Team

Dr Ansgar Tietmeyer

Managing Partner

Before founding twp Berlin, Ansgar was a partner at Berlin Global Advisors, working with clients from the financial services industry. For many years, he served as Deutsche Bank’s Head of Public Affairs, and as its representative in Brussels. Ansgar holds several honorary assignments, not least as President of WPCD – one of Berlin’s most outstanding fora for political dialogue.

Dr Michael Wolgast

Managing Partner

Before founding twp Berlin, Michael was a partner at Berlin Global Advisors, working with clients from the financial services industry. Earlier, he worked in Government & Public Affairs at Moody’s and as Chief Economist for the German Insurance Association (GDV) and later the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV).

Per Grünert

Senior Analyst

Per completed his M.Sc. in Economics from Lund University in June 2026, returning to the twp Berlin team, of which he has been part since 2023, as a full-time Senior Analyst. He has also worked for BDEW, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries, in Berlin, and also holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Münster.

Sofie Poggendorf

Analyst

Sofie completed a dual Master’s degree in International Affairs at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in Toronto and the Hertie School in Berlin and joined twp Berlin in September 2026. She has worked as a research assistant and with Arctic 360, a Canadian Arctic security think tank. Sofie also holds a B.Sc. in Geography from Hamburg University.

Oskar Fairbairn

Associate Analyst

Oskar joined twp Berlin in March 2026 and now continues on a part-time basis as he is currently enrolled on a Master’s programme in Business Administration at Humboldt Universität Berlin. Oskar has also worked at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and for one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Kiel University.

Benjamin Rochow

Associate Analyst

Benjamin joined twp Berlin in September 2025 and now works with the team on a full-time basis. He holds a B.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam. As a student, Benjamin was awarded a scholarship from the prestigious Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Alexander Seliger

Associate Analyst

Alex joined twp Berlin in September 2025 and now works with the team on a part-time basis. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Freie Universität Berlin where he is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Economics.

Ben Samelin

Associate Analyst

Ben joined twp Berlin in April 2025 and now continues on a part-time basis as he is currently enrolled on a Master’s programme in Economics at the University of Copenhagen. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Kiel University. In 2023, Ben served as head delegate to the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York, co-leading the student delegation from Kiel University.

Astrid Frohloff

Berlin

As a journalist, TV moderator and C-level media trainer, Astrid is the head of her own media and communications consultancy, which she has been running since 2018. Prior to this, Astrid moderated numerous high-profile productions and news programmes on German state and private television. She is also a former Middle East correspondent for SAT.1, where she built and led the network’s Jerusalem bureau.

Burkhard Ober

Brussels

Now an independent consultant, and a board member of major policy think tanks, Burkhard was for many years Allianz’s Head of Public Affairs and representative in Brussels. Earlier in his career, he worked in asset management and in investment banking (fixed income trading and sales) for several European banks, including five years in São Paulo, Brazil, and five years in Paris.

Bettina von Oesterreich

Hamburg/ Frankfurt

With more than 35 years of industry experience, Bettina, Managing Partner of BVO Consult, is a seasoned expert in M&A, transformation and strategic repositioning of financial firms. She currently serves on the Supervisory Board of several European companies. Prior to founding BVO Consult in 2011, Bettina held a variety of senior executive positions in global financial institutions.

Nigel D Phipps

London

In March 2019, Nigel retired from his position at Moody’s as Managing Director Government & Public Affairs, managing the company’s global public policy engagement, and Country Manager for the UK. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2005, Nigel worked at the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA), as well as for NatWest Markets and Barclays International.

Bradley L Kading

Washington DC

Brad retired from his position as President of ABIR (Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers) in December 2017, after a long career in advocacy on Capitol Hill and in international relations. Prior to joining ABIR, Brad worked for the Reinsurance Association of America and the Alliance of American Insurers.

Dr Ronald Weichert

Frankfurt

Now an independent consultant, Ronald has spent most of his career with Deutsche Bank where he held senior positions in the bank’s communications department, working as one of its press officers. Before joining Deutsche Bank, Ronald was involved in promoting the German stock exchanges and the launch of Deutsche Börse AG.

Prof Dr Wilfried Bernhardt

Berlin

A trained lawyer, Wilfried is active in many fora in the academic world and as an independent consultant, focusing on the digitisation of the German judiciary and public administration. Earlier in his career, he was a top civil servant, serving both in the Federal Ministry of Justice and then as a State Secretary in the State of Saxony.

Dr Berend Diekmann

Berlin

Until 2025, Berend served in various senior positions in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. As Head of Division “USA, Canada, Mexico”, he was for many years responsible for transatlantic trade and economic relations. Berend has also worked as Chief Economic Advisor to the FDP Liberals parliamentary group. He is an economist and holds a doctorate from Mainz University.