Chris W.-IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT | PROGRAM MANAGEMENT | STRATEGY CONSULTING
Check rate
Experience
Senior Strategy Advisor, Transformation Lead – Program realignment with vision, governance, and priority management
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe | S-Communication Services
In-house consulting provider and transformation driver within the group, in a multi-stakeholder environment and working with C-level leaders.
Realigned and stabilized a cross-functional transformation and scaling program across the group. Refined the vision, priorities, and portfolio of initiatives, and established robust governance, planning, and management structures. Structured roles, responsibilities, and strategic initiatives, incorporating AI and IT automation opportunities.
Designed program realignment and project portfolio management
Developed a strategy model and vision for IT projects
Structured the portfolio, roadmap, and priorities
Established governance and regular meetings
Developed an operating model for flagship projects
Assessed AI and automation opportunities
Clarified roles and responsibilities
Implemented change initiatives
Designed, facilitated, and evaluated workshops
Brought 17 initiatives into a management framework
Improved transparency and decision-making
Strengthened accountability in program management
Sharpened the operating model
Integrated three top-5 institutions
Engaged over 80% of stakeholders
Governance
Portfolio management (PPM)
Change Management
Artificial intelligence
Workflow automation
AI use case assessment
Confluence
Jira
Stakeholder management
Business Owner, Project Lead – Platform integration of OneHub, One.Shop, and online services in a SAFe/NPO context.
Volkswagen
As part of the company-wide reorganization of Marketecture 2.0 and the New Product Organization, OneHub was integrated into a SAFe-based management and delivery model. The goal was to align platform strategy, prioritization, and collaboration between business, IT, and delivery across teams, markets, and related digital services. Decision-making, KPI, and coordination processes were refined, and OneHub was strengthened as a data-driven foundation for management and further development. This improved accountability, transparency, and scalability across the platform.
Led the business-side platform direction for OneHub in a SAFe/NPO context
Coordinated business, IT, markets, and delivery units as the central SPOC
Coordinated prioritization and delivery alignment in scaled agile structures
Prepared decision requirements for management, business units, and delivery teams
Assessed architecture, integration, and dependency questions in the platform context
Helped shape KPI, OKR, and reporting processes for product management
Supported data-driven personalization and development initiatives
Supported the scaling of OneHub across markets and services
Positioned OneHub as a relevant pilot and scaling context within SAFe in 9 months
Established decision-making and prioritization processes for the platform
Strengthened data-driven management through KPI, OKR, and reporting processes
Improved business-IT alignment across 7 teams and delivery units
Created the foundations for data-driven personalization and further development
Embedded the platform strategy in the brand environment and aligned it with related initiatives
SAFe
Business ownership
Platform strategy
Stakeholder management
Business-IT alignment
KPI focus
Platform integration
Interface management
APIs
Microservices
Data-driven product management
Agile Coach, Scrum Master – Operating model for agile ways of working and introduction of Scrum & Kanban
Volkswagen
As part of the global website relaunch, the program setup was to be shifted from waterfall to agile ways of working. Scrum with Kanban elements was introduced. The program structure, including all internal and external teams, was adapted accordingly.
Developed an agile IT project structure
Introduced agile project management
Professionalized and scaled product management
Adapted planning methods to support flexible ways of working
Introduced roles with greater autonomy
Piloted Lean UX to enable fast, scalable testing methods (national and international)
Established a Scrumban and agile-hybrid project management framework
Increased flexibility as priorities changed
Reduced bottlenecks and improved resource utilization
Improved collaboration with clients
Scrum
Kanban
Confluence
Jira
Agile / Hybrid project management
Project Lead – Volkswagen Experience & Frontend Strategy
Volkswagen
Designed a centralized, future-ready global Volkswagen website. A continuous optimization cycle in the form of an Infinity Loop was implemented for all development stages. The focus shifted to "Mobile First" and "Personalization". Analytics and tracking became increasingly important in the decision-making process. The UX score, measured through User Labs and other initiatives, is a key part of KPI management reporting.
