We are a multidisciplinary team based in Freienbach near Zurich. Together, we develop unique strategies for our portfolio companies that help them become market leaders in the medium term through both organic and inorganic growth.
Our team - Experienced experts in their field
Meet our team
Board of Directors
Christian Speiser was a partner at McKinsey and Company and worked in Zurich, Tokyo and Taipei. His responsibilities included solving organisational, strategic and operational problems for European, Asian and American clients. Over time, his customer portfolio included the chemical, pharmaceutical, mechanical and plant engineering companies as well as aviation and financial institutions. He also led the European post-merger management practice.
He left McKinsey to take over the management of a Swiss paper manufacturer. His task was to restructure the balance sheet of the paper company and to diversify the business within a certain period of time. All operational units were eventually sold to industrial buyers.
In 1997, he joined the leading reinsurance company Swiss Re as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Board Committee. In line with Swiss Re’s growing size and scope, he established the appropriate Group-wide financial governance. Over the years, his responsibilities have included strategic planning, strategic asset allocation and information technology for the Swiss Re Group. He was the initiator and founding chairman of an industry joint venture in the field of electronic risk exchange. In 2004, he left Swiss Re to become an independent investor and consultant.
Christian has a degree in economics and operations research from the University of St. Gallen. During his studies, he also worked as a systems analyst at Fides Informatik and IBM.
He left McKinsey to take over the management of a Swiss paper manufacturer. His task was to restructure the balance sheet of the paper company and to diversify the business within a certain period of time. All operational units were eventually sold to industrial buyers.
In 1997, he joined the leading reinsurance company Swiss Re as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Board Committee. In line with Swiss Re’s growing size and scope, he established the appropriate Group-wide financial governance. Over the years, his responsibilities have included strategic planning, strategic asset allocation and information technology for the Swiss Re Group. He was the initiator and founding chairman of an industry joint venture in the field of electronic risk exchange. In 2004, he left Swiss Re to become an independent investor and consultant.
Christian has a degree in economics and operations research from the University of St. Gallen. During his studies, he also worked as a systems analyst at Fides Informatik and IBM.
Christian has been advising Constellation for several years.
Reto Donatsch’s career within Credit Suisse Group began 40 years ago in the asset management business.
As Director of the Geneva Region, he moved into management roles in Wealth, Asset Management and Trading in 1989. In 1993 he became a member of the Executive Board of Bank Leu in Zurich, where he was responsible for private banking. Bank Leu, the oldest Swiss bank, had been taken over by Credit Suisse in 1990.
Reto became CEO of Bank Leu in 1996 and was additionally appointed to the Executive Board of Credit Suisse Private Banking one year later. The intensification of competition, the rising expectations of shareholders and the drastic tightening of corporate governance regulations led to continued pressure to reorganise the business.
As Director of the Geneva Region, he moved into management roles in Wealth, Asset Management and Trading in 1989. In 1993 he became a member of the Executive Board of Bank Leu in Zurich, where he was responsible for private banking. Bank Leu, the oldest Swiss bank, had been taken over by Credit Suisse in 1990.
Reto became CEO of Bank Leu in 1996 and was additionally appointed to the Executive Board of Credit Suisse Private Banking one year later. The intensification of competition, the rising expectations of shareholders and the drastic tightening of corporate governance regulations led to continued pressure to reorganise the business.
In 2003, Reto joined the Board of Directors of Bank Leu until he retired in 2007 to become an independent advisor and investor. In the course of his career, Reto chaired the board of directors of four Swiss and foreign banks and was a member of the board of directors of various companies. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Banque Cantonale Vaudoise since 2011 and will be the designated Vice Chairman from 2019.
Reto has been working as a consultant for CONSTELLATION for 12 years. In 2006, he became a member of the Board of Directors.
Hans-Peter Diener was previously CEO and partner of Bellevue Group AG, which he joined in 2007. Prior to that, he was CEO of Walter Meier Holding AG (WMH) from 1996 to 2007. Prior to joining WMH, he was CEO of Saurer Rotorspinning Division from 1991 to 1995 and before that EVP at Jacobs Suchard in the M&A team from 1984 to 1989.
In his long career, Hans-Peter Diener has worked in the areas of strategy, mergers & acquisitions and finance for international listed companies, successfully leading international companies in various industries as CEO for 18 years. As a CEO in the financial sector (asset management), he broadened his professional horizons. During this time, Hans-Peter Diener was responsible for several successful turnarounds. In recent years, in addition to his work as senior advisor to various boards of directors, he has supported international private equity companies in their portfolio strategy.
In his long career, Hans-Peter Diener has worked in the areas of strategy, mergers & acquisitions and finance for international listed companies, successfully leading international companies in various industries as CEO for 18 years. As a CEO in the financial sector (asset management), he broadened his professional horizons. During this time, Hans-Peter Diener was responsible for several successful turnarounds. In recent years, in addition to his work as senior advisor to various boards of directors, he has supported international private equity companies in their portfolio strategy.
