Dirk Nold - Interim Vice President Procurement

Q: Where is Dirk based?

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

Q: What languages does Dirk speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 29 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 28 different roles and for 28 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year . Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Vice President Procurement at Kaiser+Kraft GmbH .

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

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Kaiser+Kraft GmbH , Infineon Technologies AG , Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG , Lausitz Energie Bergbau & Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) , and United Initiators GmbH .

Q: Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Retail , and Energy . Dirk also has some experience in Metals and Mining , Transportation , and Information Technology .

Q: Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Procurement , Project Management , and Supply Chain Management . Dirk also has some experience in Operations , Strategy , and Marketing .

Q: Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing , Energy , and Chemical .

Q: Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Project Management .

Recommended expert

Cologne, Germany

Experience

Feb 2025 - Jun 2025

5 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Interim Vice President Procurement

Kaiser+Kraft GmbH

B2B retailer for business equipment
Sales €590M, 1,450 employees (2024)
Purchasing volume €350M, 3 departments / 20 employees, locations in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic
Led the "Beat" project to achieve COGS savings / extend payment terms / reduce minimum order quantities, report on target achievement
Strengthened collaboration with category management and warehouses
Training & coaching of department heads/strategic buyers

May 2023 - Sep 2024

1 year 5 months

Dresden, Germany

Interim Project Procurement Manager for the new M4 plant in Dresden

Infineon Technologies AG

Manufacturer of semiconductors / microcontrollers
Sales €14.2B, 56,200 employees (2022)
Purchasing volume €1.25B, main categories CSA (Civil/Structural/Architectural) and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems) spread over >100 tender packages
Managed a team of >50 buyers & engineers from Infineon and the appointed general contractor
Reporting on target achievement "in time & budget", escalation to top management

Sep 2022 - Apr 2023

8 months

Finnentrop, Germany

Interim Procurement Manager

Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG

Manufacturer of plastic closures for the FMCG/chemical industry
Sales €238M, 1,100 employees (2021)
Purchasing volume €126M, 10 employees, locations in Germany, Serbia, Spain, USA, Mexico, China
As-is analysis of procurement organization/processes, development of a repositioning concept, approval by management
Digitalization of the ordering process (SAP purchase requisition mandatory, e-catalogs), setup of strategic procurement & KPI system, training & coaching of buyers

Apr 2021 - Aug 2022

1 year 5 months

Cottbus, Germany

Interim Head of Procurement

Lausitz Energie Bergbau & Kraftwerke AG (LEAG)

Lignite open-pit mining & power plants, renewable energies
Sales €2.0B, 7,400 employees (2021)
Direct reporting to CFO, member of the extended executive board
Purchasing volume €840M (2021), 50 employees, main categories mechanics, electrical engineering, supply & disposal, facility management, construction
Realignment of procurement in the tension between phasing out coal vs. growth in new business areas (PV, wind, battery storage, gas power plants)
Reduced bureaucracy and sped up the awarding process
Achieved savings of 8%, increased e-auction rate from 4 to 11% / reduced direct award rate from 45 to 40% (each by tender value)
Managed procurement with monthly KPIs down to the employee level
Designed / started implementation of a personnel development program (including category know-how/strategy, negotiation skills, conflict management)

Jan 2021 - Mar 2021

3 months

Pullach, Germany

Interim Manager for Procurement Optimization

United Initiators GmbH

Manufacturer of organic peroxides, persulfates and hydrogen peroxide
Sales €300M, 700 employees (2020)
Development and implementation of cost-saving measures in the categories chemical raw materials, packaging materials, facility management and MRO
Achieved savings: chemical raw materials 15% (through new suppliers), packaging materials 10% and facility management (through price renegotiation)

Feb 2016 - Apr 2020

4 years 3 months

Ulm, Germany

Vice President Global Procurement / Head of Central Purchasing / Purchasing Department Head

