Benjamin Böhmer-Co-Founder | Interim CHRO | HR Director | People & Culture Strategist

Symrise is a German company and a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings, cosmetic ingredients, and raw materials for the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. It has a significant presence in the global flavors and fragrances market and is part of DAX 40.

• Lead and coordinate a global HR controlling team of five specialists
• Manage the personnel budget and forecasting process for all business units worldwide
• Oversee monthly HR reporting and analytics in Workday, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance for executive decision-making
• Provide strategic insights to the board and senior leadership on workforce cost developments, efficiency measures, and budget adherence
• Ensure compliance with internal governance standards and external regulations
• Develop and refine global HR controlling processes, templates, and reporting structures
• Collaborate closely with finance, HR business partners, and operations to align workforce planning with business strategy.
• Prepare a comprehensive handover and onboarding framework for the permanent successor

Leading coordination service provider in the European energy transmission network.

• Oversaw end-to-end shift planning for 24/7 operational teams, ensuring coverage, compliance, and workforce stability
• Structured and integrated shift data into payroll processes, improving accuracy and alignment with labor regulations
• Supported the implementation of a new shift planning and timekeeping system, including user onboarding and data transfer
• Managed real-time shift adjustments and streamlined communication between planning, operations, and HR
• Introduced process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce manual effort in shift administration

Boutique software company serving top-tier consulting firms with highly specialized presentation tools.

• Streamlined HR processes (onboarding, contracting, HR ops) and documented workflows for scalability
• Implemented HRIS and ATS tools to optimize hiring speed and candidate experience
• Led employee survey (e.g. Great Place to Work) and defined measures to improve engagement (eNPS)
• Advised on Employer of Record setup and improved recruiting operations
• Supported internal and external employer branding initiatives

Modern consultancy supporting scale-ups, SMEs, and corporate clients in aligning people, systems, and processes for sustainable growth.

• Led over a dozen HR transformation projects across tech, logistics, e-commerce, and manufacturing sectors
• Delivered process optimization for HR workflows, recruiting operations, L&D, and performance management
• Implemented Personio, Leapsome, and ATS tools; developed dashboards and HR KPIs for informed decision-making
• Provided executive coaching and built people operations for international teams across Europe and MENA
• Designed employer branding strategies and employee engagement programs to increase satisfaction and retention

High-growth mobility platform operating across Germany, the UK, and Spain.

• Built and led People & Culture teams in 3 countries; scaled organization from 70 to 240+ employees
• Increased employee satisfaction (eNPS) from 14 to 47 and reduced annual churn to <4%
• Established heycar as an Employer of Choice (kununu 4.0, Glassdoor 4.3) through branding, benefits, and culture initiatives
• Reduced cost-per-hire by 66% and time-to-hire to under 90 days via streamlined global recruiting processes
• Owned €800k HR budget and steered people strategy via OKRs in close alignment with C-level
• Introduced company-wide leadership standards, 360° feedback, and transparent performance processes
• Standardized compensation, L&D frameworks, and HR infrastructure across all markets

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