About 1st
A foundation for strategy, technology and delivery.
Since 1998 we have supported organizations for which IT is not a side function, but the core of the business model. Our ambition: better outcomes through the combination of consulting depth and honest delivery capability.
Mission
Reliably delivering complex IT initiatives to completion.
We work where ambition and reality diverge: in transformation programs where target pictures are cleanly designed, but rarely cleanly delivered. We close that gap — with clear governance, genuine architectural depth and teams that think in terms of production.
We don't see ourselves as a supplier of capacity, but as a partner to our clients. That's why knowledge stays within the organization — not with us.
Values
What we stand for.
Substance over show
We deliver impact, not slides. Concept and implementation belong together.
Clear language
We avoid buzzwords. What we promise, we keep.
Ownership
We take responsibility — even where it gets uncomfortable.
Passing it on
We enable our clients so that knowledge stays with them.
Milestones
27 years of consulting substance.
- 1998
Founded in Düsseldorf as an IT consultancy with a delivery mindset.
- 2006
Built the platform and integration architecture practice.
- 2013
First large-scale cloud programs in industry and the public sector.
- 2018
Data & AI Enablement established as a dedicated practice.
- 2022
200th employee. Five locations across Germany, Romania, the UK and Spain.
- 2025
Delivery-enablement model established for regulated industries.
Leadership
The people behind 1st.
Frank Shams
Managing Director
Oliver Hartmann
Director Consulting Services
Keivan Salemi
Director Customer Business
Sven Kruchem
Regional Director Professional Services
Perspectives from our leadership
How IT consulting turns into lasting innovation.
Three key takeaways
1st Solution combines broad technology know-how with pragmatic delivery.
Good leadership creates ownership, courage and shared learning.
AI supports decisions and enables humans and machines to create together.
"We don't just want to do consulting. We want to leave behind a product that lives on and keeps raising productivity."
Locations
Close to our clients.
- Düsseldorf (HQ)
- Wiesbaden
- Darmstadt
- Barcelona — ES
- Reading — UK
- Bucharest — RO
Planning a transformation that actually has to deliver?
Let's talk. No sales rhetoric — just concrete next steps.
Contact Us