Wieland Werke AG

World's leading manufacturer of copper semi-finished products
Sales of €3.2 billion, 6,850 employees
Vice President Global Procurement, authorized signatory (04/2017 – 04/2020):
Reported directly to the CEO, member of the Global Leadership Team, acting head of Indirect Purchasing / non-production materials
Global purchasing volume excluding metals procurement €520 million
Set up global procurement with 50 staff in over 15 plants (Germany, Austria, UK, Portugal, USA, Asia)
Defined purchasing policy & compliance monitoring system
Implemented a unified supplier evaluation system
Introduced IATF 16949 compliant processes for direct materials
Trained & coached department heads/strategic buyers, actively supported the change process, outplacement of unsuitable staff
Introduced an integrated facility management supplier at all sites in Germany and Austria
Continuously increased savings achieved from €2 million to €12.9 million, halved active suppliers within 2 years
Increased productivity in operational purchasing (P2P) by over 30% through digitization (mandatory SAP purchase requisitions, 25% e-catalog ratio, auto purchase order)
Head of Central Purchasing Germany (10/2016 – 03/2017):
Purchasing volume in Germany excluding metals procurement €225 million (main categories: Capex, MRO, energy, logistics, construction, facility management)
Set up central purchasing as an independent division with 3 departments, 35 staff, separated strategic vs. operational purchasing, introduced category management, began establishing efficient and user-friendly ordering processes/systems, defined KPIs & success monitoring
Purchasing Department Head & Project Leader Purchasing Optimization (02/2016 – 09/2016):
As-is analysis of purchasing organization/processes in Germany, developed a centralization concept, approved by the executive board
Started process optimization with 4 plants and headquarters
Built an SAP BI based KPI system for analyzing & optimizing value contribution (S2C strategic purchasing) and the P2P process (operational purchasing)

Dec 2015 - Feb 2016

3 months

Basel, Switzerland

Project Manager Purchasing Potential Analysis

CABB Chemicals

Manufacturer of chemical precursors/intermediates/active ingredients
Sales > €500 million, 1,000 employees (2015)
Identified savings potential for direct and indirect materials
Best practice-based SWOT analysis of purchasing processes

Feb 2015 - Oct 2015

9 months

Eschborn, Germany

Project Manager Optimization of the Professional Services Category

Deutsche Börse AG

Stock exchange trading
Sales €2.1 billion, 4,500 employees (2014)
Process reengineering of the procure-to-pay process for professional services (IT consulting, management consulting, temporary staffing, > €250 million), documentation, development of training concept
Project management for setting up a Procurement Shared Service Center in Prague
Tenders in IT and management consulting categories

Jul 2014 - Feb 2015

8 months

Attendorn, Germany

Project Manager Project One

Viega GmbH & Co. KG

Manufacturer of heating and sanitary installation products
Sales > €1 billion, > 3,500 employees (2013)
Managed the merger of various purchasing divisions
Redefined processes for project purchasing and category management
Established strategic purchasing for turned parts (20% savings on €20 million), capital goods, spare parts (30% savings on €10 million)

Jun 2014 - Jul 2014

2 months

Wertingen, Germany

Project Leader Purchasing Potential Analysis

Erwin Müller Group Holding AG

B2B mail-order retailer for hotel and catering supplies
Sales > €150 million, > 750 employees (2013)
Reviewing purchasing organization and processes
Savings workshops in categories: furniture/porcelain/textiles

Apr 2014 - May 2014

2 months

Germany

Interim Head of Project Procurement

Tier 1 automotive supplier

Electronics, controls, interior trim parts
Sales > €2bn, > 40,000 employees (2013)
Managed 10 staff with > 50 ongoing development projects
Close cooperation with supplier management (SQA, SQD, Global Sourcing)

Apr 2013 - Dec 2013

9 months

Uusikaupunki, Finland

Interim Head of Global Procurement & Supplier Quality

Valmet Automotive

Tier 1 automotive supplier for convertible top development/production and contract manufacturing
Sales > €200m, 1,600 employees (2013)
Purchasing volume €150m (hydraulic systems, stamped/turned/cast/forged parts, seals, machinery, MRO, facility management, temporary labor)
Managed 70 staff (36 buyers, 34 supplier quality)
Separation of strategic procurement vs. project and production purchasing, recruitment/training/coaching of strategic buyers, set up procurement controlling, enforced extended payment terms, created standardized contract documents
Project procurement for production launch of Porsche Targa, Audi A3 Cabriolet
Led the SAMPO restructuring project for procurement of the convertible top business unit (21 commodity groups with €55m purchasing volume, €4m savings)

