A Global Perspective from the Start

Raised in Northern California in a German-speaking household with German-Austrian heritage, Jennifer Maag-Pelz was shaped early on by two cultures. Summers spent in Europe deepened her appreciation for international perspectives and eventually inspired her to study Political Economy at the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated cum laude in December 1991.

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Following early roles at California’s World Trade Commission in Sacramento and later in Frankfurt, Jennifer decided to pursue a professional opportunity in Germany. Despite her academic focus, her first offer came in the field of auditing—an area she had not previously considered. The decision was, in part, influenced by the German partners' observation: “If your father holds a PhD in accounting, auditing must run in your blood.” She accepted the challenge.

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With limited experience in the German financial system, she embraced a hands-on learning approach—something that became a guiding principle throughout her career. In the pre-Internet era, she began by acquiring a German-English business dictionary and spent countless hours translating key financial terminology and familiarizing herself with local accounting standards. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for her unique strength today: fluency in financial communication in both English and German.

After a year, she transferred to Zurich, Switzerland, continuing her work with international clients while deepening her knowledge of local regulations through the Swiss “Kammerschule.” Instead of pursuing the Swiss Wirtschaftsprüfer, she opted to take the U.S. CPA exam, which she successfully completed.

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It was during this time that KPMG approached her with an opportunity to move into Corporate Finance—a field more aligned with her international interests and strategic mindset. She transitioned into advisory and soon discovered a particular passion for working with privately held and family-owned businesses operating internationally. While large multinational transactions matched her global background, it was the entrepreneurial spirit of family owned firms that resonated most.

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Seeing a gap in the market for high-quality, relationship-driven M&A services for mid-sized companies, Jennifer founded Capital Concepts International (CCI) in 1999. At a time when M&A boutiques were still rare in Switzerland, she set out to prove that small, highly dedicated teams could deliver outstanding results.

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In 2020, slightly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer took on an unexpected leadership role as interim CEO of a German medtech company—one whose transaction CCI had just advised on. The company had been left without executive leadership, and Jennifer stepped in at the request of a UK-listed client. What was initially meant as a short-term assignment turned into 18 months of crisis management, as the company’s revenues dropped by 60% almost overnight due to the pandemic. In parallel, she was invited to join two corporate boards—a turning point that sparked her deeper interest in Non-Executive Directorships.

 

Currently, Jennifer serves on the following Boards: