KKR, Axel Springer and AI (#079)

What makes a strong pricing leader today?

This episode is a little different – recorded live at the Journalistenclub in the Axel Springer Tower in Berlin, it captures a rare conversation between two key figures behind one of the most ambitious strategic partnerships in European private equity.

Dr. Sebastian Voigt and Jan Hasse from hy speak with Philipp Freise, Co-Head of European Private Equity at KKR, and Dr. Julian Deutz, CEO of Axel Springer Classifieds, about long-term value creation, investment conviction and the practical use of AI across portfolio companies. The discussion covers everything from growth strategies and carve-outs to productivity gains, governance models and the human side of AI transformation.

“The first thing that you can do as an owner is to make sure it’s on the agenda, full stop,” says Philipp Freise. “In any investments we make – when we research them, when we execute them and when we own and lead them – we make sure that this is top of the agenda.”

Set against the backdrop of the Axel Springer–KKR partnership and the recent carve-out of StepStone and Aviv, this episode offers a unique perspective on how leadership, capital and technological change intersect in private markets.

About the guests:

Philipp Freise is Co-Head of European Private Equity at KKR. He has led numerous investments in Europe across media, technology and services, including the strategic partnership with Axel Springer SE.Dr. Julian Deutz is CEO of Axel Springer Classifieds and a long-time member of the Executive Board of Axel Springer SE. He previously served as Group CFO for over a decade and helped shape the company’s digital transformation.