Aug 2012 - Apr 2013

9 months

Cologne, Germany

Interim Head of Procurement

Intersnack Knabbergebäck GmbH & Co. KG

Snack manufacturer (funny frisch, Chio Chips, Pombär, private labels)
Sales €600m, 1,500 employees (2012)
Purchasing volume €280m (agricultural raw materials, oil, packaging, logistics, marketing, capex, MRO, facility management, temporary labor)
Set up a central procurement department at headquarters, optimized processes
Created transparency over indirect material purchasing volume
Set up procurement controlling (savings tracking)
Post-merger integration of Snack Partners (brands 'Pauly' and 'Spreeback')
Team development (training strategic buyers, external recruiting)

Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

3 months

Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

Project Manager, Integrated Procurement Initiative

IDT Biologika GmbH

Vaccine manufacturer / pharma contract manufacturing
Sales €130m, 1,000 employees (2011)
Quick scan of total purchasing volume
Identified saving potential in direct and indirect materials

May 2012 - Jun 2012

2 months

Reichshof, Germany

Project Manager, Purchasing Review

Wessel-Werk GmbH

Vacuum cleaner nozzles / accessories
Sales €55m, 500 employees (2011)
Best practice-based strengths and weaknesses analysis of purchasing processes
Price benchmarking in injection molded parts, stamped parts, and packaging

Oct 2011 - Apr 2012

7 months

Germany

Interim Head of Purchasing

Tier 2 automotive supplier

Stamped parts, metal-plastic components, toolmaking
Revenue €200 million, 1,500 employees (2011)
Purchasing volume €100 million, vacancy filling
Built a global central purchasing team at the German headquarters
Separated strategic and operational purchasing, built supplier management
Process optimization together with quality and supply chain management
Supplier reduction/renegotiation of volume contracts for steel/stainless steel/aluminum/copper, 8% savings on processing costs

Apr 2011 - Jun 2011

3 months

Germany

Interim Manager for Global Category Technical Operations

Pharmaceutical manufacturer

Revenue $50 billion, 120,000 employees (2010)
Vacancy filling
Managed the categories facility management, energy, CAPEX, and MRO

Jul 2010 - Jul 2011

1 year 1 month

Kaiserslautern, Germany

Project Manager Purchasing Optimization

Euromaster GmbH

Europe's largest tire retailer
Revenue €312 million, 1,900 employees (2009)
Established strategic purchasing and purchasing controlling
Identified and achieved €1 million in savings (13%) on a purchasing volume of €8 million in the categories wear parts, consumables, temporary labor, building cleaning, print, and promotional materials

Apr 2010 - Feb 2011

11 months

Switzerland

Project Manager Packaging Optimization

Food retailer

Revenue CHF 20 billion, 53,500 employees (2010)
Potential analysis of packaging purchasing (cardboard, film, labels)
Identified and achieved €1.5 million in savings (10%) through RFP and e-auction, plus another €0.4 million through packaging redesign

Jan 2009 - Mar 2009

3 months

Mainz, Germany

Project Manager Fleet Management Optimization

Erdal Rex

Market leader in shoe care and cleaning products
Revenue €103 million, 350 employees (2009)
Potential analysis of company car procurement and fleet management
Identified €0.1 million in savings (22%) through re-specifying required company cars and conducting fuel-saving training

Nov 2008 - Apr 2009

6 months

Eschborn, Germany

Project Manager for Optimizing Temporary Labor Procurement

Deutsche Börse AG

Stock exchange trading
Revenue €2.1 bn, 3,300 employees (2010)
Mapping the current processes between procurement, internal departments and temp agencies
Designing a Managed Service Provider (MSP) concept

Jan 2008 - Jul 2008

7 months

Bad Salzuflen, Germany

Project Manager - Procurement Optimization

Essmann GmbH

Skylights, smoke exhaust systems, building security
Revenue €130 m, 850 employees (2009)
Procurement potential analysis and reorganization
Onboarding of the new strategic head of procurement

