Kurt S.-CIO/CTO
Check rate
Experience
Circle Lead Portfolio & Service Management
LINK digital GmbH
Interim mandate to define the IT Service Strategy 2026, stabilize leadership and organizational structures, and prepare the platform and service organization for scaling. Focus on management clarity, stakeholder alignment and customer orientation in a volatile environment.
Strongly technical predecessor role with limited leadership and management impact
High turnover and increasing use of junior consultants
Missing SLAs with key service providers (including BTC, Bechtle) as well as missing KPI and reporting structures
Missing strategic framework and inconsistent communication with stakeholders
Overall responsibility for the organizational unit, budget, providers and strategic prioritization
Leadership of an organization staffed predominantly with external consultants (including PwC, Wavestone, Accenture)
Responsibility for leadership stabilization and management effectiveness
Close cooperation with executive management and the advisory board as well as with key stakeholders in a sensitive environment
Development and communication of a clear IT Strategy 2026 as a framework for management and teams
Restoration of leadership focus and decision-making clarity in a fragmented organization
Noticeable improvement in how leadership and communication were perceived by stakeholders
Introduction of a clear prioritization logic to reduce operational friction
Initial stabilization of the organization within a deliberately short interim period
Tech & Methods: Azure Cloud, Service Governance, Stakeholder Management, Provider Steering, Leadership Frameworks
Author
Mittler Report Verlag
- Articles on IT strategy and cybersecurity with a focus on the defense and security industry
Head of IT Management
Röhm GmbH
Transformation of the IT organization as part of a PE-driven turnaround: Establishment of leadership, measurability and a global structure, and preparation for restructuring.
Non-transparent processes, no consistent KPIs or responsibilities
Overstaffed teams with cultural tensions and poor performance
Lack of strategic management, high operational effort, unclear provider architecture
Reporting to CIO | Budget: 1–5 Mio.₨
Team responsibility: 30 internal + 30 external
Locations: Darmstadt (DE), Shanghai (CN), Bay City (USA)
Introduction of a company-wide OKR system with annual/biannual reviews
Reorganization of IT teams including separation from low performers (approx. -25% capacity)
Standardization of the global IT service architecture including SLA renegotiations
Reduction of ticket volume by 30% through optimization of provider management & hardware projects
First-call resolution increased (+25%), SLA fulfillment significantly improved (+20%)
Closer integration of IT & business, including successful IT support for the construction of the US plant
Tech & Methods: OKRs, Jira, Confluence, Microsoft365, ServiceNow, ITIL, Provider Management (AT&T, NTT, Accenture)
Interim Director Cloud Data Protection
Rohde&Schwarz Cybersecurity GmbH
Strategic stabilization and operational wind-down of a loss-making security startup within the Rohde & Schwarz Group. Analysis, realignment, product rationalization and socially responsible closure of an inefficient business unit.
Product development mismanaged for years without strategic fit with the Group
Poor leadership by the division management, resistance among employees
Dysfunctional collaboration, operational blockages, loss of stakeholder trust
Reporting to CEO | Direct responsibility for analysis, structuring and wind-down
Site management Darmstadt | Area: Cloud Data Protection
Team size: 12 employees | Full operational responsibility for personnel measures and communication
Conducted a strategic current-state analysis including an executive summary for Group management
Separation from management personnel and reduction of personnel resistance
Reduced the product portfolio from 12 to 3 – elimination of non-viable solutions
Closed the Darmstadt site in under 6 months, without operational escalation
Reintegrated key employees into other areas of the company
Successful shutdown with clean documentation, orderly handover and a positive impact on corporate governance
Tech & Methods: Microsoft 365, Executive Advisory, Business Analysis, Cloud Architecture Review, Portfolio Management, Conflict Moderation, Exit Processes
Head of Business Development & Innovation
CIPA GmbH / openpack GmbH
Strategic and operational responsibility for building a digital platform in the packaging industry. Scaling an MVP into a market-ready product, establishing structures, sales, partner strategy and execution speed.
Delayed product development without visible results despite ongoing investments
Focus on secondary topics (e.g. website), no valid MVP
Lack of target-setting, no scaling strategy, limited customer proximity
Reporting to CEO & Family Office
Responsibility for platform strategy, partner development and business development
Interfaces with product, development, sales and marketing
Standardization and acceleration of product development through template integration and platform structure
Introduction of OKRs and systematic target management instead of manual Excel tracking
Onboarding of >30 relevant technology and service partners to expand the platform offering
Won the first major customer through active sales support and customer presentation
Winner of the "Most Inspiring Member Award 2021" at the international industry event in Denmark for a compelling platform vision and customer impact
Repositioning of the platform toward clear customer benefits & industrial connectivity
Development of a functional prototype with high visual quality and technical consistency
Tech & Methods: OKRs, Platform Strategy, MVP Development, AWS Cloud, Partner Analysis, Lean Product Development, UI Templates, Customer Workshops
Head of Data Center & Cloud Operations
mytoys GmbH
Interim takeover of an IT Operations unit without leadership during a transformation phase, including stabilization, leadership coaching, performance improvement, and restructuring of the entire team setup.
