Axel Zimmermann - Banking IT Project Manager with 30 Years

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Oberursel, Germany

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Experience

Sep 2024 - Present

2 years 2 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager

NTT Global Data Centers

Project lead
Coordinated the rollout of 148 firewalls (Palo Alto) for 74 buildings at over 14 locations in EMEA
Managed the team (8 employees)
Communicated with Senior Management (local) and Site Managers (EMEA)
Ensured work packages were completed on time and to requirements, and formally accepted
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
Wrike (project management)

Sep 2023 - Sep 2024

1 year 1 month

Wiesbaden, Germany

Interim Manager / Group Lead

DG Nexolution

Disciplinary and functional management of an IT team (7 employees)
Supported the transformation and restructuring of the department
Sourced and reported key metrics to management monthly
Managed standard software (support and change requests/customization)
Vendor management (renegotiated contract with Monotype (Fonts): 50% savings; Chili Publishing: 30% savings)
Release management
Account management for subsidiaries
Recruiting and resource planning
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
Jira / Confluence
Alfresco (DMS)
Magnolia (Web CMS)
Adito CRM (xRM)
4AllPortal

Oct 2022 - Jun 2023

9 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Outsourcing Management Consultant

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC Bank EU AG)

Coordinated existing and new outsourcing contracts in close cooperation with Legal, business departments, and subject matter experts such as IT Security, BCM, and Data Protection at locations in Dublin, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo
Service Criticality Assessments
Third Party Risk Management
Periodic review of existing outsourcing agreements (worldwide)
Advised business departments on EBA requirements
Planned and delivered workshops on business topics (especially GDPR/DSGVO)
Prepared the required documentation to ensure EBA compliance
Tracked progress
Sourced and reported key metrics to management monthly
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) Tool

Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

1 year

Frankfurt, Germany

Outsourcing Management Consultant

BNP Paribas

Coordinated new outsourcing contracts in close cooperation with Legal, business departments, and subject matter experts such as IT Security, BCM, and Data Protection
Advised the business department on EBA requirements and the Single Resolution Board (SRB)
Prepared the required documentation
Tracked progress using KPIs
Maintained the required group tools
Reporting
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
MS SharePoint
360 Arrangement
ServiceNow

Nov 2021 - Mar 2022

5 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Business Project Lead

ING-Diba AG

Sub-project lead in a regulatory environment
Managed system harmonization (local/global)
Coordinated project-related departments (local)
Communicated with Senior Management (local) and Rollout Manager (global)
Ensured work packages were completed on time and to requirements, and formally accepted
Planned and delivered workshops on business topics
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
MS SharePoint
KYCO
Confluence
ServiceNow

May 2020 - Sep 2021

1 year 5 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Chief of Staff (Interim Management) and Project Manager, Digitalization

BNP Paribas

Supporting the COO WM Germany in coordinating daily tasks
Tracking and coordinating governance (representation, committee meetings) for WM Germany with all stakeholders (Finance, Legal, Compliance) and within the WM Europe IT and Operations Hub (Portugal, Switzerland, India)
Supporting the development of work instructions and procedures for WM Germany
Supporting business units in implementing 1st-level controls and monitoring actions taken to reduce risks
Ensuring full and transparent coordination between business and support functions
Projects and improvement initiatives for front-office/business monitoring tools (e.g. Lean Management)
Implementing KPIs and managing commercial and sales performance; analyzing KPIs
Supporting the Operational Risk and Permanent Control Officers on various topics (preparing information for controls, supporting committees, managing the new product process, including checking compliance with requirements)
Ensuring that regulatory projects are carried out in line with business developments
Supporting and managing strategic developments and following up on key projects (digital initiatives)
Introducing a workflow tool (based on MS SharePoint) to fully digitize the client onboarding process
Preparing the requirements specification, defining use cases and test cases, and managing testing
Introducing a continuous improvement process (CIP) for client onboarding
Lean Management project to optimize the client onboarding process
Extensive use of relevant Microsoft tools
MS SharePoint
NORKOM AML
Olympic
360 Arrangements (risk management, outsourcing contracts)
DocuSign (electronic signature)

Jan 2020 - Mar 2020

3 months

Offenbach, Germany

Project Manager and Interim Manager

Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba)

Continuing the project to implement ITIL processes
Designing and implementing Service Request, Event, Capacity and Availability Management processes
Assessing sourcing options
Defining services to be outsourced
Preparing the RFI and RFP
Negotiating with potential sourcing partners
Preparing the requirements specification and defining use cases
Tracking the budget and estimating costs
Preparing and holding project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions

Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

1 year

Offenbach, Germany

Project Manager and Interim Manager

Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba)

Setting up an organizational unit (up to 8 employees)
Taking responsibility for IT operations process standards based on ITIL Standard V3 (Incident, Problem, Change, Configuration Management), including further development and enforcement of controls
Taking responsibility for IT Service Continuity Management standards, including further development and enforcement of controls and coordination with Business Continuity Management
Defining governance structures (especially ITSCM)
Establishing process management (defining KPIs and implementing them in the ITSM tool)
Capacity planning, including recruitment
Budget planning
Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements (KRITIS, BAIT, internal audit, external auditors)
Introducing communication structures
Developing content for the organizational unit's website
Preparing and holding workshops and training sessions for employees and managers on Incident, Problem and Change Management
Leading the project to implement ITIL processes for Incident, Problem, Change and Configuration Management (budget > 1 Mio €, PT > 1.000)
Leading the project to optimize ordering processes for IT services from the cloud, including adapting procurement processes (budget > 500 TEUR, approx. 300 PT)
Defining and implementing the ordering process for cloud services from the IT service provider
Defining role models and job descriptions
Preparing the requirements specification and defining use cases
Planning and holding project team meetings
Project communication
Preparing and holding workshops and training sessions
Maintaining project documentation
Preparing and holding project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions
Recruiting new employees and conducting staff meetings

May 2018 - Dec 2018

8 months

Cologne, Germany

Multi-Project Manager

Flughafen Köln-Bonn

Identifying project objectives and agreeing them with the client
Conducting stakeholder and risk analyses
Preparing the project structure plan (tool: MindManager)
Preparing the schedule (tool: MS Project 2016)
Agreeing on the project mandate
Managing the project
Planning and holding project team meetings
Project communication
Preparing and holding workshops (tool: Project Journey/Canvas)
Maintaining project documentation
Tracking the budget and estimating costs
Preparing and holding project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions

Aug 2017 - Dec 2017

5 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Project Manager

Deutsche WertpapierService Bank AG (dwpbank)

Conducting self-assessments
Gap analysis
Deriving business requirements
Involving central departments (Provider Management, Test and Release Management, Access Management, external service providers)
Planning and holding workshops
Assessing the implementation level of baseline Cyber Security measures

Dec 2016 - Apr 2017

5 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Lead (Business)

DekaBank

Feasibility study on using Robotic Process Automation to reduce process turnaround times and operational risks when processing securities (physical certificates)
Process description
Definition of business requirements, with a particular focus on regulatory requirements (KYC, money laundering, four-eyes principle)
Preparation of the requirements specification and definition of use cases

Mar 2015 - Sep 2015

7 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Lead (Business)

DekaBank

Improved support for institutional sales of custody services
Process adjustments
Introduction of communication structures
Planning and running workshops and regular meetings
Gathering sales requirements
Updating sales and proposal documents
Updating information in the sales database
Result: Reduced the turnaround time for preparing proposals by up to 50 percent

Jun 2014 - Apr 2015

11 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Lead (Product Development)

DekaBank

Designed, developed, implemented, and rolled out a new securities service in the securities processing unit, making use of new regulatory requirements
Clarified legal requirements with the regulatory authority in Luxembourg and internal company requirements
Defined business requirements
Assessed the suitability of the IT infrastructure
Stakeholder management
Pricing calculations
Process adjustments
Website content design

Apr 2013 - Sep 2013

6 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Team Member / PMO

DekaBank

Supported project management and the Executive Board with internal and external communications (employees, LBB Invest, staff council, supervisory board, DSGV, and other committees of the savings bank organization)
Managed external consultants (law firm, auditor, investment bank, management consultants)
Prepared and ran workshops with LBB and LBB Invest
Handled administrative tasks in the project office

Mar 2011 - Dec 2012

1 year 10 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Lead (Business)

DekaBank

Operational responsibility for the subproject (budget approx. 2 Mio EUR), delivering on time, within budget, and to the required quality
Communication and reporting to line management and committees (program, subject-matter committee, steering committee)
Led 4 project team members
Gathered business requirements, business processes, and functional requirements for the technical solution
Prepared the requirements specification and defined use cases
Selected, engaged, and managed external consultants
Set up a new organizational unit (team of approx. 10 employees)
Planned, designed, and carried out all activities to bring decentralized units together
Defined role models and job descriptions
Established governance structures
Evaluated strategic alternatives (ASP, BPO, Joint Venture)

