Kristian Michael Hertel - Director Global IT

Q: Where is Kristian Michael based?

Kristian Michael is based in Zug, Switzerland .

Q: What languages does Kristian Michael speak?

Kristian Michael speaks the following languages: German (Native), Italian (Native), English (Advanced), French (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Kristian Michael have?

Kristian Michael has at least 27 years of experience. During this time, Kristian Michael has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years . Note that Kristian Michael may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What roles would Kristian Michael be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Kristian Michael would be well-suited for roles such as: Director Global IT, Vice President & CIO, Senior Vice President, IT .

Q: What is Kristian Michael's latest experience?

Kristian Michael's most recent position is Director Global IT at JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group .

Q: What companies has Kristian Michael worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Kristian Michael has worked for JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group , VF Corporation, Asia Pacific , and Meraviglia Limited .

Q: Which industries is Kristian Michael most experienced in?

Kristian Michael is most experienced in industries like Fashion , Manufacturing , and Retail . Kristian Michael also has some experience in Information Technology , Transportation , and Sport .

Q: Which business areas is Kristian Michael most experienced in?

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

Q: Which industries has Kristian Michael worked in recently?

Kristian Michael has recently worked in industries like Fashion , Manufacturing , and Retail .

Q: Which business areas has Kristian Michael worked in recently?

Kristian Michael has recently worked in business areas like Product Development , Production , and Information Technology .

Recommended expert

Zug, Switzerland

Experience

Jan 2024 - Dec 2025

2 years

Director Global IT

JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group

Lead 300+ tech professionals across internal and consulting teams
Transformed IT into a strategic, product-centric consultancy
As industry first: Initiated ERP migration SAP → Oracle Fusion
Implemented AI strategy, built the data science competence and initiated AI pilots
Established IT Strategy Board aligning technology with business vision and objectives
Implemented a central and standardised IT vendor management process reducing IT costs by 10%
Outsourced internal ERP management structure into an external service entity
Implementation of IT security protocols, standards, trainings and systems

Jan 2019 - Dec 2024

6 years

Vice President & CIO

VF Corporation, Asia Pacific

Led digital strategy for brands incl. Vans, Supreme, The North Face
Boosted digital sales from 12% to 35% via omni-channel expansion
Virtualised operations during COVID for full remote collaboration
Built agile tech capabilities across design, supply chain, and sales channels
As first global company, deployment and integration of an end-to-end supply chain management platform without consultancy partners nor system integrators
Reduction of staff turnover from 30% to less than 5%

Jan 2017 - Dec 2019

3 years

Senior Vice President, IT

Li & Fung

Transformed IT into proactive business consultancy, managing internal as well as external partners like Disney, Belk, Kohl’s with a total sales volume of over $5B
Strategic focus on product lifecycle optimisation, 3D virtual product development and cross functional collaboration as well as end to end supply chain optimisation
Significant reduction of lead time for product costing, design and supply chain processes increasing efficiency and reducing environmental footprint

Jan 2015 - Dec 2017

3 years

Deputy IS Director, Interim IS Director, IS Director

Kering Asia

Managed IT for 21 luxury brands including Gucci, YSL, Balenciaga across Asia
Supported 150+ store openings/year and regional brand integrations
Standardised services across countries and brands and improved operational efficiency, reduced cost and improved go to market speed
Implemented a mobile first strategy increasing efficiency from stores to supply chain

Jan 2013 - Present

13 years 3 months

Founder & CEO

Meraviglia Limited

Designing and manufacturing fully customisable leather products and riding Boots
Awarded by Italian Chamber of Commerce for the innovative business idea

Jan 2011 - Dec 2015

5 years

Head of IT

HUGO BOSS Asia Pacific

Built regional IT structure from scratch, serving over 450+ locations
Led SAP rollouts, mobile Analytics, and regional eCommerce launch
Opened 200+ stores and implemented supplier collaboration tools

Jan 2009 - Dec 2011

3 years

Senior Business Consultant later Operations Manager Personalisation

adidas AG

Implemented end to end mass customisation processes and systems
Insourced relevant capabilities and structures
Reduced lead time to <15 days and cut costs by 30%

