Our Team

As communications professionals we’re motivated by context, content, and impact. We deliver end-to-end: as sparring partners and strategic thinkers, but also as hands-on doers. We work hard and play fair because we really care – for our clients and business partners, but also for each other and society at large.

Karin Rhomberg

Karin Rhomberg

Founding Partner & Co-Owner

Karin is an accomplished communications manager and consultant. She combines speed with depth and precision, shifting gears smoothly from thought-provoking analysis to strategy and execution. Since co-founding Lemongrass Communications, she has advised a multitude of Swiss and international companies on a wide range of challenging communications matters. Prior to this she had a successful career at Credit Suisse, where she built up the Group’s global communications function and served as Managing Director and Chief Communications Officer until the end of 2004.

Karin focuses on:

  • Strategic communications advice and high-level execution, including media relations
  • Concept and content development in contested situations
  • C-suite and board-level consulting
  • Crisis and issues management and communications
  • Communications for M&A, corporate governance, litigation, defense
  • Organizational advice, coaching corporate communications staff

She holds a Master of Arts in history, journalism, and German linguistics from the University of Zurich.

Phone: +41 44 202 52 65karin.rhomberg@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Cornelia Schmid

Cornelia Schmid

Founding Partner & Co-Owner

Cornelia has 30 years of experience working for international companies and agencies. She is a well-respected consultant for non-profit organizations and foundations, and thanks to her broad international network and outstanding organizational and language skills, is regularly called upon as an expert at major international events such as the Olympic Games. Her consulting services are characterized by pragmatic solutions and dedicated implementation. Before founding her own company in 2000, she held a management position at Credit Suisse and worked as a senior consultant at a Zurich-based communications agency.

Cornelia focuses on:

  • Strategic consulting and positioning for international non-profit organizations and foundations
  • Developing and implementing integrated communications strategies
  • Corporate publishing, print and online
  • Broadcasting and media operations at major international sporting events
  • Organizational design of communications functions for international events
  • Consulting to companies on sponsorship communications matters

She holds a federal diploma in business administration (EFZ) and completed postgraduate studies in public relations at the SAWI Academy for Marketing and Communication.

Phone: +41 44 202 52 66cornelia.schmid@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Peter Hartmeier

Peter Hartmeier

Partner & Co-Owner

Peter has had a distinguished career as a communications advisor, journalist, and moderator. His consulting work is characterized by his profound interest in people and society, his excellent judgment, and his keen sense of the bigger picture. Before joining Lemongrass in 2013, Peter was Head of Communications at UBS Switzerland. Prior to that he was an editor for a number of high-profile business and political publications, and was editor-in-chief of the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper from 2002 to 2009. Other past roles include CEO of the Swiss Publishers Association and Corporate Communications director at Tamedia. Peter chairs the publishing committee of CH Media.

Peter focuses on:

  • Reputation management and crisis communications
  • Personal consulting to individuals and organizations in challenging media situations
  • Analyses of public opinion
  • Designing and moderating business and political events
  • Content development, ghostwriting, strategic messaging, media training
  • Political consulting

As a "media veteran" and following a solid basic education, he has essentially acquired his skills in the course of his many exciting jobs.

Phone: +41 44 202 52 39peter.hartmeier@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Hans-Peter Wäfler

Hans-Peter Wäfler

Partner & Co-Owner

Hans-Peter has more than 20 years of experience in communications and the media at the nexus between business and politics. Analytical in his approach and with a passion for language, he unties the knots and connects the parts to create a whole. Hans-Peter's advisory focus at Lemongrass Communications, which he joined in 2016, is on listed and private companies, other organizations, and associations. Prior to that he held senior corporate communication roles at Credit Suisse, was a domestic and foreign affairs editor for various Swiss media, and worked as an economist with a focus on the EU.

Hans-Peter focuses on:

  • Strategic communications advice and high-level execution
  • Concept and content development in contested situations
  • Corporate and financial communications
  • Issues management, research, and analysis
  • Messaging, storytelling, ghost-writing, editorial support
  • Custom media, print and online

He holds a Master of Arts in history, political science, and economics from the University of Zurich, and graduated from the Swiss School of Journalism MAZ.

Phone: +41 44 202 52 68hans-peter.waefler@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Andreas Hildenbrand

Andreas Hildenbrand

Partner & Co-Owner

Andreas is a seasoned communications expert − sharp in his analysis, proven in his strategic foresight, and efficient in implementation. He has nearly 30 years of experience in challenging communication roles, both as a consultant and as an in-house executive. He left his mark as Group Head of Marketing & Communications at Zurich Insurance Group (2014–2016) and Chief Communication Officer at Swiss Life Group (2003–2009), and held senior positions at Credit Suisse Group (1999–2002). Andreas had previously been a Partner of Lemongrass Communications from 2009 until 2014, and rejoined the team in 2017.

Andreas focuses on:

  • Strategic advice on any reputation and communications matters
  • Communications support for strategic projects
  • Communications support for capital market transactions
  • Crisis management and communications
  • Serving as an unbiased sparring partner for board members and senior leaders
  • Content development, strategic messaging, ghost-writing

He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of St. Gallen and a Swiss federal diploma in public relations.

