The great among the small


Size matters. mindline is large enough to be highly effective and small enough to flexibly respond to the needs of our clients. As a medium-sized and comparatively young research company, we have now firmly established ourselves in the Top10 ranking of German full-service institutes. More than 100 employees working on three national locations handle our clients’ projects. Blue Chip customers as well as mid-sized companies, both national and international, both quantitative and qualitative, performing as ‘preferred supplier’ as well as ad hoc research institute.

24
years
of successful growth in the market.
3
locations
in Germany: Hamburg, Berlin and Nuremberg. Staying close to our clients.
7
companies
are members of the mindline group - we have the right specialist for (almost) every topic.
26.1
Mio € sales
in 2025.
Top 7
ranking
of full-service companies in Germany.
150 +
employees
at mindline take care of the needs of our clients.
15 +
years of experience
is what your senior consultant brings in.
< 5 %
fluctuation
is our year's average. Far less than the average in our business.
800 +
projects
conducted by us in the last year. Adhoc studies as well as trackings, Qual as well as Quant.
40 +
countries
we researched in throughout the last year. In Europe. Worldwide.

Contacts at eye level


All Business is People Business. mindline offers not only a large senior management team with with a variety of in depth experiences and competences. Beyond that we always assign highly suited personal contact to you who will actively support you in all phases of a project – not only during bidding phases. A key element in research projects with mindline providing impulses, driving decision making processes, solving problems and hence helping our clients’ businesses to thrive.

Managing Director of mindline since 2013 | More than 20 years of research experience in global research institutes (Research International, TNS) | Expert in Brand and Communication research | In charge of holistic research programs.

+49 (0)40 808109-717
a.gollnick@mindline.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR Antje Gollnick
Founding of mindline in 2002 | More than 25 years of research experience, a good part in global research institutes (Research International, Ipsos) | Expert for Shopper Research and in charge of Retail & Shopper programs

+49 (0)40 808109-713
s.ruthenberg@mindline.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER Stefan Ruthenberg
Co-founder of mindline explore (formerly rich harvest - 2009) | 15 years of research experience (previously Viacom International Media Networks) | Expert in qualitative methodological designs, ethnographic research, qualitative online research, qual-quant linkage

+49 (0)40 790907-12
s.vonwalcke-schuldt@mindline-explore.de
RESEARCH DIRECTOR Hilda-Simone

von Walcke-Schuldt
Managing Director of mindline | 18+ years of research experience (Ipsos, Dialego) | Expert for brand & strategies | In charge of segmentation studies | Specialist for B2B-research | Head of the CIC Innovation Center

+49 (0)40 808109-751
j.kunath@mindline.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR Jörg Kunath
25+ years of experience in research & consulting with a focus on financial, service and retail companies at icon/Added Value/Kantar | Expert in brand strategy, communication, research & brand management as well as business intelligence, sales and customer loyalty strategies | Speaker & moderator on brand, communication and future topics.

+49 (0)911 95 03 61 - 20
j.breitinger@mindline-finance.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE FINANCE Jürgen Breitinger
Founder of mindline energy | More than 25 years of research experience (GfK, Pixelpark, Research International, forsa) | Expert for employee surveys, customer loyalty and communication research | In charge of research focussing on the energy and utilities industry

+49 (0)911 956498-10
m.briem@mindline-energy.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE ENERGY Michael Briem
At mindline energy since 2016 | Research experience since 2008 (Knoche Marktforschung, ForschungsWerk) | Expert in advertising and communication research, customer satisfaction research | Industry expertise: energy and utilities, finance, insurance & retail.

+49 (0)911 956498-17
c.dengler@mindline-energy.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE ENERGY Claire Dengler
With mindline media since 2016 | 20 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative media research (Viacom International Media Networks, Goldmedia Research) | Expert in media brand, format and impact research | Lectureships at various universities

+49 (0)30 3083386-85
m.wierth@mindline-media.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE MEDIA Dr. Mathias Wierth
Founder of mindline healthcare in 2023 | 15+ years of experience in market research and strategic marketing | Supporting clients and brands in the healthcare sector across the entire market research spectrum for >10 years

