Markus Peters - Chief Financial Officer for Turnarounds

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Hanover, Germany

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Experience

Jul 2021 - Jun 2024

3 years

Nuremberg, Germany

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

VIA optronics AG

Investor discussions, Investor Relations for NYSE listing
Expanded reporting and compliance structures, cost controlling
Post-merger integration
Introduced LucaNet
Financing negotiations with banks
Global responsibility for 25 employees in six countries
Positive net cash position and declining NWC (-40%) with increasing revenues
Significantly reduced cash outflow
Initiated profitability and restructuring projects, introduced Capex guidelines
Built up hedging line, implemented ABS program, extended bank financing

Jul 2017 - Nov 2020

3 years 5 months

Garbsen, Germany

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG

Cooperative leadership of the Supervisory Board, close communication with the Management Board, chaired the Annual General Meeting
Prepared and chaired Supervisory Board meetings
Streamlined management structures, including appointment of a new Management Board
Focus on return on capital and growth
Capital markets communication, discussions with banks and restructuring advisors
Appointed new Supervisory Board members
Increased market capitalization by €400 million
Redesigned the compensation system with a focus on value-oriented management, receiving high approval at the Annual General Meeting
Successful restructuring and refinancing
Capital increase through new shares

Jul 2017 - Jun 2020

3 years

Hanover, Germany

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Investment Officer

German Technology AG (Bantleon Group)

Investment management and target analysis
Value-enhancing management and sale of investments (LPKF)
Generated deal flow for technology start-ups, (pre-)IPOs and small caps
Sourced investors
Stock picking for tech investment funds
Successful exit at LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Increased market capitalization by €400 million

May 2013 - Jun 2017

4 years 2 months

Winterthur, Switzerland

CFO, Managing Director

DMG MORI ECOLINE Holding AG

Accounting, controlling & reporting, cash and NWC management, FX management, compliance
Built up structures and processes, risk management for holding company and investments
Managed investments in China, Poland, DACH and Russia (greenfield)
Expanded management control and management systems
Introduced compliance program as Compliance Officer
Implemented currency hedging
Secured results through meaningful product costing
Led cost and efficiency programs, standardized ERP systems
Direct and indirect responsibility for 45 employees in five countries
Successfully built a plant in Russia (greenfield) with spending approx. 10% below budget through FX hedging and consistent investment controlling
Generated significant contributions to earnings through cash management combined with fixed-term deposits in a high-interest-rate environment
Built up a tax-optimized holding company in Switzerland
Reduced company-wide fixed costs by 10% at a manufacturing company in China
Restructured financing in China
Closed a plant in China following the merger with MORI CO., LTD

Oct 2011 - Apr 2013

1 year 7 months

Duisburg, Germany

Built up Treasury/Finance function for INOXUM Group

INOXUM GmbH (formerly thyssenkrupp Stainless) / Outokumpu Holding Germany GmbH

Built up an independent Treasury function: cash pooling, in-house banking
Introduced new Treasury systems, including Treasury management software (ITS)
FX hedging and currency management
Implemented Treasury policies
Built and maintained bank relationships, implemented Borrowing Base facility
Successfully built up and structured the Treasury function at the time of the carve-out
Built up a hedging book of over €1 billion

Apr 2011 - Sep 2011

6 months

Werdohl, Germany

Vice President Compliance & Risk Management

thyssenkrupp VDM GmbH

Risk controlling, export control, compliance, transfer price management
Organization of the data room for the equity carve-out
Management of compliance audits and compliance training
Risk inventory
Responsibility for transfer price management
Successful compliance audit by an external auditor
Timely completion of the data room for the carve-out

Jun 2007 - Mar 2011

3 years 10 months

Florham Park, United States

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Member of the Board

thyssenkrupp VDM USA, Inc.

Accounting, controlling & reporting, taxes, treasury, supply chain, IT, HR, tax, risk & legal, compliance
Implementation of cost reduction measures and synergy projects
Improvement of return on capital, expansion of sales management, introduction of value-based management
Management of critical customer negotiations
Calculation of offer prices
Introduction of rolling sales and production planning to reduce inventories
Negotiations with raw material traders and mines
Management of environmental legacy projects to avoid financial burdens
Risk & Compliance Officer: defense against claims and fraudulent acts
Management of 17 employees at two locations
Successful merger of two operating US companies and ERP system migration
Profitable during the 2007–2011 financial crisis, positive EBT of the VDM Group in 2009/10
Improvement of cash flow and NWC optimization through active receivables management and inventory reduction
Introduction of raw material purchasing based on rolling sales and production plans
Reorganization of scrap management, contributing up to 20% to earnings
Hedging of metal cost price fluctuations (50% of expenses)
No payment defaults on receivables despite the economic crisis

Oct 2003 - May 2007

3 years 8 months

Werdohl, Germany

Head of Controlling, Authorized Signatory

thyssenkrupp VDM GmbH

Operational and strategic controlling
Corporate planning and investment evaluations, product costing
Restructuring and cost reduction projects
Risk and investment controlling, M&A projects
Management of five employees
Introduction of SAP-supported sales controlling and value management
Investment projects in the USA within budget
Successful application for funding for energy-intensive companies