Jan 2004 - Dec 2009

6 years

Project Coordinator later IT Team leader

HUGO BOSS Shoes & Accessories

Integrated newly aquired Shoe and Leather-accessory business
Built multinational team and optimised product development, shoe production and supply chain → Cut lead time from 4 months to 6 weeks
Implemented SAP end to end for the footwear and leather accessory business

Jan 1999 - Dec 2004

6 years

IT Services Company

IT Security, industrial automation, computer networking

Lieutenant in the German Crisis Reaction Force

German Army

Deputy platoon leader, secured data exchange and communication via satellite and radio frequency to out of area units

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Fashion, Manufacturing, Retail, Information Technology, Transportation, and Sport.

Fashion

Manufacturing

Retail

Information Technology

Transportation

Sport

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Product Development, Production, Operations, and Strategy.

Information Technology

Supply Chain Management

Product Development

Production

Operations

Strategy

Summary

Strategic technology leader with 20+ years of cross cultural experience on 3 continents driving digital transformation, innovation, and operational excellence across retail, fashion, and lifestyle sectors. Proven success in building agile, product-centric IT organizations, leading ERP/cloud migrations, and aligning tech strategy with business growth. Passionate about inclusive, people-first leadership and delivering measurable business impact.

Skills

Digital Transformation
Cio/cdo/cto Leadership
Agile & Devops Methodologies
Erp & Supply Chain Optimization
Cloud Strategy & Migration
Data & Ai Strategy
It Governance & It Security
Vendor & Cost Management
Innovation Management
Portfolio Management
Operational Excellence
Strategic Thinker
Creative Problem Solver
Cross-cultural Leader
Resilient Under Pressure
Customer-focused
Strong Negotiator
Purpose-driven
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Natural Improver
Growth Mindset

Languages

German

Native

Italian

Native

English

Advanced

French

Elementary

Education

Oct 2024 - Jun 2026

Quantic School of Business and Technology

EMBA · Washington, United States

University of Furtwangen & Southeastern Louisiana University

Computer science Degree · Computer Science · Furtwangen, Germany · GPA 4.0 | entry to Dean’s List

Certifications & licenses

Cobit

ITILv3

PMP

Six Sigma

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 10

Experience in Fashion 21 y

Avg length 4 y 8 m

Longest experience 13 y 2 m

Expertise

Recent roles Director Global IT, Vice President & CIO, Senior Vice President, IT

Main industries Fashion, Manufacturing, Retail

Main business areas Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Product Development

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 4

Profile

Created

March 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Kristian Michael based?

Kristian Michael is based in Zug, Switzerland.

What languages does Kristian Michael speak?

Kristian Michael speaks the following languages: German (Native), Italian (Native), English (Advanced), French (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Kristian Michael have?

Kristian Michael has at least 27 years of experience. During this time, Kristian Michael has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years. Note that Kristian Michael may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Kristian Michael be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Kristian Michael would be well-suited for roles such as: Director Global IT, Vice President & CIO, Senior Vice President, IT.

What is Kristian Michael's latest experience?

Kristian Michael's most recent position is Director Global IT at JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group.

What companies has Kristian Michael worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Kristian Michael has worked for JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group, VF Corporation, Asia Pacific, and Meraviglia Limited.

Which industries is Kristian Michael most experienced in?

Kristian Michael is most experienced in industries like Fashion, Manufacturing, and Retail. Kristian Michael also has some experience in Information Technology, Transportation, and Sport.

Which business areas is Kristian Michael most experienced in?

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

Which industries has Kristian Michael worked in recently?

Kristian Michael has recently worked in industries like Fashion, Manufacturing, and Retail.

Which business areas has Kristian Michael worked in recently?

Kristian Michael has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Production, and Information Technology.

What is Kristian Michael's education?

Kristian Michael holds a Master from Quantic School of Business and Technology.

Does Kristian Michael have any certificates?

Kristian Michael has 4 certificates. Among them, these include: Cobit, ITILv3, and PMP.

What is the availability of Kristian Michael?

Kristian Michael will be available full-time from March 2026.

What is the rate of Kristian Michael?

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