Jun 2006 - Nov 2009

3 years 6 months

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany

Project Manager - Procurement Optimization

Roth & Rau AG

Mechanical engineering company in the solar industry
Revenue €285 m, 1,200 employees (2010)
Procurement potential analysis; development of strategic procurement, supplier management, procurement controlling (savings tracking, KPI system)
Procurement reorganization; creation of procurement manual
Support in recruiting and onboarding new strategic buyers
Identification and implementation of 7 % savings on a procurement volume of €28 m in the product groups vacuum chambers/pumps/rotary feedthroughs

May 2005 - Apr 2008

3 years

Bonn, Germany

Project Manager / Program Manager

Deutsche Post DHL

World's leading mail and logistics group
Revenue €51.5 bn, 421,000 employees (2010)
Project Manager for building the global Category Facility Management (09/2007-04/2008):
Analysis of procurement strategies in Germany, UK, Benelux, France, Poland
Implementation of cross-country procurement synergies and best practices
Program Manager for integration of logistics provider Exel plc (01/2006-01/2007):
Led a team of buyers from all procurement regions (Germany, Europe, Eastern Europe, USA, APAC) with 164 individual projects across 18 categories
Identified and achieved savings of €18.4 m worldwide on a targeted procurement volume of approx. €100 m
Project Manager Facility Management (08/2005-11/2005):
Reintegration of facility management service procurement from the real estate subsidiary into Procurement Germany
Identified potential savings of €8 m in building cleaning, security, energy supply, waste disposal, relocations on a procurement volume of approx. €200 m
Project Manager for trade fair & events procurement (05/2005-08/2005):
Cost reduction in trade fairs and events procurement
Achieved 12 % savings on a procurement volume of approx. €40 m

Jan 2005 - Jun 2005

6 months

Iserlohn, Germany

Procurement Coaching for Executive Management

Dornbracht GmbH & Co. KG

Market leader in designer fittings
Revenue approx. €200 m, approx. 800 employees (2010)
Procurement potential analysis; development of improvement measures
Coaching executive management in implementation

Oct 2004 - Mar 2005

6 months

United Kingdom

Interim Category Manager Fruit/Vegetable Procurement

Food Discounter

Consolidation of requirements across 6 locations/distribution centers, tendering, reduction of supplier number from 40 to 8
5% savings on a purchasing volume of £75 million, reduction of delivery time from 2 days to 1 through simplified ordering processes

Jan 1999 - Sep 2004

5 years 9 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Senior Project Manager Procurement Optimization

A.T. Kearney GmbH

Top management consulting
Revenue €220M, 600 employees (2010)
Responsible for all areas of procurement optimization
European trainer for "Strategic Sourcing" and "Negotiation"
Member of the German recruiting team, University Marketing Manager, Cologne
RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen (10/2002 – 09/2004): Mining, chemicals, energy, real estate. Led multiple client/advisor teams in strategic sourcing of building materials, construction services, fittings, pumps with a purchasing volume of over €400M/year. Achieved savings of €35M (9%), plus an additional 3% savings through eAuctions
Fläkt Woods, Sweden/Finland/USA (02/2002 – 10/2002): World market leader for industrial fans. Led an international client team in strategic sourcing of housings, shafts, and hubs, focusing on nearshoring to Eastern European suppliers. Saved around €13M (32.5%), reduced delivery lead times
Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (01/2001 – 12/2001): Designed, founded, and implemented a central federal procurement company. Coached newly hired staff. Managed public tenders for IT and vehicles (€60M volume), achieving up to 25% savings
A.P. Möller Maersk, Denmark (10/2000 – 12/2000): Identified savings potential in facility management, telecommunications, and software (€150M volume). Reviewed e-procurement tools
Hewlett-Packard, Germany/USA (01/2000 – 09/2000): Led a European team for strategic sourcing of marketing services, management consulting, and IT contracting. Purchasing volume €180M, 8% savings
Other projects at EWE, Quelle – Karstadt – Neckermann, Deutsche Bank (01/1999 – 12/1999): Product development, spin-off companies, transaction banking