+49 (0)40 808109-745
o.kocyigit@mindline-healthcare.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE HEALTHCARE Dr. Orhan Kocyigit
Founder of mindline media in 2007 | More than 25 years of research experience (including Head of Media Research at forsa) | Expert in the field of media and communication research | Lecturing appointments at multiple universities

+49 (0)30 3083386-70
d.storll@mindline-media.de
SENIOR ADVISOR MINDLINE MEDIA Dieter Storll
With mindline since 2016 | Focus in the field of innovation research & shopper research as well as global basic / segmentation studies | Industry expertise: FMCG (cosmetics, food)

+49 (0)40 80 81 09-739
n.geenen@mindline.de
RESEARCH DIRECTOR Natascha Geenen
Managing Director mindline analytics since 2017 | Research experience in the mindline group since 2011 | Software development | In charge of development and elevation of mindline analytics systems | Responsible for analytics projects for a wide range of industries

+49 (0)40 808109-783
s.winkelmann@mindline-analytics.de
MANAGING DIRECTOR MINDLINE ANALYTICS Stephan Winkelmann
With mindline since 2022 | 15+ years of research experience (EARSandEYES, Ipsos, MWResearch) | Expert in brand and innovation research, workshop know-how, national and international research in the field of marketing mix, shopper and segmentation. | Industry expertise: FMCG with focus on personal care & cosmetics, OTC (cosmetics, nutritional supplements, colds/gastro)

+49 (0)40 808109-760
e.hestermann@mindline.de
RESEARCH DIRECTOR Esther Hestermann
+49 (0)40 808109-750
j.buri@mindline-explore.de
With mindline since 2016 | More than 20 years of experience (including with &Equity)| expert in Strategic Brand Consulting and Implicit Visual Techniques | In charge of research projects with combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches DIRECTOR & HEAD OF BRAND PLANNING Jens Buri
With mindline since 2017 | More than 20 years of research experience in global institutes (Partner Research, Millward Brown, Research International, GfK, among others) | Expert for Innovation Research and B2B research (focus on gastronomics/food service)

+49 (0)40 808109-748
c.stahl@mindline.de
DIRECTOR & HEAD OF INNOVATION RESEARCH Christian Stahl
With mindline UX since 2018 | More than 15 years of experience (GfK, SirValUse) as a specialist for User Experience and usability research | Emphasis on finance industry as well as travel & mobility sectors

+49 (0)40 8081907-814
t.kiefer@mindline-ux.de
DIRECTOR & HEAD OF USER EXPERIENCE Torsten Kiefer
Since 2018 at mindline | more than 20 years of experience in institutional market research (e.g. MWResearch, Ipsos, earsandeyes) | Expert for basic and innovation research (focus on Beauty & Care/ Food & Beverages)

+49 (0)40 80 81 09-707
m.swanson@mindline.de
RESEARCH DIRECTOR Martin Swanson
Stefan Ruthenberg WER_m_02_B_team_left_antje_gollnick WER_m_02_A_team_left_antje_gollnick WER_m_03_A_team_left_joerg_kunath WER_m_03_B_team_left_joerg_kunath Dieter Storll WER_m_05_B_team_left_dieter_storll WER_m_06_team_right_sandra_borth_michael Christian Stahl Torsten Kiefer WER_m_09_B_team_left_christian_stahl WER_m_10_A_team_left_torsten_kiefer WER_m_10_B_team_left_torsten_kiefer Bild von Dr. Mathias Wierth WER_m_07_A_team_left_stephan_winkelmann Esther Hestermann Profil WER_m_07_B_team_left_stephan_winkelmann WER_m_08_team_right_jens_buri J. Buri Esther Hestermann Hobby WER_m_08_A_team_left_jens_buri WER_m_08_B_team_left_jens_buri Bild von Dr. Mathias Wierth mit Basketball O. Kocyigit O. Kocyigit am Kicker J. Buri leisure

Antje Gollnick

Managing Director

Managing Director of mindline since 2013 | More than 20 years of research experience in global research institutes (Research International, TNS) | Expert in Brand and Communication research | In charge of holistic research programs.