Feb 2010 - Jan 2011

1 year

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager

DekaBank

Operational responsibility for the overall project (budget approx. 4 Mio EUR), delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality
Communication and reporting to line management and committees (program, specialist committee, steering committee)
Management of three subproject managers
Selection, commissioning and management of external consultants
Introduction of standardized test management
Design of release management with quality gates
Integration of the rollout process into the change management process
Optimization of the incident management process for major disruptions and escalations
Optimization of the problem management process and introduction of a configuration management system
Design of a Service Control Center unit
Definition of tasks and KPIs for provider management

Jun 2008 - Sep 2009

1 year 4 months

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Project Manager

DekaBank

Operational responsibility for the project (budget approx. 300 TEUR), delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality
Communication and reporting to line management and committees (management, steering committee)
Selection, commissioning and management of external consultants
Introduction of a group-wide standard process for incident and problem management
Improvement of the change management process to address audit findings
Harmonization of support structures
Introduction of KPIs and setup of service reporting
Employee training
Analysis of current processes, tools and provider agreements
Gap analysis with risk and audit findings
Process documentation for incident and problem management
Definition of business impact and major incident management
Establishment of process control and reporting
Rollout

Industry experience

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

Experienced in Banking and Finance, Information Technology, and Transportation.

Banking and Finance

Information Technology

Transportation

Business area experience

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

Experienced in Project Management, Information Technology, Operations, Legal, Strategy, and Human Resources.

Project Management

Information Technology

Operations

Legal

Strategy

Human Resources

Summary

Over 30 years of professional experience in the banking industry across various business areas and topics, as a manager and large-project lead

Successful management of business and IT projects
Over 8 years of management experience in business and IT
Outsourcing of processes and business segments (IT and business areas)
Product development, business development
Business analysis
Provider management, sourcing, provider selection, SLA management
Regulation (DSGVO, BAIT, KRITIS, MiFID)
Support for project audits and WpHG examinations by external auditors or internal audit
Know Your Customer (KYC), money laundering, Anti Money Laundering (AML)
Risk management (e.g. Operational Risk)
Business Impact Analysis (BIA), Business Continuity Plan (GFP)
Robotic Process Automation (business, feasibility studies)
Sales support
Broad knowledge of securities processes (Front-/Middle-/Back-Office)
Banking: Wealth Management, Operations, Clearing & Settlement, Custody, Fund Management
ITIL (service management processes; especially Incident, Problem and Change)
Six Sigma, Lean Management

Entrepreneurial thinking and action, with a strong focus on customers and service

Professional and friendly manner, with very good teamwork and communication skills

Communication/reporting at decision-maker and board level

Goal-oriented, with a strong focus on results, resilient and flexible

Skills

Interim Manager
Parental Leave Cover
It Project Management
Process Optimization
Digitalization
Process Management
Change Management
Itil
Provider Management/Sourcing
Regulation (Dsgvo, Bait, Kritis, Mifid Ii/Mifir, Emir, Kyc, Etc.)
Risk Management
Product Development
Business Analysis
Scrum/Agile
Lean Management
Interim Manager
Project Manager
(Sub-)Project Lead (Business Or It)
Project Support (Coaching The Internal Project Lead)
Head Of The Project Office
Chief Of Staff

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 17

Experience in Banking and Finance 10.5 y

Avg length 10 m

Longest experience 2 y 1 m

Global experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Project Manager, Interim Manager / Group Lead, Outsourcing Management Consultant

Main industries Banking and Finance, Information Technology, Transportation

Main business areas Project Management, Information Technology, Operations

Member since

February 2024

Last update

October 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Axel is based in Oberursel, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

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

Axel has at least 14 years of experience. During this time, Axel has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 10 months. Note that Axel may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Axel would be well-suited for roles such as: Project Manager, Interim Manager / Group Lead, Outsourcing Management Consultant.

Axel's most recent position is Project Manager at NTT Global Data Centers.

In recent years, Axel has worked for NTT Global Data Centers, DG Nexolution, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC Bank EU AG), BNP Paribas, and ING-Diba AG.

Axel is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance, Information Technology, and Transportation.

Axel is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Information Technology, and Operations. Axel also has some experience in Legal, Strategy, and Procurement.

Axel has recently worked in industries like Information Technology and Banking and Finance.

Axel has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology, Project Management, and Legal.

Axel will be available full-time from November 2026.

Daily rate distribution

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<€320 €320-480 €480-640 €800-960 €960+

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Average rates for similar positions

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Daily rate avg. 810 €

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Median rate 900 €

The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.

Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.