Axel Zabel - Freelance Management Consultant

Q: Where is Axel based?

Axel is based in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany .

Q: What languages does Axel speak?

Axel speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Axel have?

Axel has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Axel has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years . Note that Axel may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Axel's latest experience?

Axel's most recent position is Freelance Management Consultant at Freelance Management Consultant .

Q: What companies has Axel worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Axel has worked for Freelance Management Consultant .

Q: Which industries is Axel most experienced in?

Axel is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance , Professional Services , and Energy . Axel also has some experience in Advertising , Aerospace and Defense , and Insurance .

Q: Which business areas is Axel most experienced in?

Axel is most experienced in business areas like Customer Service , Operations , and Project Management . Axel also has some experience in Product Development , Information Technology , and Strategy .

Q: Which industries has Axel worked in recently?

Axel has recently worked in industries like Energy , Banking and Finance , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Axel worked in recently?

Axel has recently worked in business areas like Customer Service , Information Technology , and Marketing .

Recommended expert

Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany

Check rate

Experience

Apr 2020 - Present

6 years 3 months

Freelance Management Consultant

Advising companies and institutions in the areas of customer service, customer experience, customer centricity, user journeys, CRM strategy, operations, digital banking, payments, and energy
Selection and implementation of CRM systems
Selection and implementation of billing/ERP systems
Selection and implementation of omnichannel systems
Selection and implementation of knowledge management systems
Interim manager (COO, CCSO)
Project management for CRM and IT projects as well as software rollouts
Incident management (leading task forces)

Jan 2019 - Mar 2020

1 year 3 months

Chief Operating Officer

Velvon GmbH (Mobile Banking)

Strategic leadership of multi-site operations units, including customer service, payments, payment processing, card management, compliance, and complaint management
Ensuring the smooth execution of all operational customer service and payment processes
Personnel responsibility for around 200 employees, including functional and disciplinary leadership of five direct reports
Planning and implementation of change processes, including successful restructuring of organization and functionalities
Managing and optimizing customer centricity through KPIs and weekly handling of customer calls in the call center
Digitalization and automation of service processes
Implementing product optimizations in cooperation with the Chief Product Officer
Agile project management and sprint planning with JIRA
Stakeholder management with internal and external service providers
Designing, developing, and implementing CRM/ticketing software
Implementation of an ACD system (Genesys)
Implementation of a digital KYC process (video identification)
Implementing digital onboarding and digital workflow processes (omni-channel)
Creating process documentation via Confluence and introducing a knowledge management system
Developing KPI dashboards, production checkpoints, as well as C-SAT and NPS scoring

Nov 2015 - Dec 2018

3 years 2 months

Eschborn, Germany

Director Customer Service

Concardis GmbH (Payment Acquirer)

Managing customer service (inbound and outbound) across multiple sites with direct reporting to the COO
Leading around 150 employees
Developing a digital onboarding process
Developing and launching a merchant service platform
Key account management for major clients in aviation and retail
Leading various large-scale projects, e.g., designing and implementing a CRM and ticketing system (Salesforce)
Digitizing workflows and process chains (omni-channel)
Implementing comprehensive change initiatives
Strategic development of outbound and operational optimization of inbound telephony
Establishing a location in Eschborn, including defining organizational structure, processes, and selecting team leaders

Oct 2014 - Oct 2015

1 year 1 month

Freelance Management Consultant

Advising companies and institutions in project management, customer service, operations, and CRM strategy
Consulting on the acquisition and integration of a credit institution into a large German bank in Frankfurt
Optimizing customer service and CRM strategy for a major German university hospital in Berlin

Oct 2010 - Sep 2014

4 years

Stuttgart, Germany

Director of Private Customer Service Department

Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG

Leading the payment transactions, account setup, and account management departments, reporting directly to the COO of W&W AG and the bank's executive board
Leading around 250 employees
Project management for the strategic setup of outbound and operational optimization of inbound telephony in the group, with 20 project team members
Designing a CRM solution and integrating social media interfaces into customer service
Developing new banking products with a focus on customer service
Leading the cross-entity project 'Free Waiting Loop' to convert the 0180 service phone numbers