Stefan Ruthenberg

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER

Founding of mindline in 2002 | More than 20 years of research experience, a good part in global research institutes (Research International, Ipsos) | Expert for Shopper Research and in charge of Retail & Shopper programs

Hilda-Simone von Walcke-Schuldt

Research Director

Co-founder of rich harvest (2009) | 15 years of research experience (previously Viacom International Media Networks) | Expert in qualitative methodological designs, ethnographic research, qualitative online research, qual-quant linkage

Jörg Kunath

Managing Director

Managing Director of mindline | 18+ years of research experience (Ipsos, Dialego) | Expert for brand & strategies | In charge of segmentation studies | Specialist for B2B-research | Head of the CIC Innovation Center

Michael Briem

Managing Director Mindline Energy

Founder of mindline energy | More than 25 years of research experience (GfK, Pixelpark, Research International, forsa) | Expert for employee surveys, customer loyalty and communication research | In charge of research focussing on the energy and utilities industry

Claire Dengler

Managing Director Mindline Energy

At mindline energy since 2016 | Research experience since 2008 (Knoche Marktforschung, ForschungsWerk) | Expert in advertising and communication research, customer satisfaction research | Industry expertise: energy and utilities, finance, insurance & retail.

Dr. Mathias Wierth

Managing Director Mindline Media

With mindline media since 2016 | 20 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative media research (Viacom International Media Networks, Goldmedia Research) | Expert in media brand, format and impact research | Lectureships at various universities

Dr. Orhan Kocyigit

Managing Director Mindline Healthcare

Founder of mindline healthcare in 2023 | 15+ years of experience in market research and strategic marketing | Supporting clients and brands in the healthcare sector across the entire market research spectrum for >10 years

Dieter Storll

Senior Advisor Mindline Media

Founding of mindline media in 2007 | More than 25 years of research experience (including Head of Media Research at forsa) | Expert in the field of media and communication research | Lecturing appointments at multiple universities

Natascha Geenen

Research Director

With mindline since 2016 | Focus in the field of innovation research & shopper research as well as global basic / segmentation studies | Industry expertise: FMCG (cosmetics, food)

Stephan Winkelmann

Managing Director Mindline Analytics

Managing Director mindline analytics since 2017 | Research experience in the mindline group since 2011 | Software development | In charge of development and elevation of mindline analytics systems | Responsible for analytics projects for a wide range of industries

Esther Hestermann

Research Director

With mindline since 2022 | 15+ years of research experience (EARSandEYES, Ipsos, MWResearch) | Expert in brand and innovation research, workshop know-how, national and international research in the field of marketing mix, shopper and segmentation. | Industry expertise: FMCG with focus on personal care & cosmetics, OTC (cosmetics, nutritional supplements, colds/gastro)

Jens Buri

Director & Head of Brand Planning

With mindline since 2016 | More than 20 years of experience (including with &Equity)| expert in Strategic Brand Consulting and Implicit Visual Techniques | In charge of research projects with combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches

Christian Stahl

Director & Head of Innovation Research

With mindline since 2017 | More than 20 years of research experience in global institutes (Partner Research, Millward Brown, Research International, GfK, among others) | Expert for Innovation Research and B2B research (focus on gastronomics/food service)

Torsten Kiefer

Director & Head of User Experience

With mindline UX since 2018 | More than 15 years of experience (GfK, SirValUse) as a specialist for User Experience and usability research | Emphasis on finance industry as well as travel & mobility sectors

Martin Swanson

RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Since 2018 at mindline | more than 20 years of experience in institutional market research (e.g. MWResearch, Ipsos, earsandeyes) | Expert for basic and innovation research (focus on Beauty & Care/ Food & Beverages)

A network of specialists


Competences in all fields while being expert in none? To produce outstanding results for our clients mindline‘s branches and subsidiaries have each specialized on their very own specific fields of expertise. Both in content and methology. Following this creed, mindline explore specializes on qualititative methods, mindline shopper on shopper research and category management, mindline UX on user experience research, mindline media is the expert for media sector clients, mindline finance is our expert for financial service providers, mindline energy‘s specialization focusses on topics connected to energy supply and communal services, mindline healthcare is our expert for the healthcare sector, mindline travel focuses on all aspects of travel and mindline analytics as our in-house software development specialist bridges the gap between technological possibilities and research needs.
Under the umbrella of mindline engage, we bundle our expertise in the field of employer branding.