Axel Zimmermann - Project Manager

Q: Where is Axel based?

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

Q: What languages does Axel speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Axel have?

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.

Q: What is Axel's latest experience?

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

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

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 .

Q: Which industries is Axel most experienced in?

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

Q: Which business areas is Axel most experienced in?

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

Q: Which industries has Axel worked in recently?

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

Q: Which business areas has Axel worked in recently?

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

Recommended expert

Oberursel, Germany

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Experience

Sep 2024 - Present

2 years

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager

NTT Global Data Centers

Project management
Coordination of the rollout of 148 firewalls (Palo Alto) for 74 buildings at more than 14 locations in EMEA
Management of the team (8 employees)
Communication with senior management (local) and site managers (EMEA)
Ensuring work packages were completed on time and according to requirements, including formal acceptance
Extensive use of the relevant Microsoft tools
Wrike (project management)

Sep 2023 - Sep 2024

1 year 1 month

Wiesbaden, Germany

Interim Manager / Group Leader

DG Nexolution

Disciplinary and technical leadership of a team in IT (7 employees)
Support of the transformation and restructuring of the department
Procurement and monthly reporting of key figures to management
Support for standard software (support and change requests/customizing)
Vendor management (renegotiation of contract with Monotype (fonts): 50% savings; Chili Publishing: 30% savings)
Release management
Account management for subsidiaries
Recruiting and resource planning
Extensive use of the 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)

Coordination of existing and new outsourcing contracts in close cooperation with Legal, business units, and subject matter experts such as IT Security, BCM, data protection, etc. at locations in Dublin, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo
Service criticality assessments
Third party risk management
Periodic review of existing outsourcing agreements (worldwide)
Advice to business units regarding EBA requirements
Planning and running workshops on business topics (especially GDPR)
Preparing the required documentation to ensure EBA compliance
Tracking progress
Procurement and monthly reporting of key figures to management
Extensive use of the relevant Microsoft tools
Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) tool

Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

1 year

Frankfurt, Germany

Outsourcing Management Consultant

BNP Paribas

Coordination of new outsourcing contracts in close cooperation with Legal, business units, and subject matter experts such as IT Security, BCM, data protection, etc.
Advice to the business unit regarding EBA requirements and the Single Resolution Board (SRB)
Preparing the required documentation
Tracking progress based on KPIs
Maintenance of the provided group tools
Reporting
Extensive use of the relevant Microsoft tools
MS SharePoint
360 Arrangement
ServiceNow

Nov 2021 - Mar 2022

5 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Functional Project Manager

ING-Diba AG

Sub-project management in a regulatory environment
Management of system harmonization (local/global)
Coordination of project-relevant areas (local)
Communication with senior management (local) and rollout manager (global)
Ensuring work packages were completed on time and according to requirements, including formal acceptance
Planning and running workshops on business topics
Extensive use of the 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

Support the COO WM Germany in coordinating his daily tasks
Track and coordinate governance (representation, committee meetings) for WM Germany with all stakeholders (Finance, Legal, Compliance) and in the WM Europe IT and Operations Hub (Portugal, Switzerland, India)
Support the development of work instructions and procedures for WM Germany
Support the specialist teams in implementing 1st-level controls and monitoring initiated measures to reduce risk
Ensure complete and transparent coordination between business and support functions
Projects and improvement initiatives for front office/business monitoring tools (e.g. Lean Management)
Implementation of KPIs and control of commercial & sales performance, analysis of KPIs
Support the Operational Risk and Permanent Control Officer on different topics (preparing information for controls, committee support, steering the new product process including monitoring compliance with requirements)
Ensure that regulatory projects are carried out in line with business developments
Support and steer strategic developments and follow up on key projects (digital initiatives)
Introduction of a workflow tool (based on MS SharePoint) to fully digitalize the customer onboarding process
Creation of the requirements specification, definition of use cases and test cases, test management
Introduction of a continuous improvement process (CIP) for the customer onboarding process
Lean Management project to optimize the customer 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)

Continuation of the project to implement ITIL processes
Design and implementation of the Service Request, Event, Capacity and Availability Management processes
Evaluation of sourcing options
Definition of the services to be outsourced
RFI and RFP preparation
Negotiations with potential sourcing partners
Creation of the requirements specification, definition of use cases
Budget tracking and cost estimation
Preparation and running of project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions

Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

1 year

Offenbach, Germany

Project Manager and Interim Manager

Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba)

Building up an organizational unit (up to 8 employees)
Taking responsibility for specifications for IT operations processes according to ITIL V3 standard (Incident, Problem, Change, Configuration Management), including further development and enforcement of controls
Taking responsibility for specifications for IT Service Continuity Management, including further development and enforcement of controls and coordination with Business Continuity Management
Definition of governance structures (especially ITSCM)
Establishment of process steering (KPI definition and implementation in the ITSM tool)
Capacity planning including recruitment
Budget planning
Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements (KRITIS, BAIT, internal audit, external auditors)
Introduction of communication structures
Content development for the organizational unit's website
Preparation and delivery of workshops and training sessions for employees and managers in Incident, Problem and Change Management
Leading the project to implement the ITIL processes Incident, Problem, Change and Configuration Management (budget > EUR 1 million, PT > 1,000)
Leading the project to optimize ordering processes for cloud-based IT services, including adapting procurement processes (budget > EUR 500k, approx. 300 PT)
Definition and implementation of the ordering process for cloud services from the IT service provider
Definition of role concepts and task descriptions
Creation of the requirements specification and definition of use cases
Planning and running project team meetings
Project communication
Preparation and delivery of workshops and training sessions
Maintaining project documentation
Preparation and running of project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions
Recruitment of new employees and conducting staff interviews

May 2018 - Dec 2018

8 months

Cologne, Germany

Multi-Project Manager

Flughafen Köln-Bonn

Determining and aligning project goals with the client
Conducting stakeholder and risk analysis
Creating the project structure plan (tool: MindManager)
Creating the schedule (tool: MS Project 2016)
Aligning the project mandate
Project control
Planning and running project team meetings
Project communication
Preparing and running workshops (tool: Project Journey/Canvas)
Maintaining project documentation
Budget tracking and cost estimation
Preparation and running of project steering committee meetings for milestone decisions

Aug 2017 - Dec 2017

5 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Project Manager

Deutsche WertpapierService Bank AG (dwpbank)

Carrying out self-assessments
Gap analysis
Derivation of functional requirements
Involvement of central departments (provider management, test and release management, authorization management, external service providers)
Planning and running workshops
Determining the implementation status of basic cyber security measures

Dec 2016 - Apr 2017

5 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager (business)

DekaBank

Feasibility study on possible uses of Robotic Process Automation to reduce process lead times and operational risks in the processing of securities (physical certificates)
Process description
Definition of business requirements with special focus on regulatory requirements (KYC, anti-money laundering, four-eyes principle)
Preparation of the requirements specification and definition of use cases

Mar 2015 - Sep 2015

7 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager (business)

DekaBank

Improving support for institutional sales for custodian services
Process adaptation
Introduction of communication structures
Planning and running workshops and regular meetings
Gathering sales requirements
Revising sales documents and offer documents
Updating information in the sales database
Result: reduction of the process time for creating offers by up to 50 percent

Jun 2014 - Apr 2015

11 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager (Product Development)

DekaBank

Concept, development, implementation and rollout of a new securities service in the securities cash desk by using new regulatory requirements
Clarification of legal requirements with the regulator in Luxembourg and internal company requirements
Definition of business requirements
Review of the IT infrastructure for suitability
Stakeholder management
Price calculation
Process adaptation
Website design (content)

Apr 2013 - Sep 2013

6 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Team Member / PMO

DekaBank

Support for project management and executive board in internal and external communication (employees, LBB Invest, works council, supervisory board, DSGV and other committees of the savings bank organization)
Coordination of external consultants (lawyers, auditors, investment bank, management consultants)
Preparation and running of workshops with LBB and LBB Invest
Carrying out administrative tasks in the project office

Mar 2011 - Dec 2012

1 year 10 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Project Manager (business)

DekaBank

Operational responsibility for the subproject (budget approx. EUR 2 million) in time, budget and quality
Communication and reporting to line management and committees (program, specialist committee, steering committee)
Leading 4 project employees
Gathering business requirements, business processes and functional requirements for the technical solution
Preparing the requirements specification and defining use cases
Selecting, commissioning and managing external consultants
Building a new organizational unit (group with approx. 10 employees)
Planning, designing and carrying out all activities for merging decentralized units
Defining role concepts and job descriptions
Setting governance structures
Reviewing 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. EUR 4 million) in time, budget, and quality
Communication and reporting to management and committees (program, technical committee, steering committee)
Leading three sub-project managers
Selection, commissioning, and management of external consultants
Introduction of a standard test management process
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 incidents 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. EUR 300k) in time, budget, and quality
Communication and reporting to 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 resolve audit findings
Harmonization of support structures
Introduction of KPIs and setup of service reporting
Training of employees
Analysis of the current process, tools, and provider agreements
Gap analysis with risk and audit findings
Process description 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

More than 30 years of work experience in the banking sector in different business areas and topics as a manager and large project lead

successful management of business & IT projects
More than 8 years of leadership experience in business and IT
Outsourcing of processes and business segments (IT and business)
Product development, business development
Business analysis
Vendor management, sourcing, vendor selection, SLA management
Regulations (GDPR, BAIT, KRITIS, MiFID)
Support of project audits and WpHG audits by external auditors or internal audit
Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering, Anti Money Laundering (AML)
Risk management (e.g. Operational Risk)
Business Impact Analysis (BIA), business continuity plan (BCP)
Robotic Process Automation (business, feasibility studies)
Sales support
Broad knowledge of securities processes (front-/middle-/back-office)
Banks: Wealth Management, Operations, Clearing & Settlement, custodian, fund management
ITIL (service management processes; especially incident, problem and change)
Six Sigma, Lean Management

Entrepreneurial thinking and action as well as a strong customer and service focus

Professional and friendly appearance as well as very good teamwork and communication skills

Communication/reporting at decision-maker/executive board level

Determined, strongly results-oriented, resilient and flexible

Skills

Interim Manager
Parental Leave Replacement
It Project Management
Process Optimization
Digitalization
Process Management
Change Management
Itil
Vendor Management/Sourcing
Regulations (Gdpr, Bait, Kritis, Mifid Ii/Mifir, Emir, Kyc, Etc.)
Risk Management
Product Development
Business Analysis
Scrum/Agile
Lean Management
Interim Manager
Project Manager
(Sub-)Project Manager (Business Or It)
Project Support (Coaching The Internal Project Manager)
Leading 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 1 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

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

Main industries Banking and Finance, Information Technology, Transportation

Main business areas Project Management, Information Technology, Operations

Profile

Created

February 2024

Last Update

July 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 Leader, 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 Operations.

Axel is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

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.

To hire Axel, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.