The team

Sabine Braun

Founder and Managing Director

Studied Communications at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich – freelance journalist and author specializing in environmental management – founded akzente in 1993 – member of the Board of future e.V. – verantwortung unternehmen – since 2004 moderator of the German Environment Ministry’s multi-stakeholder CSR workshop.

Thomas Melde

Managing Director

Studied Political Science, Jurisprudence and Sociology in Leipzig and Paris – internships at various communications agencies and international political institutions and in corporate communications and policy at the BMW Group – dissertation on CR and sustainability at the University of Duisburg-Essen – on the akzente team since 2007.

Dr. Axel Klein

akzente Frankfurt/Main, Senior Consultant

Studied Cultural Studies in Hildesheim and Dublin – doctorate – freelance journalist – staff writer and communications consultant for Kohtes & Klewes – External Relations Officer of the Asian Development Bank in Frankfurt – since 2007 Head of the Darmstadt branch (since May 2011 Head of the Frankfurt on the Main branch) of akzente with a focus on the communication of ESG (environmental, social, governance) issues towards investors and analysts.

Anja Rechenberg

Senior Consultant

Studied Political Science, German and Philosophy in Cologne and at the Free University of Berlin, while at the same time working as an author and copywriter. After graduating, career launch in PR and marketing for various dot-coms. PR consultant for the Pleon Group in Munich from 2002 to 2007 with clients in both the private and public sector. Senior consultant at the proprietor-run PR agency LoeschHundLiepold. On the akzente team since March 2011.

Dr. Ralf Weiß

Senior Consultant

Studied Business and Applied Cultural Studies – research assistant at the Institute of Environmental Communications at the University of Lüneburg and doctorate in Environmental Strategy/Environmental Reporting at a large carmaker. On the akzente team since 2003, initially as Head of the Stuttgart branch and from 2009 as Head of Internet and Online reporting and the new business area Products and Innovation in Munich. Involvement in “Sustainable Venturing”, a research project together with Borderstep, the Institute for Innovation and Sustainability in Berlin, since early 2011.

David Haag

Consultant

Studied Philosophy and Economics at the University of Bayreuth and International Business Studies at the University of Magdeburg and Macquarie University, Sydney. Internships in corporate communications and human resources followed by a traineeship in public relations at J+K Strategic Communications in Berlin. Worked in Uganda for the NGO Somero e.V. and as a freelance CSR consultant. At akzente since 2010.

Alexander König

Consultant

Studied Political Science, International Law and Religious Studies at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and University of Wales, Aberystwyth – worked for the Centre for Applied Policy Research (CAP) in Munich and at Systain Consulting, Hamburg - on the akzente team since 2006.

Hendrikje Riemann

Consultant, Editor

Studied Sociology, Economics and Intercultural Business Communication at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, in New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) and Flagstaff (Arizona, USA) indluding as a student trainee in Economic Sociology and on various internships. After graduation traineeship at Z_punkt, a consulting firm for Corporate Foresight. On the akzente team since autumn 2010.

Marie Schwarz

Consultant, Editor

Studied Film and Television documentary at the University of Film Munich and Sociology at the University of Vienna. 2007 Sponsorship award for young directors, assigned by the German Broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Free author and director (WDR); Internships in Public Relations, among others at Scholz & Friends Agenda, Berlin. Part of the akzente Team since 2011.

Dr. Kristin Vorbohle

Consultant, Editor

Studied Philosophy and Economics at the University of Bayreuth, European Studies at the University of Hamburg and Politics at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques Lille. Internship at ERM Paris. Dissertation on Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of Oldenburg. Since 2006 manager and editor at CSR NEWS GmbH - part of the akzente team since the beginning of 2010.

Thomas Wagner

Research and Analysis

Studies of Sociology, Politics and Social psychology at the Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. Following an internship in the field of corporate development at Bayerngas GmbH, project work and -coordination in sustainability related social research in Australia and Germany for Socialdata GmbH. Since summer 2011 with akzente.

Brigitte Rataj

Team Assistant

Graduated as a master tailor at the Meisterschule für Mode München - since 1997 in the field of office management and personal assistant work. Since May 2011 with akzente.

Jane Ehlers

Student Trainee

Studied Communications at the University of Erfurt and Complutense de Madrid (Bachelor of Arts). Studies a masters program in Communications at Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich. Internship and student trainee at the PR agency JP|Kom and at Munich Re (unit corporate responsibility). At akzente since 2011.