Matthias Schranner is one of the world’s leading negotiation experts and a former law enforcement officer specialising in high-stakes conflict resolution. As Founder and CEO of the Negotiation Council Geneva and the Schranner Negotiation Institute, Matthias is hired as a speaker for his ability to translate life-or-death negotiation strategies into powerful frameworks for leaders operating under extreme pressure.
Matthias began his career in law enforcement, spending 17 years working in some of the most demanding negotiation environments. Starting as a Drug Enforcement Administration Police Officer in 1986, he later served on a specialist Federal Criminal Task Force for the German Ministry of the Interior. In 1998, he became a Police Negotiation Task Force officer, where he handled complex hostage situations, criminal negotiations and crisis scenarios. His training by both the German police and the FBI shaped a rigorous, evidence-based approach to negotiation in situations where failure was not an option.
In 2005, Matthias transitioned from frontline operations to advisory and education, founding the Schranner Negotiation Institute in Switzerland, alongside Schranner Negotiation LLC. He developed the Schranner Concept®, a structured negotiation methodology designed for extreme situations involving high risk, power imbalance and emotional volatility. Since then, he has advised governments, global political leaders, the United Nations and Fortune 500 companies across more than 40 countries, supporting negotiations where outcomes carry strategic, financial or geopolitical consequences.
Alongside his advisory work, Matthias is a respected academic and author. He lectures at the University of St Gallen and the University of Warwick and has taught executive audiences at IMD. He is the author of several influential books, including 'The Negotiator', 'Negotiations on the Edge', 'Costly Mistakes' and 'The Schranner Concept®'. In 2024, he founded the Negotiation Council Geneva, a global platform bringing together senior leaders to address the most complex negotiation challenges. Matthias is hired as a speaker for his direct, disciplined and highly practical insights into negotiation, leadership and decision-making when the stakes are at their highest.