Aug 2007 - Sep 2010

3 years 2 months

Ludwigsburg, Germany

Director Customer Service

Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank

Nov 2005 - Jul 2007

1 year 9 months

Munich, Germany

General Manager

Teleperformance Deutschland GmbH

Apr 2003 - Oct 2005

2 years 7 months

Munich, Germany

Head of Data Operations

telegate AG (11880)

Jan 2001 - Mar 2003

2 years 3 months

Ditzingen, Germany

Head of Product Management | Executive Application Licensing

Schober Information Group

Oct 1997 - Dec 2000

3 years 3 months

Ditzingen, Germany

Assistant to the Holding Management and the Head of Sales Controlling

Schober Information Group

Mar 1993 - Jun 1997

4 years 4 months

Stetten am kalten Markt, Germany

Company Commander of the 294th Mechanized Infantry Battalion

German Armed Forces

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Banking and Finance, Professional Services, Energy, Advertising, Aerospace and Defense, and Insurance.

Banking and Finance

Professional Services

Energy

Advertising

Aerospace and Defense

Insurance

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Customer Service, Operations, Project Management, Product Development, Information Technology, and Strategy.

Customer Service

Operations

Project Management

Product Development

Information Technology

Strategy

Summary

Results-oriented and action-driven graduate in business administration with extensive experience in strategic and operational corporate alignment and development
Proven track record in planning, implementation, and management of large-scale projects focused on customer service, process optimization, digitalization, as well as change and innovation management
Authentic and motivating leader with over 20 years of experience guiding and developing employees through a participative leadership style
Diplomatic communicator with strategic vision and entrepreneurial acumen
Proactive – results- and solution-oriented – reliable – loyal

Skills

Digitalization & It
Project Management & Leadership
Operational & Strategic Management
Process Analysis & Optimization
Customer Service
Personnel Management
Change Management
Sap Cx (V1, V2, Sales, Service & Marketing Cloud)
Salesforce Energy & Utilities Cloud
Ms Dynamics
Freshdesk
Hubspot
Thinkowl
Novomind
Bsi
Zendesk
Smart Crm
Sap Crm Cx
Sap Is-U
Sap Erp
Atlassian Jira
Confluence
Power Bi
Bpmn
Adonis
Aris
Ms Office
Talkdesk
Genesys Cloud
Avaya
Alcatel
Invision
Sas
Usu
Sabio

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

French

Advanced

Education

Oct 1989 - Jun 1993

University of the Bundeswehr

Diploma in Business Administration · Business Administration · Munich, Germany

Oct 1976 - Jun 1985

Humboldt-Gymnasium

General university entrance qualification · Karlsruhe, Germany

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 11

Experience in Banking and Finance 19 y

Avg length 2 y 11 m

Longest experience 6 y 2 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Freelance Management Consultant, Chief Operating Officer, Director Customer Service

Main industries Banking and Finance, Professional Services, Energy

Main business areas Customer Service, Operations, Project Management

Qualifications

Profile

Created

December 2023

Last Update

June 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Where is Axel based?

Axel is based in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

What languages does Axel speak?

Axel speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Axel have?

Axel has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Axel has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years. Note that Axel may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Axel be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Axel would be well-suited for roles such as: Freelance Management Consultant, Chief Operating Officer, Director Customer Service.

What is Axel's latest experience?

Axel's most recent position is Freelance Management Consultant at Freelance Management Consultant.

What companies has Axel worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Axel has worked for Freelance Management Consultant.

Which industries is Axel most experienced in?

Axel is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance, Professional Services, and Energy. Axel also has some experience in Advertising, Aerospace and Defense, and Insurance.

Which business areas is Axel most experienced in?

Axel is most experienced in business areas like Customer Service, Operations, and Project Management. Axel also has some experience in Product Development, Information Technology, and Strategy.

Which industries has Axel worked in recently?

Axel has recently worked in industries like Energy, Banking and Finance, and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Axel worked in recently?

Axel has recently worked in business areas like Customer Service, Information Technology, and Marketing.

What is Axel's education?

Axel attended University of the Bundeswehr for Business Administration.

What is the availability of Axel?

Axel is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Axel?

Axel's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.