Agenda

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Speeches, Panels & Career Events

From Uncertainty to Opportunity – Strategies to Secure Financial Growth

Below you'll find the schedule of the WHU New Year's Conference 2026. The schedule of the WHU New Year's Conference 2027 will be released closer to the time of the event.

Any schedule gaps will be filled with networking breaks. Unless stated otherwise, all events listed on the agenda will take place in the Congress Hall.

Interviews, workshops, and exclusive events will take place parallel to the main agenda. Please check your email inbox for information regarding these events.

January 14, 2026

08:15
 – 
09:45
Check-In
10:00
 – 
10:15
Opening Note
The Campus for Finance – WHU New Year's Conference 2026 Team
10:15
 – 
11:00
Keynote: Dr. Marcus Schenck
Co-Head of Investment Banking DACH, Lazard
11:00
 – 
11:15
Coffee Break
Take a break and connect over a freshly brewed cup of coffee
11:15
 – 
12:15
Panel: Deals in Turbulent Times: Navigating Geopolitics
Aaron Kirchfeld, Dr. Oda Goetzke, Robin Asseburg
12:15
 – 
13:30
Lunch
Enjoy our Lunch Buffet
13:30
 – 
14:15
Fireside Chat: Dr. Sascha Haghani
Managing Partner, Hannover Finanz
14:15
 – 
14:30
Coffee Break
14:30
 – 
15:15
Fireside Chat: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stock
Former Secretary General, Interpol
15:15
 – 
18:15
Career Fair
Get Ready to Network with our Sponsors
18:15
 – 
19:00
Aperitif
Kick-off the Evening with a Refreshing Drink and Inspiring Conversations
19:00
 – 
20:00
Flying Dinner
Dine and Connect
20:00
 – 
20:15
Break
20:15
 – 
23:00
Casino Night
Round off the First Day with our Casino Night

January 15, 2026

10:00
 – 
10:45
Brunch
Get ready for the day with a delicious brunch in the town hall
10:45
 – 
11:30
Keynote: Gerold Grasshoff
Senior Partner & Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
11:30
 – 
12:30
Panel: From Volatility to Value: The Role of Investment Banks
Philipp Beck, Christoph Heuer, Jans Meckel, Arndt Rautenberg
12:30
 – 
12:45
Coffee Break
Take a break and connect over a freshly brewed cup of coffee
12:45
 – 
13:30
Fireside Chat: Dietrich Becker & Klaus Wuelfing
Partner & Founding President, Partner, Perella Weinberg Partners
13:30
 – 
14:30
Lunch & Learn: Sir James Leigh-Pemberton
Chairman of the Council, Duchy of Lancaster
14:30
 – 
15:30
Panel: Taking the Pulse: Will 2026 See Europe’s IPO Revival?
Eyk Henning, Stefan Maassen, Eva Maria Wiecko, Dr. Oliver Seiler, Dr. Joachim von der Goltz
15:30
 – 
16:00
Coffee Break
Take a break and connect over a freshly brewed cup of coffee
16:00
 – 
17:00
Panel: Beyond Traditional Markets: The Rise of Alternative Investments
Caroline Poetsch-Hennig, Franz Weis, Dr. Frank Engels, Rizwan Khan
17:00
 – 
17:15
Break
17:30
 – 
18:15
Keynote: Harald Christ
Chairman, Christ Capital
18:15
 – 
18:45
Closing Note: André Munkelt
CEO, Morgan Stanley Europe
18:45
 – 
19:00
Final Remarks From the Team
19:00
 – 
21:45
Gala Dinner
Enjoy Dinner at Town Hall
21:45
 – 
22:00
Shuttle Transfer
Shuttle service from the Congress Hall to the Afterparty location
21:45
 – 
02:00
Afterparty
Enjoy an Unforgettable Night at Schloss Arenfels
LOCATION
LOCATION

Stadthalle (Congress Hall) Vallendar

The WHU New Year's Conference 2026 will take place in Vallendar's very own Congress Hall, which is situated right next to the campus of WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (walking distance of 2 minutes).

An image of the congress hall in Vallendar
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