Restructuring and M&A expert Bernd Richter moves to PLUTA

The PLUTA restructuring company has announced a notable addition to its ranks. Effective 1 September 2023, chartered accountant and tax advisor Mr Bernd Richter will move from Ernst & Young GmbH (EY) to PLUTA, having left the former on 30 June 2023 on reaching the retirement age of 62.

Mr Bernd Richter will become a managing director and managing partner of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH and a managing director of PLUTA Management GmbH. He will support PLUTA Management GmbH out of the Munich and Hamburg branch offices in the area of pre-insolvency restructuring consulting and in M&A transactions.

Mr Bernd Richter worked in Strategy and Transactions at EY for more than 30 years. Over the past two-and-a-half years, he led strategic initiatives and took responsibility for their implementation in his capacity as Chief Transformation Officer as a Member of the EY Germany Management Board.

After qualifying as a tax advisor and chartered accountant, Mr Bernd Richter played a major role in shaping Ernst & Young’s restructuring consulting services and headed up this area from 2010 to 2020 as a managing partner in EY’s DSA region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria). At the same time, he was also a member of EY’s Global Restructuring Leadership Team.

He specialises in advising medium-sized companies in special situations, for example in relation to distressed M&A, distressed due diligence, going concern issues, stakeholder management and mediation of stakeholder conflicts.

In the past few years, he has not only coordinated numerous projects in the automotive supplier industry but also played an active role in the discussion and formulation of solutions in the context of the accelerating transformation in that sector – most recently as an advisory board member for a platform established by the IG Metall and IG BCE trade unions.

Mr Bernd Richter also sits on the advisory boards of a number of medium-sized businesses, in which capacity he often assumes a moderating role in the succession process.

“The move to PLUTA is an exciting challenge given the company’s impressive development to date. I want to use my expertise and network to help shape PLUTA’s expansion strategy. With so many companies undergoing a transformation, I am anticipating interesting advisory mandates over the years ahead,” stated Mr Bernd Richter.

Dr Maximilian Pluta said, “We’ve known Mr Bernd Richter for many years. He is a proven restructuring specialist and an experienced mediator in difficult situations. We are delighted to add such a top-class expert to our ranks at PLUTA. Our entire team will benefit as a result.”