Experience where plans stop working
Michael R. Loefler
Lawyer · International Executive · Board & Operational Leadership
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 two listed steel companies with approximately 1,200 employees and 2.6 million tonnes of annual production capacity. Entered a distressed operating environment marked by severe liquidity constraints, governance weaknesses and operational leakage. Restored Group cash break-even within twelve months, tightened controls and management accountability, and stabilised operations.
Independent Director & Shareholder Representative — Brahmani River Pellets Ltd., India
2015–2018
Board responsibility in a 4 million tonne pellet operation during a period of governance weakness, fraud and strategic uncertainty. Helped stop annual value leakage exceeding USD 10 million, strengthened oversight and management accountability, and supported the repositioning of the asset ahead of its eventual acquisition by Tata Steel.
Board Director — Rothschild Golden Arrow Fund, Australia
1997–2003
Board and investment committee responsibility in an early-stage mining investment fund focused on venture-style exploration and small resource projects with significant growth potential. Assessed geological, project, country and commodity risks, supported financing and investment decisions, and followed assets through early development and value creation.
Managing Director — HypoVereinsbank, Asia-Pacific
Singapore, 1996–2003
Established and led Project & Export Finance activities across Asia-Pacific, with responsibility for a Project Finance portfolio of at least USD 2.5 billion by the end of the period, across energy, natural resources, mining and infrastructure. Worked through the Asian Financial Crisis and multiple project-specific disruptions where financing assumptions, markets and counterparties changed — requiring early reassessment, disciplined risk decisions and continued execution.
Attorney at Law, Training & Reserve Assignments
Germany and Thailand, 2020–present
Recent work has included selected legal mandates as an attorney, specialist training assignments and, until 2025, reserve service in the German Armed Forces. Military assignments included legal advisory at command level, participation in command-level exercise evaluation teams and training assignments within selected units. This experience continues to inform his approach to situation assessment, decision support and disciplined execution in special situations. Further detail is discussed where appropriate.
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