Dr. Utz Helmuth

Dr. Utz Helmuth serves as a Senior Executive Advisor at Strategy& Germany's financial services practice. Based in Hamburg, he advises insurers, banks, and asset managers across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, specializing in high-impact value creation initiatives, strategic transformation, and program recovery.

He advises C-level executives on designing and executing corporate and business unit strategies, mergers and acquisitions, business transformation and reorganization, cost optimization, and business model reinvention. He specializes in transforming underperforming initiatives, including large-scale digital and Generative AI programs, into measurable value creators.

Before joining Strategy&, Utz founded and led a software startup, providing him with hands-on entrepreneurial and technology experience. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Economics from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and a Diploma in Business Economics from the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. He also served as a researcher at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Expertise

• Value creation and business model reinvention: Business model reviews, cost transformation programs, M&A transaction support, post-merger integration, operating model redesign, and sourcing and location strategy optimization
• CFO function transformation: Repositioning finance organizations from traditional reporting functions to strategic value generators that deliver actionable business insights
• Asset management strategy: Strategic repositioning of asset owners and managers through Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) reviews, business model innovation, middle and back-office transformation, cost optimization, and third-party business development

Recent client work

• Market entry and growth strategy: Developed and conducted scenario-based evaluations of market entry and expansion strategies for multiple country markets, insurance product lines, and specialized segments; performed comprehensive business case analyses and scenario modeling to support strategic decision-making
• Business transformation: Led turnarounds of mission-critical digital transformation and Generative AI initiatives, including comprehensive value analysis, initiative prioritization, execution management, and stakeholder engagement to secure organizational buy-in
• Strategic make-or-buy decisions: Evaluated sourcing strategies for back-office and administrative functions across insurance, asset management, and banking sectors, providing data-driven recommendations to optimize operational efficiency and cost structures