David Gutjahr - Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence

Q: Where is David based?

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

Q: What languages does David speak?

David speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Chinese (Intermediate), Japanese (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does David have?

David has at least 18 years of experience. During this time, David has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 5 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months . Note that David may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is David's latest experience?

David's most recent position is Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence at Dr. Gutjahr Engineering .

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

In recent years, David has worked for Dr. Gutjahr Engineering , Berylls Strategy Advisors , and Hyundai Motor Group .

Q: Which industries is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing .

Q: Which business areas is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in business areas like Product Development , Research and Development , and Information Technology . David also has some experience in Operations , Supply Chain Management , and Strategy .

Q: Which industries has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing .

Q: Which business areas has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in business areas like Operations , Supply Chain Management , and Information Technology .

Recommended expert

Munich, Germany

Experience

Aug 2023 - Present

2 years 8 months

Munich, Germany

Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence

Dr. Gutjahr Engineering

Process digitalisation: Designed and implemented advanced automation solutions for mid-sized businesses, integrating workflow digitalisation to reduce operational costs by 20% and boost productivity by 25%.
Interim operations leadership (6 months): Stepped in as Head of Operations (production planning, purchasing, shop floor management) for a German SME; optimised processes, stabilised supply chain, and increased output capacity by 50%.
Task force lead: Drove turnaround and recovery initiatives, securing production continuity and realising over €50M in supply chain savings.
Solution delivery: Combined consulting, implementation, and interim management, delivering high-impact digital transformation projects from concept to on-site execution.
Stakeholder management: Built close customer relationships, ensuring project success through transparent communication and continuous improvement.

Aug 2021 - Sep 2023

2 years 2 months

Munich, Germany

Senior Consultant - Management Consulting Automotive

Berylls Strategy Advisors

Led digital transformation projects for top-tier automotive clients, delivering €10M+ in cost savings through streamlined supply chain operations.
Implemented supply chain improvements that increased production efficiency by 20%.
Developed and maintained positive relationships with automotive industry clients, stakeholders, and team members to ensure continuous project success.

Jun 2019 - Jul 2021

2 years 2 months

Korea, Republic of

Senior Manager - Strategy & Technology

Hyundai Motor Group

Developed strategic foresight processes that identified €50M+ in new business opportunities across urban mobility, autonomous logistics, and healthcare transportation.
Led various tech-driven business opportunity initiatives and futures research projects.
Derived future product strategies based on value chain analyses, driving innovation in urban mobility, autonomous logistics, and healthcare transportation.

Jan 2017 - May 2019

2 years 5 months

Shanghai, China

Team Lead - Vehicle Data Analytics

BMW Technology Office

Had overall responsibility for an advanced data analytics unit including design, development, and implementation of IoT hardware, cloud infrastructure as well as data collection, handling, evaluation.
Led a team of 12 associates, managing a €2M budget and achieving €15M cost savings through data-driven improvements.
Derived 60+ requirements and technical measures for future products based on data insights leading to improved product performance and customer value.
Development of advanced data collection hardware for additional cost savings of €1.5M+.
Led cross-division collaboration with vehicle engineering and product owners as well as support functions like legal, procurement, controlling, marketing, CRM, and HR.

May 2016 - Dec 2016

8 months

Shanghai, China

Manager - Research & Development Projects

BMW Technology Office

Analysed China's mobility ecosystems and developed a comprehensive strategic vision for future mobility, integrating urban development trends, regulatory frameworks, and customer preferences.
Derived product proposals for future premium mobility products based on urban development and regulation projections as well as customer preferences.
Contributed to the strategic roadmap for New Energy Vehicle products in China, aligning with market demands, regulatory requirements, and emerging mobility trends.

Sep 2013 - Apr 2016

2 years 8 months

Beijing, China

Manager - Customer Orientation, Requirements, Benchmarking

BMW Group R&D Center

Responsible for qualitative and quantitative research studies on driving behaviour and vehicle usage with a direct impact on product targets and requirements.
Managed three technical benchmark analyses and obtained data on functional developments.
Led a team for technical road-mapping to forecast functional developments on component level.

Aug 2008 - Aug 2013

5 years 1 month

Munich, Germany

Early Career Roles - Product Strategy and Engineering

BMW Group R&D Center

Vehicle benchmarking and cost analysis: Led 10+ vehicle benchmarking projects, analysing chassis components and vehicle body parts. Delivered insights on materials, dimensions, weights, and manufacturing processes, resulting in cost optimization across multiple product lines.
Tire development: Pioneered research linking subjective tire evaluations with measurable data, influencing product development strategies.
Noise and vibration optimization: Conducted advanced research in noise and vibration harshness using impact simulations, contributing to improved vehicle comfort and design efficiency.

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Automotive and Manufacturing.

Automotive

Manufacturing

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Product Development, Research and Development, Information Technology, Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Procurement.

Product Development

Research and Development

Information Technology

Operations

Supply Chain Management

Procurement

Summary

Results-driven executive with 17+ years of international leadership experience in automotive, manufacturing, and industrial technology sectors. Specialist in end-to-end digitalisation, process automation, and operational transformation, combining strategic foresight with hands-on implementation. Extensive track record in designing and deploying digital solutions, advanced analytics, and Industry 4.0 processes in production environments. Recognised for leading complex operational mandates in both consulting and interim management roles, delivering up to 30% efficiency gains and multimillion-euro cost reductions. Culturally agile, with substantial experience building high-performing, multicultural teams and stakeholder networks across Europe and Asia.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Chinese

Intermediate

Japanese

Elementary

Education

Oct 2009 - Mar 2014

KIT Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Doctorate, Vehicle Engineering · Vehicle Engineering · Karlsruhe, Germany

Sep 2006 - Feb 2007

Loughborough University

Visiting Student · Marketing and Innovation, Sports Technology, Vehicle Dynamics · Loughborough, United Kingdom

Oct 2003 - Sep 2009

Dresden University of Technology

Diploma, Mechanical Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · Dresden, Germany

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 7

Experience in Automotive 15 y

Avg length 2 y 6 m

Longest experience 5 y

Global Experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, China, Korea, Republic of)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence, Senior Consultant - Management Consulting Automotive, Senior Manager - Strategy & Technology

Main industries Automotive, Manufacturing

Main business areas Product Development, Research and Development, Information Technology

Qualifications

Highest degree Doctorate

Profile

Created

November 2025

Last Update

February 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is David based?

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

What languages does David speak?

David speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Chinese (Intermediate), Japanese (Elementary).

How many years of experience does David have?

David has at least 18 years of experience. During this time, David has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months. Note that David may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would David be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, David would be well-suited for roles such as: Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence, Senior Consultant - Management Consulting Automotive, Senior Manager - Strategy & Technology.

What is David's latest experience?

David's most recent position is Managing Director - Digitalisation & Operational Excellence at Dr. Gutjahr Engineering.

What companies has David worked for in recent years?

In recent years, David has worked for Dr. Gutjahr Engineering, Berylls Strategy Advisors, and Hyundai Motor Group.

Which industries is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing.

Which business areas is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Research and Development, and Information Technology. David also has some experience in Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Strategy.

Which industries has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing.

Which business areas has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in business areas like Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Information Technology.

What is David's education?

David holds a Doctorate in Vehicle Engineering from KIT Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Dresden University of Technology and a Bachelor in Marketing and Innovation, Sports Technology, Vehicle Dynamics from Loughborough University.

What is the availability of David?

David is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of David?

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