Jan 2001 - Oct 2003

2 years 10 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Head of Strategic Controlling

thyssenkrupp Materials AG

Group-wide corporate planning and strategic controlling
Risk controlling
Contact person for thyssenkrupp AG
Special assignments for the Management Board
Management of five employees
Introduction of value-based management
Expansion of working capital and investment controlling with weakness analysis

Jan 1999 - Dec 2000

2 years

Essen, Germany

Senior Manager for Strategic Projects/Group Development

RWE AG

M&A and development of strategic group projects
Evaluation of market entry strategies
Analysis, evaluation and recommendation of actions for M&A projects for the Group Management Board
Sharpening of the multi-utility strategy, development of e-commerce projects
Establishment of a Corporate Venture Capital fund (50 Mio. €)
Market survey on the multi-utility strategy

Apr 1996 - Dec 1998

2 years 9 months

Essen, Germany

Project Manager M&A for Central and Eastern Europe

RWE Energie AG

Management of M&A projects and interdisciplinary teams
Identification and analysis of acquisition targets, preparation of offer documents
Preparation of decision documents for the Board of Management
Negotiations with cooperation and contractual partners
Management of foreign operations
Selection and development of junior talent
Successful market entry in the Czech Republic with two companies
Led the complete M&A process multiple times
Expansion of cooperation opportunities and investment options in Bulgaria

Industry experience

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

Experienced in Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, Banking and Finance, Energy, and Utilities.

Manufacturing

Metals and Mining

Banking and Finance

Energy

Utilities

Business area experience

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

Experienced in Finance, Accounting, Strategy, Investments and M&A, Legal, and Human Resources.

Finance

Accounting

Strategy

Investments and M&A

Legal

Human Resources

Summary

Internationally experienced CFO with a broad industrial background and strong intercultural skills in growth markets as well as special situations, e.g. restructuring, carve-outs or repositioning at listed companies.

25+ years of professional experience, including approx. 20 years in leadership positions as Group CFO, Senior Vice President or Chairman of the Supervisory Board during a restructuring phase
Group CFO with responsibility for amounts in the three-digit millions
Proven, direct capital markets experience in listed companies
Leadership responsibility: Up to 45 employees worldwide

Key achievements

Stopped cash bleeding and reduced NWC by up to 40% in one year
Acquisition of a stake, restructuring and highly profitable exit after only three years while maintaining the stock market listing (plus €400 million in market capitalization)
Designed compensation systems with high acceptance by the Annual General Meeting
Internationalization through construction of a plant in Eastern Europe with spending approx. 10% below budget
Reduced company-wide fixed costs by 10% in China
Built up Treasury function in a carve-out situation, built up hedging book of over €1 billion
Remained profitable even during a crisis situation (2008-2011), securing a positive result for the entire group (€1.4 billion in revenue) through process optimization as well as value and NWC management
Structured a Corporate Venture Capital fund for the energy sector
Entered international markets through M&A

Skills

B2b Industry Expertise: Mechanical Engineering, Automotive, High Tech, Metal And Materials Industry, Energy Sector
Matrix Organizations, Corporate Environments, Smes And Family-Owned Companies
International Management Experience: Four Years In The Usa, Three Years In Switzerland, One Year In Austria
Special Situations/360° View, E.G. In Restructuring, Carve-Outs And Turnaround Management
Studied Business Administration/Finance In Germany And The Usa
Cfo, Board Member For Finance, Supervisory Board Member In Listed Companies (Deutsche BöRse, Nyse)
Change And Turnaround Management, Restructuring And Special Situations As Well As M&A
Continuous Improvement Of Cost Structures, Processes, It And Information Systems
Growth, Internationalization, Strong Structuring And Process Expertise, Value Management/Shareholder Value Focus, Working Capital Management
Additional Leadership Responsibility For Supply Chain, Hr, It, Ir, M&A, Strategy, Legal & Risk

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Spanish

Elementary

Education

Oct 1992 - Jun 1997

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Doctorate · Business Administration, Finance · Kiel, Germany

Aug 1990 - May 1992

Pennsylvania State University

Master of Science in Business Administration, focus on Finance · Business Administration, focus on Finance · State College, United States

Oct 1987 - Jun 1990

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Business Administration · Kiel, Germany

...and 2 more

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 11

Experience in Manufacturing 17.5 y

Avg length 2 y 9 m

Longest experience 4 y 1 m

Global experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, Switzerland, United States)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Investment Officer

Main industries Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, Banking and Finance

Main business areas Finance, Accounting, Strategy

Qualifications

Highest degree Doctorate

Member since

February 2025

Last update

October 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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

Markus speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Spanish (Elementary).

Markus has at least 28 years of experience. During this time, Markus has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months. Note that Markus may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Markus would be well-suited for roles such as: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Investment Officer.

Markus's most recent position is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at VIA optronics AG.

In recent years, Markus has worked for VIA optronics AG.

Markus is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, and Banking and Finance. Markus also has some experience in Energy and Utilities.

Markus is most experienced in business areas like Finance, Accounting, and Investments and M&A. Markus also has some experience in Strategy, Legal, and Human Resources.

Markus has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing.

Markus has recently worked in business areas like Accounting and Finance.

Markus holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, Finance from Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and a Master in Business Administration, focus on Finance from Pennsylvania State University.

Markus is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

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Daily rate avg. 745 €

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Median rate 760 €

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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 7 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.