Organization unit without leadership due to the resignation and absence of the predecessor
Personal interests, lack of team culture, and structural uncertainty
Inadequate ticketing processes, unclear responsibilities, and no cloud strategy
Reporting to Director IT Operations | Team size: approx. 15–20 MA
Direct leadership of a critical infrastructure team | Focus: Data Center & Hybrid Cloud
Coaching, conflict moderation, and team realignment
Stabilization of leadership through direct takeover and targeted coaching of individual team members
Clarification of roles, establishment of new responsibility structures, and reorganization of processes
Identification and addressing of dysfunctional patterns, active transformation of team dynamics
Introduction of a hybrid cloud strategy including IaaS/PaaS architecture with HP and AWS
Reorganization of the incident/ticket workflow with measurable performance improvement
Successful completion of the transition phase with handover to a permanent replacement
Tech & methods: Hybrid Cloud (HP/AWS), IaaS/PaaS, Jira, Kanban, OKRs, Coaching, Lean IT Ops, Team Restructuring
Digital Transformation & Transparency Manager
VOLANTE GmbH
- Introduction of Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Tempo, Slack)
- Lean Management & Lean Production
- Requirements management for Industry 4.0
- Keywords: #Agile #Projektmanagement
Senior Consultant / Head of Platform Development
BAM GmbH / up2parts GmbH
Built an internal startup in the industrial IIoT environment – from the initial idea to the spin-off. Developed a cloud-based platform for the manufacturing industry, established the tech stack, managed the entire product development process, and enabled Series investment by DMG Mori.
Initial idea from a shareholder, but no structure, product, or team
No tech stack, MVP, or systematic software development in place
Mandate: Build a functioning digital business within the corporate group
Reporting to CEO | Role as external setup lead
Responsibility for product strategy, tech stack, team structure, MVP, and go-to-market
Interfaces with manufacturing, executive management, IT, and investor preparation
Development of a cloud-native IIoT platform based on Microsoft Azure
Introduction of professional software development (Clean Code, CI/CD, TDD)
Built and led an interdisciplinary team (IT, R&D, Sales, Marketing)
MVP realization focused on manufacturing data and digital process integration
Successful market presentation including customer feedback and a pitch at a leading trade fair
Subsequent foundation as an independent company with DMG Mori joining as an investor
Tech & methods: Azure Cloud, IIoT platform architecture, Clean Code, CI/CD, TDD, MVP Design, Lean Startup, B2B Industrial SaaS
Project Manager & Agile Coach
Verivox GmbH
- Consolidation of "Telko" teams (3 cross-regional teams / 40 MA)
- Agile Coach & Product Requirements Manager
- Distribution of responsibilities
- Introduction of Continuous Delivery / QA Automation
- Development strategy for the telecommunications sector
- Revitalization of agile values / establishment of the framework in management
- Analysis of markets & trends, setup of new projects
- Keywords: #eCommerce #PMO #Agile #Scrum #Shop #Platform #Projektmanagement #RequirementsEngineering #Telekommunikation
Head of Solution Management & Project Manager
valuephone GmbH
Built and led a cross-functional team to realign mobile payment and POS solutions in the food retail sector.
Responsible for product strategy, implementation, training, and major customer projects (including Lidl, EDEKA, SAP).
Distributed teams, lack of standardization in development and project management
Strong dependence on individual managers, lack of process scalability
Strategic repositioning of mobile solutions within the GK Software portfolio
Reporting to executive management | Team size: 35+ MA in Berlin, Schöneck, and Pilsen (CZ)
Project volume: >10 Mio
Customer responsibility: EDEKA (500+ stores), Lidl (>10 countries), SAP Hybris
Introduction of OKRs, TDD & agile delivery – increased team productivity by 40%
Successful delivery of mobile POS solutions with 500.000+ active end users
Strengthened SAP partnership through on-schedule Hybris roadmap rollouts
30% reduction in change requests through forward-looking product architecture
Significant increase in release frequency (from quarterly to monthly)
Head of Software Engineering - Web & Mobile Development
Novere GmbH
Hands-on delivery of a point-of-sale app for the hospitality industry. The goal was to deliver a market-ready MVP by the end of the year. Responsibility for the tech stack, agile implementation, architecture, and go-live – including hands-on development.