Aug 1995 - Dec 1997

2 years 5 months

Würselen, Germany

Regional Sales Manager

Vobis Microcomputer AG

PC production and IT retail discounter
Revenue approx. €1B, around 1,500 employees (1995)
Managed a network of 80+ stores and 400+ employees with annual revenue of approx. €250M
Oversaw and evaluated stores, developed operational KPIs, regularly reviewed profit results with district and store managers
Sales policy, developed marketing campaigns, assortment and pricing
Rationalized the existing store network including location analysis (site planning)
Converted existing stores into franchise stores, franchise support

Oct 1994 - Jul 1995

10 months

Birmingham, United Kingdom

District Manager

Aldi Süd

Food discounter
Revenue €28B (2009)
Managed a sales district of 8+ stores and 80+ employees with annual revenue of approx. €50M
Monitored sales (pricing, store layout, food regulations)
Sales, cost, and productivity planning/control
Audited cash registers
Regular inventory counts
Opened new stores, recruited/trained new employees

Mar 1993 - Sep 1994

1 year 7 months

Cologne, Germany

District Manager / Trainee

Aldi Süd

Managed a sales district of 8+ stores and 80+ employees
Monitored sales (pricing, store layout, food regulations)
Sales, cost, and productivity planning/control
Audited cash registers
Regular inventory counts
Opened new stores, recruited/trained new employees

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Manufacturing, Retail, Energy, Metals and Mining, Transportation, and Information Technology.

Manufacturing

Retail

Energy

Metals and Mining

Transportation

Information Technology

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Procurement, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Strategy, and Marketing.

Procurement

Project Management

Supply Chain Management

Operations

Strategy

Marketing

Summary

Interim Head of Procurement / CPO with broad international industry experience in mid-sized and large companies

"Troubleshooter", "Goal chaser", "Lead wolf", "Pace-setter"

Implementation of complex procurement transformation programs (building, repositioning, restructuring)
Organization/process development and cost reduction
Combination of analytics and proven practical methodology
Hands-on, practical execution with the team
Performance improvement through a tailored mix of procurement strategy/organization, S2C and P2P processes, supplier management, procurement controlling, HR & IT

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Oct 1997 - Sep 1998

Cranfield University, School of Management

Master of Business Administration · Business Administration · Cranfield, United Kingdom

Oct 1997 - Sep 1998

Chartered Institute of Marketing

Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing · Marketing · Maidenhead, United Kingdom

Aug 1990 - Dec 1990

Pennsylvania State University

State College, United States

...and 1 more

Certifications & licenses

Certified Trainer

Neuland & Partner

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 30

Experience in Manufacturing 17 y

Avg length 1 y 1 m

Longest experience 5 y 8 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 4 (Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Finland)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Interim Vice President Procurement, Interim Project Procurement Manager for the new M4 plant in Dresden, Interim Procurement Manager

Main industries Manufacturing, Retail, Energy

Main business areas Procurement, Project Management, Supply Chain Management

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Created

March 2024

Last Update

August 2025

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Dirk based?

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

What languages does Dirk speak?

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

How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 29 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 28 different roles and for 28 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year. Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Dirk be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Dirk would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Vice President Procurement, Interim Project Procurement Manager for the new M4 plant in Dresden, Interim Procurement Manager.

What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Vice President Procurement at Kaiser+Kraft GmbH.

What companies has Dirk worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Kaiser+Kraft GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG, Lausitz Energie Bergbau & Kraftwerke AG (LEAG), and United Initiators GmbH.

Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Retail, and Energy. Dirk also has some experience in Metals and Mining, Transportation, and Information Technology.

Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Procurement, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management. Dirk also has some experience in Operations, Strategy, and Marketing.

Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing, Energy, and Chemical.

Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Project Management.

What is Dirk's education?

Dirk holds a Master in Business Administration from Cranfield University, School of Management and a Bachelor in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Does Dirk have any certificates?

Dirk has 1 certificate: Certified Trainer.

What is the availability of Dirk?

Dirk is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Dirk?

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