Raymond James appoints Board advisors Bernd Gottschalk and Xinyin Zhang

Raymond James has appointed automotive industry veteran Bernd Gottschalk, who was formerly an Executive at Mercedes, and Xinyin Zhang, an expert in M&A advisory between Chinese and German firms, as advisors to its board.

The President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil since 1991, Bernd Gottschalk became a member of the Global Executive team for Commercial Vehicles Business in 1992. In the proceeding years he held a host of board member positions, as well as being a founder and managing partner of AutoValue, and being elected President of the German Automotive Association in 1997.

Gottschalk began his career at Daimler-Benz in 1972, having studied Economics at universities in Hamburg, Saarbrücken, and Stanford, where he completed his doctorate in 1971. He took on various positions across the automotive manufacturing company, before being promoted to its global operations in 1982, taking a multitude of management positions in public relations, economic policy, and transport policy on the way to becoming the Mannheim plant commercial manager in 1988.

Now Gottschalk has been appointed to Raymond James’ Advisory Board as an expert on the automotive industry, in a move the firm will hope gives a major boost to their expertise in the segment. Raymond James are putting in a concerted effort to bolster their automotive advisory capacity, recently also hiring Todd Cassidy as part of their increasing focus on the market. The industry is undergoing considerable change as automation and electrification take hold.

“Globalisation has an unparalleled influence on the automotive sector,” said Melville Mummert, Head of European Investment Banking at Raymond James. “Our M&A advice has to draw on more international industry knowledge. With Gottschalk we expand the circle of our advisors with an automotive expert who has been working in the global automotive business for more than 35 years, who is extremely well networked and who will help our automotive clients address strategic challenges.”

Remarking on his appointment with the consulting firm, Gottschalk said, “The automotive industry is undergoing radical changes. Many suppliers need a strong investor by their side to achieve future growth and meet the challenges of globalisation.”

Xinyin Zhang meanwhile is a freelance advisor, focused on cross-border M&A advisory between China and Germany. She was previously an Associate at the Investment Banking Group, a Consultant at Hübner Schlösser & Cie and earlier in her career, she worked as a Project Coordinator for the CFA Institute and InterContinental Hotels Group.

She holds a Bachelor of Philosophy in Philosophy from Peking University, a Master of Science in Finace and Management from Cranfield University - Cranfield School of Management, and a Master of Science in Philosophy of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The appointment sees Zhang join the Raymond James’ board as an Advisor, strengthening the firm’s cross-border M&A advisory business to and from China.

Remarking on the firm’s rationale for the appointment, Melville Mummert, Head of European Investment Banking at Raymond James in Munich, said, “We see a lot of potential for attracting Chinese investors for our sell-side mandates as well as advising Chinese buyers on European acquisitions. With Zhang joining our Advisory Board, we will be able to quickly establish contact with Chinese decision-makers and bridge the mental and cultural differences in such cross-border transactions.”

Zhan added, “Raymond James has in-depth knowledge in the technology, industrial and consumer sectors, which offer very attractive transaction opportunities for Chinese investors. I am joining the Raymond James Advisory Board because this is an international and entrepreneurial business setup.”