Developed strategic topics and concepts
Defined an IT testing framework and development formats
Prioritized user needs in the design of the information architecture
Served as the central point of contact for all research methods and processes
Managed stakeholder relationships with dealers and markets
Created a UX/CX knowledge base and actively integrated it into the program
Organized research and UX knowledge
Created guidelines as core requirements for contributors
UX score, operating model, User Days, International Labs
Qualitative and quantitative testing formats
UX score
User Labs
Adobe Analytics
Confluence
Jira
Infinity Loop
Digital Product Strategy Lead – Relaunch of the VW OneHub global website for 112 countries
Volkswagen
As part of a strategic repositioning, the global brand websites for passenger cars and commercial vehicles were relaunched. A new design and information architecture were designed and implemented. A new vehicle configurator was developed to cover the full model range. A new personal area for users and a separate e-mobility section were added. Backend systems were optimized for better performance and efficiency.
Promoted lean development and synergies across teams
Represented stakeholder management in the corporate environment (Powerhouse)
Managed project risks and issues
Prioritized user needs in the design of the information architecture
Provided methodological support in developing the new information architecture
Supported the global rollout
Simplified user journeys
Communicated project updates to markets
Rolled out the new websites in 112 countries
Rolled out dealer websites worldwide
Developed a new concept for models and product lines
Made key contributions to communications and brand strategy
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM 6)
Adobe Analytics
Confluence
Jira
VW applications
VW backend systems
Program Lead – Operating Model for Systematic User Testing
Volkswagen
Built and governed a central research and insights setup for IT initiatives. This setup supports the scaling of data-driven product management and strategic decision-making across markets, products, and brands. As part of the development process, testing formats were implemented and standards established.
Optimized program/team setup
Analyzed and structured customer journeys
Developed user-centered design and testing formats
Established company-wide standards
Transferred methods and knowledge (including eCommerce) to partner departments across the group
Defined actions and requirements based on insights
Managed tenders for service providers and software
Established data-driven product management through KPI and tracking foundations
Developed foundations for content personalization
Budget management
Built the foundation for data-driven development and continuous improvement
Increased transparency across 100+ journeys and top-10 tasks
Built KPI and tracking logic for 8 teams and 20+ product areas
Improved prioritization based on usage and performance data
Adobe & Google Analytics
UserZoom
Adobe Experience Manager AEM6
CX Research
Funnel analysis
KPI/tracking frameworks
Agile / Hybrid project management
Digital Product Strategy Lead, Project Lead – Transformation to a User-Centered Website
Volkswagen
The project aimed to put users at the center. To achieve this, a comprehensive user journey was developed. Based on it, a strategy was designed to integrate user scenarios into the entire development process and review them on an ongoing basis.
Developed an overarching digital product strategy
Created a clear vision for the customer experience
Defined strategic areas of focus, priorities, and roadmap
Designed a governance model
Managed stakeholders (business units, IT, and management)
Structured and simplified complex requirements
Designed, facilitated, and followed up on workshops
Presented to C-level audiences, at conferences, and to decision-making bodies
Budget management
Integrated the strategy and its measurement into all processes
Created the foundation for data-driven product management across 30 teams and 50 products
Embedded process management from the initial product idea through user research to prioritized delivery
Established a customer journey model as the basis for user-centered product development and prioritization
Developed an online ecosystem strategy integrating web, apps, and social media
Achieved sustainable improvements in the efficiency of decision-making processes, KPIs, and roles
Agile / Hybrid project management
UX/CX research
Survey and lab setups
Interviews
Workshops
Presentations
Benchmarking/competitive analysis
Business Analyst, Project Lead – Consolidation of the Global Marketing IT Architecture & Platform Integration
Volkswagen
The IT landscape was adapted to the designed user journey models. The goal was to consolidate backend systems to optimize data delivery. IT system architecture was better integrated, leading to a more consistent and significantly improved website user experience.
