Thorsten Giersch

There is only one thing Thorsten Giersch enjoys more than asking good questions: inspiring others to ask themselves important questions – to develop themselves or their businesses further.

After 25 years as a business journalist, he has realized that, unlike many other journalists, his primary role is not to know more than his readers and “inform” them from above. Rather, he sees himself as a facilitator.

This is why he is so passionate about moderating – not just podcasts, but also business events, ranging from intimate fireside chats with CEOs to large-scale stages. He has accumulated around 1,500 hours of experience, including radio and podcasting, which might have been the best training ground.

Since 2022, he has been the editor-in-chief of Markt und Mittelstand, Germany’s third-largest business magazine. On stage, however, he presents a rare combination of journalist and manager: six years at n-tv, 13 years at Handelsblatt, where he not only served as deputy editor-in-chief of the online editorial team but also took on management roles, including co-managing a publishing subsidiary. He is therefore familiar with change and leadership conferences not just as an observer but as a designer – a skill that greatly benefits his moderation work.

Thorsten Giersch – the presenter and event host for business, politics, innovation & society

At the age of 18, Thorsten had to make a decision: journalism or a professional football career? The former goalkeeper left his Bundesliga club and began studying journalism in Dortmund. He gained his first experiences at the age of 14 with the local newspaper.

With his first earnings, he bought a professional camera to document sports events and traditional festivals – a useful tool for the football club and school newspapers he founded and managed. Later, as university radio editor-in-chief, he gained his first moderation experiences, which he has since expanded to over 1,500 hours on stages and channels – from CEO fireside chats to major events like Digital X.

Alongside his studies, Thorsten worked in radio and completed a traineeship at n-tv, where he spent six years as a stock market reporter and film director. There, he regularly interviewed DAX executives and ECB presidents.

In 2008, he moved to Handelsblatt, initially as head of the corporate department and later as deputy online editor-in-chief. During this time, he discovered his passion for business books – leading to over 1,000 reviews and numerous interviews with international figures.

From 2013 onwards, he took on key interface roles as Business Editor-in-Chief of the Handelsblatt Media Group and drove digital transformation. This included moderations, events, and a co-managing director role of a publishing subsidiary.

With the birth of his daughter in 2020, his focus shifted: Thorsten lives by the values of diversity and shares family responsibilities equally with his wife. After taking parental leave and working in the C-Office of HR and management consultancy Kienbaum, he returned to journalism in 2022 as Editor-in-Chief of Markt und Mittelstand.

Today, Thorsten hosts several podcasts and moderates major events such as the Ludwig Erhard Summit or events for trade fair companies and corporations. As an experienced business journalist and former managing director, he understands the challenges decision-makers face from firsthand experience.

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