FRANKFURT — Grayling Germany has concluded its search for a new CEO, hiring Geraldine Schroeder to replace Frank Schoenrock, who left late last year to join BCW Germany as its new issues and public affairs lead.

Schroeder joins from Berlin strategic consultancy Johanssen + Kretschmer, where she had been managing director since 2016. She had previously held head of corporate communications roles in the energy and manufacturing sectors, including at Swedish multinational power company Vattenhall, Voith Hydro and Storengy, part of electricity company Engie Deutschland.

In her new role, she will lead Grayling operations across the Huntsworth agency’s bases in Frankfurt and Munich. Grayling’s clients in Germany include Huawei, TikTok, Leica, Otis, OpenTable, Bobcat, Maggi and Škoda.

Sarah Scholefield, CEO of Grayling Europe – which spans 28 offices in 17 countries – said: “Geraldine has proven ability to lead and evolve complex businesses and is recognised for her deep communications knowledge and her strategic skills, making her the perfect person to lead Grayling in Germany in its next phase of growth. Germany is a very important market for Grayling both locally and internationally and we are very excited about the fantastic opportunity Geraldine’s appointment affords us in the market.”

Schroeder added: “When looking for my next role, I found several aspects of Grayling to be compelling: the great teams in Germany, the firm’s medium-size that is perfectly suited to be agile and flexible and to weather these times of change with clients, and the strong international network which collaborates closely."

In particular, Schroeder said she would be looking to expand the firm's public affairs and strategy capabilities in Germany.