Evaluated stakeholder needs and derived strategic goals
Integrated requirements from user journey models
Developed principles for IT system harmonization and process optimization
Developed a sustainable customer-centered future strategy
Prepared for upcoming software systems related to e-mobility, online services, and after-sales CRM
Created the foundation for transparent data and system architecture
Established interface documentation for implementation and operations
Unified the user experience across systems and touchpoints
Strengthened competitive advantage through greater integration and better user guidance
AWS Cloud
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM6)
Salesforce
Customer journey mapping
Touchpoint analysis
Ecosystem map
Funnel model
Project Lead
UDG United Digital Group
Cross-location transformation mandate to improve IT-business alignment, collaboration, and operational management at a digital agency operating across Europe. Focused on introducing and harmonizing core collaboration and campaign tools, and on structurally connecting business, IT, and delivery across six locations.
Managed cross-location IT-business alignment
Structured communication and work formats across teams
Introduced and rolled out collaboration and campaign tools
Established agile principles and project management routines
Supported sprint planning, prioritization, and retrospectives
Strengthened knowledge sharing and transparency across locations
Improved organizational and operational alignment between business and IT
Established more consistent collaboration and communication structures across six locations
Improved transparency, knowledge sharing, and synergies for over 100 employees
Embedded agile ways of working and reliable team routines across the organization
Successfully rolled out tool-supported collaboration within four months
IT-business alignment
Agile transformation
Change management
Rollout management
Stakeholder management
Confluence
Jira
Slack
SAP Service Cloud
Swat.io
Hootsuite
Agile Coach, Scrum Master
Artificial Rome
Agile delivery and project management consulting for an international Mercedes-Benz AEM6 campaign project, focused on collaboration, delivery structure, and rollout preparation for 30 markets. Supported planning, requirements, and cross-team coordination in an international campaign environment.
Led cross-team coordination in the AEM6 project environment
Structured processes and responsibilities in the delivery setup
Supported project planning and requirements management
Supported delivery preparation for the international rollout
Introduced agile collaboration formats for remote teams
Provided operational advice to project management, development, and service providers
Stabilized project collaboration in the international delivery setup
Embedded agile collaboration formats in the remote setup
Established a robust project plan and delivery structure for 30 markets
Improved coordination between project management, development, and service providers
Agile project management
Requirements management
Remote collaboration
Rollout management
Service provider management
ITIL-oriented project planning
AEM 6
Confluence
Jira
Interim Director Digital Consulting
Strichpunkt Design
Interim leadership of a transformation and consulting engagement to further develop digital strategies, delivery structures and ways of working for key clients. Managed a 3-phase model from analysis through strategy to implementation and led the Online Unit.
Set up a 3-phase model for analysis, strategy, requirements and implementation
Coordinated over 70 employees across two locations
Led the Online Unit and provided strategic advice to key clients
Managed a global corporate website project on AEM 6.0
Introduced incremental product development and agile ways of working
Helped develop new business and delivery in an agency environment
Made digital initiatives easier to manage across two locations
Structurally improved collaboration and delivery for over 70 employees
Standardized and professionalized delivery structures in the Online Unit
Embedded agile and incremental ways of working in project delivery
Structurally advanced a global website relaunch initiative on AEM 6.0
Digital strategy development
Change management
Agile ways of working
Incremental product development
Stakeholder management
AEM 6.0
Confluence
Jira
MS Project
Team Lead Digital Consulting, Agile Project Management
C3 Creative Code and Content
Led consulting and delivery setups to further develop agile collaboration, project standards and digital product experiences across several corporate projects. Managed two teams and oversaw multiple digital initiatives.
