For 35 years, Manres has been championing success, cohesion and fulfilment in business and personal development. What started as a vision in Zurich in 1990 has grown into an international company with a strong presence in Zurich and Berlin. We have established ourselves as a trusted partner for corporate transformation, leadership development and team development.
We are proud to look back on over 35 years of experience, during which time we have successfully guided more than 1,000 companies and 500 executives, as well as our valued partners and clients, through profound and demanding transformations.
Below are the key milestones in our journey:
2025
Celebrating 35 years of Manres while looking to the future
- At Manres, we continue to follow our core consulting approach of combining theory and practice.
- Sharpened focus
Empowering people, transforming systems: We offer new tools for leaders by integrating business logic with psychological insight. - New challenges of digitalization and AI
As our world becomes more digitalized, tech is there to support people, not replace them. The human being remains at the center.
2024
Start of collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM)
- Manres deepens its ties with the TUM and the Executive School at the University of St. Gallen by developing a talent booster program in partnership with the TUM’s Institute for LifeLong Learning. The program combines current research in business and IT strategy, leadership and real-world insights into transformation management. Subject-matter experts from TUM and psychologists from Manres co-design and teach the program.
2023
Launch of the Manres Academy:
Driven by practice, designed for business impact.
- The Manres Academy offers two-day open workshops focused on personality and organizational development. Tailored for both emerging and experienced leaders across diverse industries, the programs are grounded in real-world experience and geared toward practical impact.
2022-2024
- Roger Goetz serves as a Managing Partner at Manres.
2022 bis heute
Claudia Spiegel becomes Managing Partnerin and COO
- Claudia Spiegel becomes a Managing Partner and shareholder at Manres after having served in many key roles since joining the company in 2011.
2022
Peter Fankhauser becomes Manres CEO and majority stakeholder
- A new focus
Peter Fankhauser brings a holistic consulting approach that integrates psychological insight with business logic. With 25 years of hands-on experience as a CEO in large corporations, he contributes a wealth of practical expertise to Manres. -
Developing new products
We develop new, tailored leadership and mentoring programs for CEOs and other C-level roles, along with strategic advisory for processes such as strategy development, restructuring and succession programs, especially for family businesses.
2021-2023
- Renowned psychologist Maxim Egorov serves as a Manres partner.
2021–2022
Realignment
- Thomas Gutzwiller, our long-time Chairman of the Board, steps in to lead Manres on an interim basis and secures the company’s continued development.
2021
Passing of our company founder, Philipp Johner
- With the death of Philipp Johner, Manres loses a truly unique personality, marking a profound turning point in our company’s history.
2019-2020
COVID-19 pandemic
- Manres rises to the new challenges of virtual consulting. Drawing on our ability to adapt quickly, we rapidly roll out digital formats for coaching and assessments.
2018
First edition of the book «Existential Leadership zum Erfolg – Philosophie und Praxis der Transformation [Existential Leadership for Success – Philosophy and Practice of Transformation]»
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Authors: Philipp Johner, Dorothee Bürgi and Alfried Längle. “This book brings transformation processes to life, because only what can be experienced within an organization will truly convince high performers.” – Dr. Rainer Esser, Managing Director of DIE ZEIT, Hamburg, spring 2018
2018-2020
- Julia Dannath-Schuh, a Manres partner and shareholder since 2009, takes over executive leadership.
2015–2019
Transformation and new challenges
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Change in executive leadership: Philipp Johner gradually steps back from operational management for health reasons.
2014-2017
- Thelse Godewerth serves as Partner and Managing Director.
2012 to present
- Psychologist and Zen master Anna Gamma serves on the Manres Board of Directors.
2011
Further academic collaboration with the Executive School of the University of St. Gallen
- Manres designs and delivers a multi-day module on the topic “Leading Yourself and Others” as part of the Executive School’s Advanced Management Program.
2010
First edition of the book «Transforming Leaders – Top Management and Transformation: How to Have Long-Term Success, Empower Employees and Increase Revenues»
- The book is published in both German and English to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Manres AG. Peter Fankhauser, then CEO of Thomas Cook AG, contributes a real-world case study. In his chapter on “Lived Transformation,” he describes the cultural transformation of a company in the midst of a crisis, from the initial kick-off to the full roll-out. Manres played an active role in shaping and guiding that process from beginning to end.
2009
First edition of the book «Freundschaft: Das Immunsystem der Gesellschaft. Impulse zur Wiederbelebung einer verlorenen Kunst [Friendship: The Immune System of Society. Reflections on Reviving a Lost Art]»
- Edited by Philipp Johner and artfully illustrated by Rudolf Mirer, this book explores the “rules of the game” of friendship in both theory and practice.
2009-2010
Academic excellence
- The faculty of the Management of Growth in Technology Companies program at the University of St. Gallen honors Philipp Johner with the Best Teaching Award.
2008
Founding of Manres GmbH in Cologne"
- Manres GmbH is established in Cologne, with further locations in Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich soon to follow.
2008-2013
Establishing new Manres locations
- During this period, Manres supports major corporations throughout the DACH region on complex transformation projects.
- We develop new formats such as rollouts and train-the-trainer models to support in-depth stakeholder management.
- Developing new products
Manres creates new programs for high-performing teams and leadership development, with cultural assessments serving as the foundation for company-wide processes.
2007
Start of collaboration with the Executive School at the University of St. Gallen (ES-HSG)
- Manres is selected as a teaching partner for the University of St. Gallen’s Executive MBA program, where we contribute to the “Management of Growth in Technology Companies” track.
2006 to present
- Thomas Gutzwiller, professor at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and successful entrepreneur, becomes Chairman of the Board and anchor shareholder.
2005-2015
- Thomas Gartenmann serves on the board, later becoming Senior Partner and Managing Director.
2000
Growth and market expansion
- Entering international markets
We launch our first major leadership programs for international companies in the DACH region and the United States. - Becoming a leader in deep transformation projects
We begin to focus on guiding comprehensive change processes, from initial assessments all the way to full-scale transformation projects.
1998-2011
- Markus Schmid serves as partner and co-owner.
1995
- Manres begins defining the principles of Existential Leadership with a strong focus on testing and analyzing leadership personalities.
- The launch of our Assessment and Development Centers
We develop a new diagnostic methodology for evaluating C-level leadership personalities using semi-structured interviews and in-depth individual analysis. This model has become the centerpiece of our consulting practice at Manres.
1990
Our company’s beginning
- Manres was founded in Zürich, Switzerland in June, 1990 by psychologist, philosopher, astrophysicist, psychotherapist, coach and former elite athlete Philipp Johner. The company’s name is a combination of two words: the English “man” (representing the human being) and the Latin “res” (meaning “object” or “matter”).
- A new approach to consulting for leadership personalities and organizations
True to our company’s name, we view the human being as the starting point for any business’s success. As Philipp Johner once said: “People are the root of all forms of success, including economic success.” Our consulting approach blends psychology and philosophy to guide and support individual leaders. - A pioneering model for transformation consulting
During the early years, Manres led the way in bringing the new positive-psychology approach to the world of consulting. To this day, our focus on promoting long-term, lasting change still shapes how we support individuals and organizations through all forms of transformation.