A new chapter for Düsseldorf: Sebastian Ullrich steps into the Office Leader role

Meet Düsseldorf’s New Office Leader

We are delighted to welcome Sebastian Ullrich in his new role as Office Lead in Dusseldorf as of July 2026. At the same time, we warmly thank Holger Sachse for seven outstanding years leading the office. Taking over such a well-established office is no small feat, but Sebastian brings the right mindset needed to carry it forward. He strongly believes in preserving Düsseldorf’s one-of-a-kind local character and in putting people first. With that in mind, he's looking ahead to writing the next chapter of the office’s story together with the team.

Sebastian joined BCG’s Düsseldorf office in 2010. In his client work, he focuses on the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) industry, advising companies on B2B growth, large-scale transformation, and infrastructure optimization. Beyond his industry expertise, HR and people topics have been a longstanding passion throughout his career. He leads BCG’s work at the intersection of TMT and People & Organization globally and brings that experience to sectors ranging from logistics to pharma. Furthermore, he is one of the firm’s leading voices on strategic workforce and skills planning and has worked with clients across the globe to rethink how work works for office-based and deskless employees alike.

Sebastian’s path to BCG was anything but conventional. As a first-gen, he started out as a bricklayer, later served in the Navy, and eventually found his way to BCG. That journey continues to shape what drives him today, giving him a deep commitment to people topics and a firm belief that our people, and the way we collaborate, are BCG’s greatest assets.

As a passionate triathlete at heart, these days he’s happy if he manages two runs a week. It is this mix of unconventional experiences, focus on people, and outside-the-box thinking that shapes his vision for the Düsseldorf office.

We sat down with Sebastian to hear more about his path, his perspective as a first-generation professional, and what he has in mind for the office.

Düsseldorf has been your professional home since 2010. Why did you decide to take on the Office Leader role?

Düsseldorf has shaped me enormously. Many of the experiences and relationships I associate most with BCG began here, so taking on the Office Leader role felt like a natural opportunity to give something back to a place and a community that have given me a great deal over the years.

At the same time, I am stepping into a very strong office. Holger and many others have helped build a distinctive culture here, and I do not see my role as coming in with a blueprint for a “new Düsseldorf.” Instead, I want to build on what already makes this office special while helping it continue to evolve.

For me, one of the most important questions is whether people genuinely enjoy being part of this office and feel they can help shape its future. I want Düsseldorf to be a place where colleagues can build strong careers, but also where there is room beyond casework to pursue their own ideas, launch initiatives, and connect with others across the office.

And finally, Düsseldorf should continue to have a strong voice within BCG. Our relationships across the region are an important part of that, but so is preserving the character and sense of community that make the office feel unmistakably DUS.

How has your unconventional career path shaped the way you lead?

My own path has made me cautious about judging potential too quickly. A person’s starting point does not tell you where they can go.

I have worked in environments that could hardly be more different. What people noticed and rewarded in one setting was not always what counted in another. That taught me not to mistake a polished CV or visible confidence for capability.

As a leader, I believe people need trust and clear expectations. They should be able to be themselves at work. At the same time, good leadership also means challenging people when you see more in them than they currently see in themselves.

For Düsseldorf, I hope we continue to combine high standards with a very human way of working. We do not need to take ourselves too seriously to do excellent work. Different backgrounds should be seen as an advantage, and everyone should feel able to influence the office, regardless of their role or tenure. What I would like people to feel is simple:

“This is my office. I belong here, and I can help shape it.”

What role would you like alumni to play in the community?

I do not think of alumni simply as former BCGers. They remain part of the BCG community, even when their careers have taken them elsewhere. The connections do not disappear when someone leaves the firm.

The Worldwide Alumni Day gives us a natural reason to come together. I would like us to build on that during the rest of the year as well. Some gatherings may have a professional theme; others may simply be an opportunity to see familiar faces again.

Our alumni have taken their BCG experience into a remarkable range of roles. Their perspective can be especially valuable for younger colleagues, who can learn a lot from hearing what came after BCG and how those decisions were made.

My hope is that BCG and Düsseldorf remains a professional home people feel connected to long after their last day in the office.