Led two teams with around 20 employees
Managed four major corporate projects from concept to implementation
Coached teams and the organization on agile roles and frameworks
Standardized project standards and ways of working
Applied Scrum, Kanban and Lean principles in delivery
Provided strategic consulting and led pitches for digital client initiatives
Supported test-driven development and continuous integration
Standardized agile collaboration and project standards across several initiatives
Further developed delivery structures and methodological maturity in project teams
Professionalized digital project delivery through coaching and standardization
Turned strategic consulting and pitch work into robust implementation structures
Scrum
Kanban
Lean principles
Team coaching
Project standardization
Strategic consulting
Confluence
Jira
AEM 6
Adobe Analytics
AWStats
HTML5
CSS3
Test-driven development
Continuous integration
Senior Project Manager, Product Owner
IBM iX | Aperto
Provided strategic client consulting, managed complex web and platform initiatives, and established agile project methods in delivery and client settings. Responsible for product ownership, requirements and release management.
Provided clients with strategic advice on digital platforms, requirements and implementation models
Managed web, portal and relaunch projects for existing and prospective clients
Managed the backlog, requirements and releases
Established agile project methods and product ownership in project settings
Further developed team, delivery and collaboration structures
Coached teams on agile methods, roles and rituals
Led pitches, proposals and planning for new business
Managed quality, prioritization, risks and day-to-day operations
Structurally professionalized delivery and collaboration across several initiatives
Embedded agile ways of working and strong team structures in project settings
Turned strategic requirements into robust implementation plans
Contributed to a profitability increase of over 280 % within three years
Scrum
Agile coaching
Product ownership
Requirements management
Release management
Confluence
Jira
Magnolia CMS
SharePoint
HTML
CSS
Reference projects:
Migros Genossenschaftsbund (Zurich, Switzerland): Relaunch and ongoing development of key Migros web platforms. Product ownership, agile coaching and backlog management.
European Parliament (Brussels, Belgium): Concept and development of an online aggregator for social media channels. Project management and close client consulting.
International automotive and mechanical engineering company (Munich, Germany): Strategic consulting and pitch leadership for a global corporate website initiative. Rollout strategy and project planning.
Project Manager, Key Account Management
DMC Group
Freelance consulting and project management engagement focused on client management, relaunch initiatives and the conceptual development of digital platform solutions. Advised international key accounts and explored new web and mobile areas.
Advised international key accounts on digital initiatives and online strategies
Managed and monitored relaunch and web projects
Designed portal, web TV and community solutions
Developed online marketing strategies
Explored new web and mobile areas for clients and agency business
Advised on digital brand and communications approaches
Supported new client acquisition, proposals and consulting discussions
Created robust structures for relaunch and digital initiatives across different client settings
Closely linked client consulting, project management and business development in agency work
Brought new digital areas into consulting, concept development and client discussions
Developed platform, content and marketing approaches for different use cases
Project management
Project control
Client consulting
Online marketing strategy
Portal and community concept development
Brand consulting
Reference projects:
Das Erste / ARD (Munich / Mainz, Germany): Further development of ARD Player 2.x for audio and video offerings. Usability, SEO and design in a broadcasting environment.
Springer Science+Business Media (Heidelberg, Germany): Relaunch of springer.com with a digital repositioning. Brand architecture and online marketing.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Austria (Vienna, Austria): Relaunch of movienews.at with an online media library based on streaming technology.
IT Project Associate
Siemens Automation & Drives
Early career role focused on gaining IT project experience in the Automation & Drives division.
IT Project Associate
NürnbergMesse Group
First experience in IT and international projects in the trade fair industry.
IT Project Associate
BinTec Solutions
First experience in IT projects.
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Professional Services, Automotive, Information Technology, Media and Entertainment, Manufacturing, and Banking and Finance.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Project Management, Information Technology, Product Development, Marketing, Strategy, and Research and Development.
Summary
Since the beginning of my career, I have been passionate about the internet, digital media, IT tools, and software. Over nearly 30 years, I have built up a wealth of experience.
My ability to grasp things quickly and my analytical thinking help me understand complex requirements quickly and implement them efficiently and effectively. I am proactive and work well in a team. I am comfortable in international organizations and can make a strong impression at all management levels.
Working with traditional project management methods has given me a solid foundation, but today I prefer agile ways of working to achieve better results more efficiently. In workshops, I use structured approaches to achieve the best possible results.
