rpc Expands Executive Management: Michael Erz Returns as Managing Director
Michael Erz previously served as Partner and Global Head of Consulting at rpc from 2014 to 2021 and was a member of the management board. A seasoned executive, he brings decades of consulting experience and has held prominent leadership roles, including at Siemens AG, where he served as Partner and Vice President of the Advanta Division. There, he built and led the Marketing and Sales as well as the Service divisions, and successfully founded and managed the “Customer Centricity Horizontal.” In 2023, Siemens Advanta appointed him “Global Head of Automotive & New Mobility.” Earlier in his career, he worked at BMW Group of North America and Accenture, where he spent many years in the Strategy Division.
Dr. Ralf Hilgenstock, BMW Group’s Investment Management and Controlling lead and rpc advisory board member, stated: "With Michael Erz, rpc has gained a highly successful and execution-focused consultant with extensive expertise in the industrial and automotive sectors. Thanks to his previous roles, he knows the company in detail and can bring leadership experience from other consulting firms into rpc’s business processes and strategy. He is the ideal addition to rpc’s executive team.”
Strategic Expansion of Consulting Business
With Michael Erz’s return, rpc aims to sharpen its consulting profile and market positioning in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment. He will be primarily responsible for expanding the consulting business, strengthening automotive expertise, and establishing new industry competencies. A key focus will be the development of future-relevant topics such as AI-based consulting solutions.
"With Michael Erz, rpc gains a strategically minded and execution-strong managing director who understands the challenges of the consulting industry firsthand and addresses them effectively. His return represents continuity while also bringing fresh momentum—especially in building innovative consulting offerings based on AI technologies for customer centricity in both B2B and B2C segments. He is a strong partner for the H&Z Group to further develop rpc together,” said Stefan Aichbauer, Managing Partner at H&Z Unternehmensberatung and rpc advisory board member.
Michael Erz himself commented on his appointment and new role:
"The consulting market is changing: traditional approaches are under pressure and becoming increasingly interchangeable. Real value for clients comes from partners and ecosystems that offer unique, customer-specific services with credible expertise and proximity. With its parent companies BMW Group and the H&Z Group, rpc has a strong foundation to grow in this environment—content-wise, methodologically, and industry-focused. To succeed in future consulting, one must understand industry challenges and develop differentiated yet scalable solutions. That’s how true competitive advantage is created.”
International Leadership with Clear Role Distribution
Together with Christian Feilmeier and Sandra Loos, Michael Erz forms a three-person leadership team with an international focus: Christian Feilmeier oversees the markets in Germany, China, the USA, and Japan. Sandra Loos leads the “People Empowerment” division and the regions of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Northern Europe. Michael Erz will globally manage the strategic direction of the consulting business, strengthen the automotive sector, and lead new focus industries.
"Michael Erz is a perfect addition to our leadership team. With his experience, he will not only broaden and deepen our consulting offerings but also provide impulses for new topics and competencies that will help our clients advance in their transformation journeys,” said Sandra Loos and Christian Feilmeier.
