AdEx Partners has once again been named a “Hidden Champion of Consulting 2026/27”—an award presented by the Scientific Society for Management and Consulting (WGMB). This marks our fourth consecutive award, following those in 2019, 2021, and 2023. It is a powerful testament to the impact we are making in digital transformation consulting as well as in program and project management.
The Hidden Champions of Consulting Award is the oldest and most prestigious consulting seal in Germany. Led by Prof. Dr. Dietmar Fink, the study is considered particularly meaningful because it identifies consultancies that demonstrate exceptional expertise in specific disciplines—often even outperforming the largest strategy consultancies.
Awarded in the „Program & Project Management“ category“
Our customers rated our expertise in the category Program & Project Management higher than those of McKinsey, BCG and Bain & Company.
The results of WGMB are based entirely on Customer satisfaction and perceived service quality, collected in a structured survey of over 1,200 executives from large and medium-sized enterprises.
This award reaffirms our role as trusted advisors who combine deep transformation expertise with strong implementation capabilities—a combination that is particularly valuable in complex transformation projects.
What characterizes a hidden champion
To earn the title of Hidden Champion, consultancies must fulfill three criteria:
- Low brand awareness in the overall market (unaided awareness < 15 %)
- Direct competition with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain
- Perceived as a serious alternative to these top strategy firms
In 2025, just 20 major players accounted for about one-third of the German consulting market (€50.9 billion). Only 30 consulting firms met the WGMB’s strict criteria and were recognized as “hidden champions.”.
Based on the study, hidden champions are described as:
- action-oriented,
- team-oriented,
- closely aligned with the academic departments,
- with a attractive price-performance ratio.
These characteristics reflect the standards we set for ourselves at AdEx Partners: providing relevant advice, implementing solutions pragmatically, and making a lasting impact.
Why this award matters to our customers
The hidden champion title confirms what our clients particularly appreciate about working with AdEx Partners:
- Deep know-how for complex digital transformations
- Reliable, pragmatic implementation
- Collaboration on an equal footing – transparent, honest, and partnership-based
- Sustainable results with measurable business impact
In an increasingly digital economy, the ability to effectively integrate strategy, technology, and execution is becoming more and more critical. This is exactly where our work comes in.
A heartfelt thank you to our clients who participated in the WGMB survey and confirmed our role as a trusted advisor.
WGMB (2025). Hidden Champions of the Consulting Market, www.consulting-champions.com