем цифровая HR-платформа интересна для сотрудников
(Human Resources Solution: How a digital HR platform is interesting for employees)
ex Forbes, 21.12.2021
The Business case for Curiosity
https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-business-case-for-curiosity
ex Harvard Business Review 09/2018 as part as the advisory team of the CEO Stefan Oschmann of Merck KGaA Darmstadt
Selected Podcasts / VLOG / TV
2025
2024
2023
Ex-Sberbank-Manager: Wie Russland wirklich tickt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCAtlNkJ7sU
Flavio von Witzleben, Mai 2025
Die Deutsche Wirtschaft ist in Schieflage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAl9JYyh5mM
News.by, Februar 2025
Wie ist das Leben als Deutscher in Russland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3XLhqT0LdQ
Finn’s Fairytale, März 2025
Das Leben in Russland ist ganz anders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBOsjHZOIbI
HCKM Philipp Hopf (Hoss & Hopf), Dez. 2024
Trump bietet auch eine Chance
https://deu.belta.by/video/getRecord/1380/
Belta, 24.12.2024
Political Ex-Manager Oliver Kempkens über das Leben in Moskau https://www.thepioneer.de/originals/thepioneer-briefing-business-class-edition/podcasts/ex-manager-oliver-kempkens-ueber-den-alltag-in-russland
The Pioneer, 27.03.2023
various non-operative board positions
Managing Partner & Founder
Kempkens x Kohler GmbH
Sr Managing Director
PJSC Sberbank
Advisor
The Boston Consulting Group, Moscow
CEO
ITMP Deutschland GmbH
VP UX, Agile, Workspace
SAP Labs, SAP SE
Chief Digital Officer
Francotyp Postalia
Work Experience
since 2023
since 2023
2019-2023
2018
2016-2017
2011-2015
2010
MGIMO, Political Sciences / Diplomacy,
candid. Doctor of Science/ Dr. habil
MGIMO
Sociology (PhD)
European-University Viadrina, Frankfurt,
Mediation (MA)
Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU)
Munich, Law (BA, MA equivalent)
Kellogg School of Management
Strategic Data-Driven Management
Stanford University
Project Management
Stanford University
Design Thinking
The Wharton
Leading Organizational Change
Hasso-Plattner Insitute
Design Thinking
Harvard University
Mediation (Project on Negotiation)
LMU, Centrum for Negotiation and Mediation
certified Economic Mediator (cvm)
Academic Experience
Higher Education
2025-2028
2018-2024
09/2018
09/2009
Executive Education
2014
2012
2012
2011-2012
2009-2010
2009
2008
Hasso-Plattner Academy (2017), SKOLKOVO (2013-2018),
RANEPA (2018)
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (2012-2018)
Design Management, The British School of Design (2012)
VERN Zagreb (2015-2018),
American University of Central Asia (2013-2016)
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (2014-2018)
Hasso-Plattner Academy (2017-), SKOLKOVO (2013-), Stanford
d.school (2011-2012), VERN Zagreb (2015-2018), FH Oberösterreich
(2013-2019), University of Vienna (2013), Johannes-Keppler Universität
Linz (2014), IMC FH Krems (2018), American University of Central
Asia (2013-2016), Higher School of Economics (2012), The British
School of Design (2012)
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (2014-2018), The British School of Design (2012)
Teaching Assignments
Agile
Change Management & HR Leadership
Digital Marketing
Human-Centered Design
Design Thinking
Human-Centered Design