Photographic portrait of Bernhard Lorentz
We want to make the state better: statehood is undergoing a great change and we want to support the public sector in its entirety in accomplishing its tasks.

Bernhard Lorentz

EY Germany Switzerland and Austria Managing Partner Markets, Head of EY Carbon, and Government & Public Sector Leader

Politically minded and business-oriented, focused on optimizing collaboration between state and business. Enthusiastic Berliner and hockey player.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Lorentz is the Managing Partner for Markets and the Government & Public Sector Leader in the Germany, Switzerland and Austria Region.

Bernhard has 25 years of management experience in the public sector, nonprofit and private sectors. As President of Mercator Foundation — one of the largest German private foundations — he has shown the influence that strategic philanthropy can have on major political reform processes. During his tenure at the Federal Foreign Office, he strategically realigned the collaboration between the philanthropic and public sectors.

As the founding managing director of the Hertie School of Governance, Bernhard founded the first university for public policy in Germany.

Bernhard studied law and history in Tübingen, Berlin, Sussex and Johns Hopkins, and teaches as an honorary professor at the Free University of Berlin. 

How Bernhard is building a better working world

Improving the work of the public sector is the common thread running through Bernhard’s career. He has always found the exchange between business, science and politics to be profitable. At EY, he is committed to managing large transformation processes, for example supporting the transition from state and society to a low-carbon future.

Contact Bernhard