11 Fifty-Nine.
Communication. When it matters most.
ITB Berlin 2026 Whitepaper:
Crisis Communications in Tourism
Why crises in tourism are different | Why communication fails | Four essential shifts from response to resilience | What leaders need to do now
What I do
Most of my work starts when leaders realise that the real risk isn’t the crisis itself, but how their organisation performs under pressure. I help them prepare for that moment — and lead through it when it arrives.
Crisis communication is not a document — it is leadership under pressure. Plans and templates are important. But in the pivotal moment, experience, judgement and clarity make the difference.
With more than 25 years in global corporate communications roles and over two decades focused on crisis leadership, I advise senior executives on protecting their most critical asset: trust.
The result: Faster and confident decisions. Clear direction. Consistent messaging. Fewer unforced errors – and the ability to emerge from a crisis with credibility intact.
What sets me apart: Clients work directly with me. No delegation to junior staff. No generic playbooks. Just hands-on communication advisory grounded in real-life experience — when the stakes are high, and outcomes matter.
My Services
I advise and support corporations and organisations
before, during, and after a critical situation.
My range of services: Crisis readiness, planning and training, advisory in ad hoc crises, as well as transformation and change projects.
BEFORE
”Prepare“
01
Crisis Check Up and
Assessment
02
Crisis communications frameworks and planning
03
Readiness: Develop the Right Mindset
DURING
”Respond“
04
Strategic Consulting and Hands-on Support
05
Media Training and Messaging Development
06
Listening & Analysis
AFTER
”Repair“
07
Repair Strategy
Rebuild Trust
08
After-Action Review and Learnings from Crises
09
Post Emergency Communication
Furthermore, I deliver keynote speeches and conduct management briefings – for example, on the topic of “Leadership in a crisis”. In the event of ongoing critical phases, I am available as an interim manager.
About me
My career has evolved in industries where operational risk and public scrutiny are part of everyday reality—aviation, travel, tourism and energy. Over more than two decades, I have actively managed and advised on a wide range of crises—from operational incidents to reputational challenges.
Career
Since 2025, I have been supporting organisations as a crisis communications advisor and Managing Director of my own advisory firm, 11 Fifty-Nine.
Prior to founding the firm, I built my career over three decades in senior communications roles within publicly listed, global corporations. My professional path led from energy major E.ON SE to Europe’s largest airline group, Lufthansa Group, and most recently to TUI Group, the world’s leading leisure travel company.
During this time, I held senior leadership positions across Germany, Europe and the United States, including Director Corporate Communications, Global Head of Internal Communications & Engagement and Head of Crisis Communications—reporting directly to Executive Board members, with responsibility for complex, international communications operations in highly visible environments.
A detailed overview of my professional background is available on LinkedIn.
Career
Experience
Experience
Over more than 25 years, I have been directly involved in managing high-impact crisis situations at global scale. Not from the sidelines, but as part of the leadership response.
These have included the Germanwings 4U9525 tragedy, the European airspace closure, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the aftermath of 9/11, global pandemics, aircraft fleet groundings, labour disputes and sickouts, cyber incidents, as well as large-scale restructuring and transformation programmes.
Keynotes and Lectures
I regularly contribute to the international discourse on crisis leadership and high-stakes communication as a keynote speaker and panellist at leading industry and policy forums.
Invitations have included ITB Berlin, IATA Crisis Summits, the UK Foreign Office, the International Crisis Travel Summit, Global PR Summits, and major communications conferences hosted by DPRG, Quadriga and BdKom in Germany.
In addition, I serve as a lecturer in Risk and Security Management in Bremen, sharing practical insights on crisis preparedness and leadership under pressure.
Keynotes and Lectures
Expertise
Expert Committees
I actively engage with international academic and industry experts, ensuring that my advisory work reflects the latest developments in crisis leadership and strategic communication.
I serve as Core Partner for Strategic Leadership at the CCTT Crisis Communications Think Tank at the University of Georgia (UGA), Co-Head of the Task Force on Crisis and Issues Management at DPRG (German Public Relations Association), and member of the Global Resilience Network — contributing to shaping contemporary thinking on crisis preparedness, executive communication and organisational resilience.
11 Fifty Nine – The Crisis Blog
Contact
Are you interested in learning more about how 11 Fifty-Nine can support your organisation, whether it’s before, during or after a crisis? Send me an e-mail…
… or contact me by phone at +49 176 978 19363 (in urgent cases: 24/7).
“Crisis is a productive state. You just have to take away the flavour of disaster.”
Max Frisch
Swiss novelist and architect, 1911-1991