Phone: +41 44 202 52 38andreas.hildenbrand@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Caroline Scherb

Caroline Scherb

Partner & Co-Owner

Caroline has 30 years of international leadership experience at blue-chip corporations and agencies, working across B-to-C, B-to-B, and financial services. From 2010 to 2020 she served as Chief Communications Officer at Swiss Re, before joining Lemongrass Communications as partner. From 1990 to 2010 she held senior positions at Ciba, BASF, and Ketchum Communications in Munich, Basel, and New York. Caroline has a track record of effectively navigating complex organizations, and spanning boundaries across hierarchies and stakeholder groups. She is a fast learner and strategic thinker, but also a well-equipped practitioner.

Caroline focuses on:

  • Reputation management and board-level consultancy
  • Branding and positioning organizations and executives
  • Developing and implementing integrated communications strategies
  • Transformation and leadership communications and employee engagement
  • Content development, strategic messaging, ghost-writing
  • Organizational design of communications function

She holds an Executive MSc in Communications Management from the Università della Svizzera italiana, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Phone: +41 44 200 23 39caroline.scherb@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Stephan Howeg

Partner & Co-Owner

Stephan Howeg successfully supports companies and personalities in challenging situations. He thinks strategically and is results-oriented in implementation. The high-profile communications expert led Corporate Communications, Marketing, Branding, Sustainability, Investor Relations, Public Affairs, Strategy and Transformation for over 25 years. He led at the Adecco Group (2007-2022) teams in over 60 countries and was a member of the Executive Committee for the past 7 years. He supported the turnaround and successful trade sale of UPC-Cablecom (2003-2007) to Liberty Global, the restructuring at Ascom (2001-2003) and he was instrumental in the launch and positioning of the new telco Sunrise (1997-2001).

Stephan Howeg focuses on:

  • Strategic consulting, positioning, and profiling of companies and personalities
  • Sustainability management (ESG), corporate ethics, corporate governance issues, reputation management
  • Support for boards of directors, executive boards and communications managers in crisis management, transformation processes and cultural change
  • Development and implementation of communication and brand strategies as well as employee engagement programs
  • Agenda setting, development of strategic messaging and thought leadership programs

He holds a master's degree in Applied Ethics as well as in History, Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Zurich. He is an Alumnus of IMD, INSEAD and Harvard Business School. He started his career with a four-year apprenticeship as a Polymechanic.

Phone: +41 44 200 52 32 stephan.howeg@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn

Esther Girsberger

Esther Girsberger

Of Counsel

As a well-known face in Switzerland and a well-connected former journalist, Esther consults to and supports Lemongrass Communications and its clients in special media, social and political situations. In her main role she serves as co-head of the ombudsman service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG in German-speaking Switzerland, as well as holding various functions at foundations and other organizations, including as president of the Cancer League of the Canton of Zurich, president and managing director of the Dr. Georg and Josi Guggenheim Foundation, which is primarily active in the visual arts, or as vice-chair of the Zurich Music Schools. Furthermore, she is active as a moderator for events and panel discussions.

Esther focuses on:

  • Strategy and support in special situations
  • Conference management, moderation and lectures
  • Media relations consulting and support, media training
  • Communication support for NPOs, foundations, and associations

Esther holds a doctorate in law from the University of Zurich and has completed an Executive MBA at the University of St. Gallen.

LinkedIn

Beate Eckhardt

Of Counsel

Beate consults to and supports Lemongrass Communications and its clients in foundation and philanthropy matters. In her main role, with her company Eckhardt Consulting, she assists private individuals, companies, and the public sector in setting up and developing philanthropic initiatives and advises foundations on strategic and operational issues. Together with the Center for Philanthropy at the University of Basel, she founded the Foundation Board Academy, a platform for training foundation board members of charitable foundations, as well as the Board for Good Foundation, a scholarship programme for young people. Until 2020, Beate led SwissFoundations, the association of Swiss grant-making foundations. In addition to her consultancy work, she is Co-Chair of Schauspielhaus Zurich, a member of the Board of Directors of Invethos as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of Stapferhaus Zurich and the Corporate Foundation of Sonova.

Beate focuses on:

  • Support in the establishment and development of charitable foundations
  • Strategic consulting including conception and moderation of strategy processes
  • Management and interim management of charitable foundations
  • Training and coaching of foundation board members
  • Moderation and presentations
  • Foundation and board activities

Beate holds a master's degree in German studies and social and economic history from the University of Zurich and an Executive MSc in Communications Management from the Università della Svizzera italiana. She completed her training as a consultant for change and organizational transformation in 2021.

LinkedIn

Romy Egger

Office Manager & PR Assistant

Romy knows how to leverage the balance between discipline and creativity, having performed as a dancer and choreographer in Switzerland and abroad for several years. Subsequently, she moved to advertising agencies and international companies as a management assistant. This broad experience helps her to master the duties of an office manager, in German, English and French. A diploma from the Leadership College of the KV Business School rounds off her education.

Romy focuses on:

  • Client and mandate-related support
  • Office management
  • Project management

Phone: +41 44 202 52 00romy.egger@lemongrass.agencyLinkedIn