Ten years ago, ETL GLOBAL was officially launched as the international network of the German ETL Group, marking the beginning of a new chapter of cross-border cooperation and expansion. From the start, several German firms with a clear outward focus helped shape this phase, joining the first official ETL GLOBAL conference held in Barcelona in 2015, a milestone that set the tone for the decade ahead.
Among those present were ETL Heuvelmann & van Eyckels, Pelka, and ETL Audit & Advisory (ETL Prüfung & Beratung), three firms that have remained strong members of the network ever since. In this interview, they look back on their journey and reflect on how being part of ETL GLOBAL has influenced their evolution over the past ten years.
ETL Heuvelmann & van Eyckels
ETL Heuvelmann & van Eyckels is based in Kleve, right on the German-Dutch border, where advising clients active in both countries has always been part of its daily work. The team, fluent in German, Dutch, and English, supports companies in accounting, payroll, and taxation, with particular strength in permanent establishments, transfer pricing, VAT, and international individual taxation. Over time, this cross-border practice has become the firm’s hallmark, defined by a clear understanding of how different systems and cultures intersect in business.
Their international mindset made joining ETL GLOBAL a natural step, as the firm’s goal was to strengthen cooperation with trusted partners abroad, especially in neighbouring markets where its clients were starting to expand. What began as collaboration soon turned into lasting professional relationships built on trust. “Advising our clients in an international context is exciting and challenging at the same time,” says Partner Dr Volker Klinkhammer. “That’s why it’s essential to rely on a strong network of local colleagues. This advice is the icing on the cake for us.”
Through ETL GLOBAL, the team has built close relationships with colleagues in many countries, often strengthened through in-person meetings at the network’s regular events. “It all started with just a few colleagues at the first ETL GLOBAL Conference in Barcelona,” recalls Partner Thomas Heuvelmann, “and within a few years it became an event for professionals from all over the world.” For the team in Kleve, these gatherings reflect what ETL GLOBAL truly stands for: professionals who work closely together, know each other personally, and share a clear understanding of what clients expect from international advice.
Dr Volker Klinkhammer during the ETL GLOBAL Conference held in Mallorca in 2019.
Pelka
Pelka, with offices in Cologne, joined ETL GLOBAL right at the beginning. As Dr Sebastian Geringhoff explains, “We were very fortunate that our firm became part of a great network without having to go through a decision-making process beforehand, weighing all the pros and cons. Thanks to the involvement of Mr Wernze and Mr Malzkorn in our firm, we were given the opportunity to participate in the ETL GLOBAL network meetings. We considered this a great honour and opportunity.”
With around 120 employees, Pelka provides a full range of tax, legal, and audit services for companies and their shareholders. The firm has been advising medium-sized and large businesses for almost 50 years and saw ETL GLOBAL as a great extension of its one-stop-shop approach. “Joining ETL GLOBAL from the very beginning makes us proud as the network is growing year by year,” says Dr Geringhoff. “For a firm like Pelka, it would not be possible to serve as a widely recognised consulting company focused on international clients without a network of sophisticated colleagues from Europe and beyond.”
For Pelka, the ETL GLOBAL meetings have always been more than formal gatherings, offering a place where relationships are built. “Over the years, we have attended almost every ETL GLOBAL meeting,” says Dr Geringhoff. Their active participation has also created a few traditions of their own: many of Pelka’s international tax and legal consultants who join the meetings are part of their football team, BSG Pelka, which competes each year in Düsseldorf and Cologne, a light-hearted extension of their team spirit!
Pelka’s team at the ETL GLOBAL Working Group Meeting 2025 in Castelldefels (Barcelona).
ETL Audit & Advisory
ETL Audit & Advisory (ETL AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft Steuerberatungsgesellschaft) is one of Germany’s key firms within the ETL GLOBAL network. Founded in 2011, it has grown from the ground up, expanding from zero revenue to more than €100 million and employing over 700 professionals today.
ETL Audit & Advisory focuses on auditing and advising medium-sized companies across various sectors, many of which operate internationally and require consistent, cross-border support. Becoming part of ETL GLOBAL was, therefore, an important step in the firm’s development: “Our clients expect us to be able to provide them with reliable advice in their foreign markets as well,” explains CEO and co-founder Christoph Tönsgerlemann. “Thanks to our colleagues at ETL GLOBAL, we are able to offer precisely that in more and more countries around the world.”
Through ETL GLOBAL, ETL Audit & Advisory found not only a network but a platform for collaboration and growth. The exchange between firms, combined with the diversity of expertise across countries, has strengthened the team’s own approach to innovation. “We combine the AI-driven ideas of our younger employees with the IT, process, and specialist knowledge of our more experienced ones,” Christoph says. “That mix creates real solutions for clients, keeps our employees motivated, and makes ETL Audit & Advisory more valuable.”
For Tönsgerlemann and his team, the ETL GLOBAL meetings are a defining aspect of that collaboration. “The ETL GLOBAL Meeting in Lisbon after the coronavirus pandemic was special,” he recalls. “After a long time apart, an impressive number of familiar and new colleagues came together again. Within just a few hours, we got to know each other personally through a speed-dating format, and the whole meeting was filled with a very positive, forward-looking energy during challenging times.”
Over time, ETL Audit & Advisory’s growth has mirrored that of ETL GLOBAL itself. “My personal development as CEO and co-founder of ETL Audit & Advisory is closely linked to the development of ETL GLOBAL,” Christoph reflects. “The connection between our market presence in Germany and ETL GLOBAL’s international visibility was, and remains, one of the key factors behind our success. As both continue to evolve, ETL Audit & Advisory and ETL GLOBAL will keep growing together.”
Christoph Tönsgerlemann representing ETL Audit & Advisory at the ETL GLOBAL Conference held in Lisbon in 2022.
Ten years later
Ten years after ETL GLOBAL was officially launched, the German firms that helped build its foundation continue to play an important role in its story. What began with a small group of professionals sharing knowledge and referrals has grown into a solid international network where cooperation is part of everyday work.
Over time, many more ETL firms across Germany have joined this path, deepening their involvement and strengthening the network’s international presence. Today, that same spirit of collaboration and shared ambition continues to drive ETL GLOBAL forward, uniting professionals to grow together worldwide.