After graduating from ETH Zurich and joining a renowned management consultancy, Hans-Peter Diener completed his education with an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Hans-Peter has been a member of the Board of Directors of CONSTELLATION CAPITAL AG since 2018.
Investment-Team
Rainer is the founder and Managing Partner of CONSTELLATION. He began his career at McKinsey & Co. in Switzerland, where he led various strategic and operational studies. He left McKinsey to join the CEO of AEG-Daimler Benz to lead a highly regarded and later implemented strategic study of electronic and wireless applications in future Mercedes-Benz products. He was also founder and head of the corporate development department of Daimler’s industrial activities (AEG) with more than 300 companies.
Responsible for more than 1,000 employees in various operational functions in Marketing & Sales, Research & Development and Production, he was instrumental in the restructuring, realignment and successful sale of the Mobile Solutions division of the Daimler Benz Group to MATRA Communication, now EADS, in cooperation with Nokia and Alcatel. He then teamed up with the CEO and later Chairman of Bertelsmann Media Group as Deputy Head of Corporate Development before founding and setting up CONSTELLATION.
Rainer values close cooperation with entrepreneurs and business owners. His focus is on management buyouts and buy & build cases in the asset light industry. Due to his passion for entrepreneurial investing, Rainer and the CONSTELLATION team work closely with portfolio companies to build market leaders in fragmented markets.
Rainer studied and conducted research in climatology and nanotechnology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. He holds international patents in mobile communications and is fluent in German, English and French.
After joining CONSTELLATION, Stefan was appointed CFO of the first portfolio company of the CONSTELLATION V Fund, Swiss E-Mobility Group AG, to develop the framework for a buy & build strategy. After the exit, Stefan returned to CONSTELLATION and has since managed the financial side and strategic development of the portfolio companies. In addition, Theresa is a member of the Board of Directors of CONSTELLATION GP S.à r.l.
Stefan started his career in 2015 at Wegmüller AG, a renowned family business in Switzerland. He started working as assistant to the CEO and was later promoted to CFO and CPO. He optimised the cost structure of the business as well as the gross profit margin by implementing efficient purchasing processes and reporting systems before taking on new challenges in the private equity industry.
Stefan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University and completed a CAS in Accounting & Controlling at the University of St. Gallen.
Louis joined CONSTELLATION as an investment manager in 2022, having previously worked as an analyst for CONSTELLATION in 2018 after graduating.
Prior to joining CONSTELLATION, Louis worked at a leading multi-family office in Zurich and Singapore, where he was responsible for private market investments and corporate finance advisory. Prior to that, Louis gained experience at a private equity fund specialised in the DACH region in the Zurich area as well as an M&A advisory boutique with a focus on e-commerce & TMT. Louis originally started his career in sales trading at a Swiss investment bank.
Louis holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Gallen and an MSc in Finance & Investments from the Rotterdam School of Management.
David joined CONSTELLATION as an analyst after gaining M&A experience advising CONSTELLATION on several successful acquisitions. Previously, he gained experience in portfolio & asset management and worked in a tech start-up.
David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Zurich.
Before joining CONSTELLATION, Noah worked at Franz Haniel & Cie. as a private equity/M&A investment analyst and gained capital markets experience at a hedge fund after starting his career in the manufacturing industry at Hilti AG in Liechtenstein.
Noah holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Gallen and a Master of Science in Finance from ESADE Business School. He has also gained academic experience at the Rotterdam School of Management and the Graduate School of the University of Cape Town.
Prior to joining CONSTELLATION, Anton gained transaction experience in the field of M&A, where he supported CONSTELLATION in various acquisitions. Since March 2023, Anton has been Group CFO of the CONSTELLATION ACADEMY. In 2022 Anton became a member of the Board of Directors of CONSTELLATION GP S.à r.l.
Anton holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen with a semester abroad at ESSEC Business School in Paris.
Before joining CONSTELLATION, Gian gained consulting and M&A experience at Retail Capital Partners. Prior to that, he worked in banking at Credit Suisse in Zurich and at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt.
Gian holds a Master’s degree in Banking & Finance, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Zurich.
Before joining CONSTELLATION, Maximilian gained valuable experience in investment banking and auditing. At ALANTRA in Zurich and ParkView Partners in Frankfurt, he was involved in significant M&A transactions. He also gained knowledge in auditing while working at Deloitte in Zurich.
Maximilian holds a Master’s degree in Finance from EDHEC Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Konstanz.
Prior to joining CONSTELLATION, Julian worked in various corporate and operational roles within luxury hotel management with extensive international assignments which allowed him to gather exposure across China, the U.A.E. and Europe.
He further obtained deep entrepreneurial experience by launching and leading a growing services startup during and after his MBA studies. He also regularly consulted on hospitality and startup related projects.
Julian holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Edinburgh Business School (Edinburgh, U.K.), ESSEC (Paris, France) and is fluent in German, French and English.