From the outset, using budgets efficiently at every project stage has been a top priority for me. I prefer a practical, rational, and pragmatic way of working. Despite the complexity and changing nature of today's projects, I never lose sight of the goals—and I also remember to enjoy working together.
Skills
Focus
- It Project Leadership In Complex Stakeholder And Delivery Environments
- Establishing Robust Governance, Reporting, And Decision-Making Structures
- Managing Dependencies, Risks, Roadmaps, And Escalations
- Reliably Bridging Management Requirements And Technical Implementation
- Strategic Alignment And Organization For Effective Project Portfolio Management
- Business-Focused Prioritization Amid Complex Delivery Challenges And Competing Goals
- Structuring Complex Topics To Support Sound Decisions
- Clear And Convincing Communication Across Levels And Functions
- Strong Follow-Through In Coordination, Tracking, And Collaboration
Methods & Systems (Selected)
- Pmp | Safe | Scrum | Prince2 Agile | Itil 4 | Okr | Ppm
- Asana | Azure Devops | Jira | Monday.Com | Ibm Targetprocess
- Adobe Analytics | Google Analytics | Tableau | Userzoom
- Chatgpt | Claude | Gemini | Perplexity | N8n | Zapier
- Aem 6 | Adobe Experience Cloud | Aws | Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- Ms Teams | Slack | Confluence | Nextcloud
- Ms Project | Visio | Omnigraffle | Miro
Skills
- Project Leadership & Project Management: Governance | Roadmaps | Risks | Budget | Steering Committees
- Transformation: Business Readiness | Change Management | Vision | Operating Model | Enablement
- Stakeholder & C-Level Communication: Alignment | Conflict Resolution | Workshops
- Digital Product Development: Discovery-To-Delivery | Mvp | Backlog & Value-Tracking
- Kpi Frameworks & Data-Driven Management: Okr Setups | Dashboards | Business Analysis
- Ai & User Intelligence: Ai Agents | Workflow Automation | Data-Driven Decision Models
- Innovation Management: Business-It Alignment | Use Case Strategies | Solution Design
Languages
Education
Ohm Fachhochschule
Diploma in Business Information Systems · Business Information Systems | Business Administration · Nuremberg, Germany
Nantes Université
Erasmus exchange study · Business Information Systems | Business Administration · Nantes, France
Fachhochschule
Intermediate Diploma in Business Information Systems · Business Information Systems · Ingolstadt, Germany
Certifications & licenses
ITIL®4 Managing Professional
Master Management With AI (MMAI®)
Systemischer Organisationsberater
artop Institut
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Chris is based in Berlin, Germany.
Chris speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Spanish (Elementary).
Chris has at least 25 years of experience. During this time, Chris has worked in at least 15 different roles and for 11 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 5 months. Note that Chris may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Chris would be well-suited for roles such as: Senior Strategy Advisor, Transformation Lead – Program realignment with vision, governance, and priority management, Business Owner, Project Lead – Platform integration of OneHub, One.Shop, and online services in a SAFe/NPO context., Agile Coach, Scrum Master – Operating model for agile ways of working and introduction of Scrum & Kanban.
Chris's most recent position is Senior Strategy Advisor, Transformation Lead – Program realignment with vision, governance, and priority management at Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe | S-Communication Services.
In recent years, Chris has worked for Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe | S-Communication Services and Volkswagen.
Chris is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Automotive, and Media and Entertainment. Chris also has some experience in Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Banking and Finance.
Chris is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Information Technology, and Product Development. Chris also has some experience in Marketing, Strategy, and Research and Development.
Chris has recently worked in industries like Automotive and Banking and Finance.
Chris has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Product Development, and Research and Development.
Chris holds a Master in Business Information Systems | Business Administration from Nantes Université.
Chris has 9 certificates. Among them, these include: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), ITIL®4 Managing Professional, and Master Management With AI (MMAI®).
Chris is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
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Average rates for similar positions
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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 11 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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