Lazard has recruited Lukas Poensgen, 43, from Bank of America to serve as Co-Head of Advisory for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland starting in the first quarter of 2027, according to industry sources cited by Handelsblatt. He will partner with Marcus Schenck, filling the vacancy left by Christian Kames's departure to rival Evercore.
Key Takeaways
- Lazard appoints BofA's Lukas Poensgen, 43, as Co-Head of DACH Advisory effective Q1 2027.
- Poensgen spent 13 years at BofA, most recently as Co-Head of European M&A (promoted Sept 2025).
- He replaces Christian Kames, who left for Evercore in August 2025.
- Key credential: Lead advisor on Kone/TKE acquisition, one of Europe's largest PE exits.
- Neither Lazard nor BofA has officially confirmed the hire.
Executive Intelligence Brief
Appointment Details and Reporting Structure
Poensgen joins Lazard after a 13-year tenure at Bank of America, where he was elevated to Co-Head of M&A for Europe as recently as September 2025. His appointment signals Lazard's intent to consolidate its advisory franchise in the DACH region under Schenck, a veteran dealmaker. The start date in Q1 2027 suggests a standard extended gardening leave period typical for senior moves between rival bulge-bracket and elite boutique firms.
Neither Lazard nor Bank of America commented officially on the personnel move. The transition follows the August 2025 announcement that Christian Kames, the previous Co-Head for the region, would join Evercore, creating the opening Poensgen now fills.
Track Record: Financial Sponsors and Major Exits
Poensgen's profile is distinguished by deep connectivity to financial sponsors. He played a lead advisory role in one of Europe's largest private equity exits: the acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Elevator (TKE) by Kone. That transaction, backed by a consortium including Cinven and Carlyle, underscored his ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder carve-outs involving industrial conglomerates and private equity consortia.
This sponsor-centric expertise aligns with Lazard's traditional strength in advising financial investors and family offices, a segment where deal flow has remained resilient despite broader M&A cyclicality.
Competitive Dynamics in the DACH Advisory Market
The German-speaking advisory landscape has seen heightened senior mobility. Evercore's recruitment of Kames and Lazard's counter-move for Poensgen reflect a battle for market share in a region where mid-cap and family-owned enterprise mandates coexist with large-cap cross-border transactions. BofA loses a recently promoted European M&A co-head, potentially creating a gap in its sponsor coverage at a time when private equity dry powder remains elevated.
Lazard operates as an independent advisory house, distinct from the universal banking model of BofA. Poensgen's move from a balance-sheet bank to a pure-play advisor may shift his mandate toward strategic advisory and restructuring assignments, areas where Lazard holds leading market positions.
Forward Outlook and Key Milestones
The primary milestone is Poensgen's formal onboarding in Q1 2027. Market participants will monitor whether he transitions client relationships — particularly financial sponsor accounts — during the interim period, subject to non-compete enforcement. Additionally, league table rankings for DACH M&A advisory in FY2025 and FY2026 will serve as a proxy for the competitive impact of this and other senior hires across Evercore, Lazard, and the bulge-bracket firms.
