Kirchner + Robrecht by Forte: New Unit for the DACH Market
Forte Central Europe and the consulting firm Kirchner + Robrecht are joining forces: The new unit, «Kirchner + Robrecht by Forte,» specializes in strategic and technological transformation for media and publishing companies in the DACH region. Dr. Johann Kempe will lead the unit as Director of Media Consulting.
„Filling a gap in the publishing market“
Forte Central Europe is expanding its presence in the publishing market: Together with the consulting firm Kirchner + Robrecht, the company is launching the new unit «Kirchner + Robrecht by Forte,» which, as part of the Forte Publishing Powerhouse, will specialize in strategic and technological transformation for media and publishing companies in the DACH region. Kirchner + Robrecht’s original consulting business will thus be integrated into Forte. In this context, Peter Kirchner will serve as Strategic Advisor in the new unit. Dr. Johann Kempe will take over as Director of Media Consulting.
«We’re filling a critical gap in the market,» explains Christof Zahneissen, Managing Partner at Forte Central Europe. «Traditional consultants rarely have the capability to deliver the technological implementation, and hardly any digital consultancy understands the media business from the inside. We combine both into an end-to-end offering that gives media companies real competitive advantages.»
Peter Kirchner and Dr. Johann Kempe bring expertise and strong execution skills
Peter Kirchner also emphasizes the added value of this partnership: «Strategic consulting in publishing today can only be sustainable if it is based on in-depth technical implementation expertise. With Forte and Johann Kempe, we consistently combine our content expertise with strong implementation capabilities—thereby creating immediate impact for our media clients.»
Kempe and his team are tasked with helping publishers and media companies drive their digital transformation, develop new business models, make effective use of AI, and increase operational efficiency. «Many companies are under pressure to produce content faster and more efficiently while simultaneously building new digital revenue streams. This is exactly where we come in—with clear processes and innovative products that strengthen publishers in the long term and effectively support their digital transformation,» says Kempe.
Extensive experience at the intersection of media and technology
Kempe began his career—like Peter Kirchner—at Roland Berger. He has many years of leadership experience at the intersection of media and technology: Most recently, he served as CTO of the Wort & Bild Publishing Group and as managing director of several portfolio companies. Prior to that, he served as CTO at the C.H. Beck publishing house and as CIO of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Internationally, he gained experience at Macmillan in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He also contributed to the handbook «Legal Tech» and the eHealth Monitor 2021. According to his own statements, he will continue to serve as an advisor to the Wort & Bild Group in the future.
