The 2026 Rising Stars of the Profession: Kentaro Ellert

Kentaro Ellert is an Associate Director in the Technology Consulting practice at Protiviti Germany and an expert in the field of Governance, Risk and Compliance for Artificial Intelligence. During his career, Kentaro has contributed to the creation and publication of leading AI audit standards, led numerous AI audits at both large- and medium-sized companies, and introduced comprehensive governance models for effectively managing AI within organizations.  His focus is on helping companies use AI in a safe, responsible, ethical and trustworthy way. This includes, for example, designing a sustainable business strategy for AI, introducing internal guidelines for handling AI, defining mechanisms for classifying the risks of AI systems and developing AI operating and monitoring concepts. 

A widely recognized thought leader, Kentaro is a frequent speaker at leading technology and governance conferences, including high-profile industry events and large technology summits, and has published influential articles and whitepapers in leading outlets such as Handelsblatt and Behördenspiegel. His ability to bridge technical depth with strategic clarity makes him a sought-after voice across diverse audiences – from regulators to CIOs. Kentaro holds M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Management and Technology from the Technical University of Munich.