Greenfield setup: app concept available, no tech architecture, no team process
Tight year-end deadline for the first customer installation
Management of a 3-person development team + 1 designer
Full ownership of tech stack, architecture, delivery & QA
Selection and implementation of the tech stack (Ionic, Angular, REST, SQLite)
Introduction of agile methods (Kanban, Sprint Reviews, Daily Standups)
Setup of CI pipeline and automated testing structure
Successful go-live with the pilot customer on 31.12. without critical bugs
MVP functionality developed in <4 months, including POS features and user interface
Tech & methods: Ionic, Angular, REST API, SQLite, Git, CI, Kanban
Senior Mobile Architect
Daimler TSS GmbH
- Mobile API responsibility for car2go & mytaxi, among others
- Member of the Architecture Board, coordinating distributed feature teams
- Introduction of cross-platform feature parity and release focus
Senior iOS Developer
Adesso Mobile Solutions GmbH
- Development of banking apps with a focus on security and user experience
- iOS architecture, unit testing, UI automation, clean code
- Member of Architecture Board, collaboration with UX & Backend
Project Manager & Consultant
Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
- Management of mobile app projects in the areas of smart home & household appliances
- Architecture consulting, interface design, coordination of external developers
- Introduction of standardization in enterprise app development
iOS Developer
Datev EG (CNS GmbH)
- Lead Developer of the DATEV app, introduction of agile development processes
- Focus on security (Kobil, myDentity Air), training of internal teams
- Focus on mobile UX, encryption, certificate management
Project Manager, Web & Mobile Developer
numeo GmbH / Ambion GmbH
- Native iOS and web development in the event and media sectors
- Technical project management, conception, design & implementation
- Management of external service providers, UX & app architecture
Podcast
Salman & Heining – Business, IT & Leadership
- Host of a bi-weekly podcast on technology, management and leadership
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Information Technology, Manufacturing, Chemical, Aerospace and Defense, Media and Entertainment, and Retail.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Information Technology, Product Development, Strategy, Project Management, Sales, and Marketing.
Summary
As an experienced manager, I have extensive knowledge of business development and implementing strategies to achieve business goals. With my solid expertise in digital transformation and my focus on customer satisfaction, I have led numerous successful projects across various industries and helped companies grow and expand.
I have proven my ability to build and lead effective teams characterized by high motivation and commitment. Through my strong leadership skills and communication abilities, I inspire and motivate employees at all levels of the organization.
I have a deep understanding of complex business relationships and the ability to respond quickly and strategically to market changes. My strong analytical thinking and ability to develop innovative solutions have repeatedly distinguished me in the past.
Skills
Industry Focus
- Chemicals
- Mechanical Engineering
- Defense Industry
- Automotive
- It Service Providers
- Cybersecurity
- Paper And Packaging
- E-Commerce
- Start-Ups
- Mechanical Engineering And Contract Manufacturing
- Digitalization And Strategic Business Growth
- Mittelstand And Start-Up
Professional Focus
- Management Of Business Units Or Departments
- Digitalization And Digital Products
- Product Management
- Cloud, It, Iot And Saas
- Agile And Okr
- Ecosystems, Platforms And Platform Development
- Partner Management
- Presales Expertise
- Managed Services And Outsourcing
- Microsoft 365
- Servicenow
- Microsoft Azure
- Amazon Aws
- Atlassian
- Confluence
- Jira
- Supportive Leadership
- Digital Platform Development And Ecosystem
- Ai Strategies
- Digital Product Portfolio
Languages
Education
Europaberufschule Weiden
Staatl. geprüfter technischer Assistent für Informatik · Computer Science · Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Verified Certificate for User Innovation & Entrepreneurship
MITx
Wellpappe Wissen - Zertifikat
Verband der Wellpappenindustrie
Microsoft.com
Adobe ACE Flash Expert
Adobe Systems
Web-Designer
Symboulos Consulting Company
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Kurt is based in Theisseil, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Kurt speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).
Kurt has at least 12 years of experience. During this time, Kurt has worked in at least 16 different roles and for 16 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 9 months. Note that Kurt may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Kurt would be well-suited for roles such as: Circle Lead Portfolio & Service Management, Author, Head of IT Management.
Kurt's most recent position is Circle Lead Portfolio & Service Management at LINK digital GmbH.
In recent years, Kurt has worked for LINK digital GmbH, Mittler Report Verlag, Röhm GmbH, Rohde&Schwarz Cybersecurity GmbH, and CIPA GmbH / openpack GmbH.
Kurt is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Chemical. Kurt also has some experience in Aerospace and Defense, Media and Entertainment, and Retail.
Kurt is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology, Product Development, and Project Management. Kurt also has some experience in Strategy, Sales, and Marketing.
Kurt has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing, Chemical, and Aerospace and Defense.
Kurt has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Information Technology, and Product Development.
Kurt attended Europaberufschule Weiden for Computer Science.
Kurt has 5 certificates. Among them, these include: Verified Certificate for User Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Wellpappe Wissen - Zertifikat, and Azure Fundamentals Certification.
Kurt will be available full-time from September 2026.
Daily rate distribution
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Average rates for similar positions
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
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 19 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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