About the Author
SEC Newgate Global Team
Berlin, 6 October 2025: SEC Newgate, the global insight, communications and advocacy group, has appointed Dr. Sebastian Schwark as the new CEO of SEC Newgate Germany as it expands its footprint in this important market. He will lead the firm’s reorganisation of its German businesses and affiliates.
Sebastian joins following Tanja Schüle’s decision to step down as MD of SEC Newgate Germany, who had been with the business since 2017 in a variety of management roles. Sebastian will be focused on leading the growth, market visibility and positioning of SEC Newgate in Germany.
He brings more than 20 years of experience across politics, communications and business strategy. Most recently, he was Partner and Senior Vice President at Fleishman Hillard Germany GmbH, where he built and managed the corporate reputation practice focusing on corporate responsibility, as well as issue, crisis and stakeholder management.
His career started in digital start-ups in Hamburg and Berlin, before moving into political advisory in the United States, where he worked for a U.S. Senator in Washington D.C.. Since then, Sebastian has worked for Hill & Knowlton in Berlin and New York, where he led the Global Climate Change practice, and then moved to manage the New York office of Portland. After returning to Germany in 2018, he joined Edelman in Berlin as Managing Director Corporate and Public Affairs, and later APCO worldwide before his time at Fleishman Hillard.
Sebastian has an academic background as a lecturer and researcher in politics, having had stints at Columbia University and Georg-August University in Göttingen. He has written a thesis on transatlantic relations and holds a Ph.D. in political science. He has also held fellowships with The German Marshall Fund of the United States in Washington, DC, and the Global Solutions Initiative in Berlin.
Fiorenzo Tagliabue, SEC Newgate CEO, said: “Sebastian’s incredible mix of academic and business roles, and his international experience, will bring energy, ideas and insights to our business in Germany. He will help us to grow this crucial market in line with our strategic plan. Germany is an important global market, given the size of its economy and its relevance for corporates and therefore needs a very experienced manager who can offer both the understanding of its internal dynamics and provide a global vision. Sebastian is this person.”
Sebastian joins following Tanja Schüle’s decision to step down as MD of SEC Newgate Germany, having been with the business since 2017 in a variety of roles.
Dr. Sebastian Schwark said: “I’m excited to join SEC Newgate, with its forward-looking business model and impressive track record. I look forward to offering my experience and knowledge to deliver continued growth in Germany and to provide a new form of corporate affairs advisory in this major market. With the classic agency model struggling, new technologies disrupting communications, and corporations facing new business-critical issues, I see significant opportunity in Germany. SEC Newgate’s international footprint, relentless focus on adding value for clients, and the quality of advice offers an exciting opportunity.”
Emma Kane, SEC Newgate’s Deputy Group CEO and Head of Western EMEA, said: “I am extremely excited about this new chapter under Sebastian’s leadership as our new country head. His extensive experience coupled with our group’s global reach and unrivalled footprint across EMEA offer clients unparalleled expertise in building enterprise value and supporting them in navigating reputational risk in a changing world. We thank Tanja Schüle for her commitment and contribution to SEC Newgate over the last eight years.”