Experience where plans stop working
Michael R. Loefler
Founder · Lead Practitioner
Michael R. Loefler has worked across Europe and Asia in situations where strategy, operations, governance and human behaviour collide. His perspective is grounded not only in professional analysis, but in direct exposure to distressed organisations, contested information and decisions that could not be deferred.
As a lawyer and international practitioner, he focuses on the point at which familiar explanations no longer reflect operational reality — and on how leaders preserve judgment, options and the ability to act.
Long-distance sailing and time in remote landscapes have reinforced the same discipline: read conditions early, distrust false certainty and act before the environment removes the remaining choices.
Selected Executive Experience
Chief Executive Officer — G Steel PCL & GJ Steel PCL, Thailand
2013–2015
Full executive responsibility for Thailand’s largest flat steel producer: two listed companies, approximately 1,200 employees and 2.6 million tonnes of annual production capacity. Restored Group cash break-even within twelve months, stabilised operations under severe financial constraints and strengthened governance, transparency and management accountability.
Independent Director & Shareholder Representative — Brahmani River Pellets Ltd., India
2015–2018
Appointed by the principal shareholder to provide an independent operational assessment, strengthen governance and support the business through strategic change. Contributed to operational stabilisation, management restructuring and the successful repositioning of the company before its acquisition by Tata Steel.
Board Director — Rothschild Golden Arrow Fund, Australia
1997–2002
Represented investor interests in an international mining investment fund, contributing to strategic investment and divestment decisions, portfolio governance and shareholder reporting.
Managing Director — HypoVereinsbank, Asia-Pacific
Singapore, 1996–2003
Established and led the bank’s Project & Export Finance activities throughout Asia-Pacific. Managed a project finance portfolio of approximately USD 2.5 billion and navigated the Asian Financial Crisis without portfolio losses.
Independent Executive Advisor
Germany and Thailand, 2020–present
His more recent work has included selected legal mandates and reserve assignments as a military legal adviser.
Selected Senior Expertise
Selected assignments can draw on senior practitioners where additional specialist depth is required.
Prof. Dr. Harald Watzek
Finance, Strategy & Special Situations
Harald Watzek combines senior-level finance expertise with strategic and operational experience. He advises owners, boards and executives on complex financial, strategic and transformation challenges — including special situations, project finance, financial modelling and critical investment decisions.
His strength lies in situations where information is incomplete, financial and operational considerations need to be brought together quickly, and assumptions need to be challenged before major decisions are taken.
He translates complexity into clear, financially robust and actionable choices.
Alongside his advisory work, Harald is Professor at Hochschule Fresenius, combining academic depth with extensive practical experience.
Munich · International