Neil Scholten-Program Manager & Transformation Architect
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Experience
Program Manager & Transformation Architect
Xpertpulse GmbH
- Transition strategic business development: product before customer in <4 months instead of 10
- Transition strategic business development: development cost reduction to plan: 40% (-250 k EUR)
- Executive mentor & coach for CEO & CPO: CEO too busy to improve - portfolio, company structure and strategy
- Executive mentor & coach for CEO & CPO: PO→CPO transition to take over full product responsibility for Lohnpulse
- Interim CIO: scouting / onboarding / handover of general contractor service providers to CPO
- Interim CIO: transition from MVP to a fully operable product by the CPO
Program Manager & Transformation Architect
superluminar GmbH
- Organizational transformation: establish TISAX certification readiness
Managing Partner
fimancia UG
- Use AI in everyday work for real - logbook & LevelUP cards
- Strategic support and implementation of an AI mindset in companies
- AI-based individual solutions and platform development for SMEs
Self-employed
Solopreneur
- Ad hoc intervention: situation analysis & executive sparring
- Ad hoc intervention: structured assessments for quick clarity and next steps
- Executive workshops: quick orientation and clarity for business-critical decisions
- Executive workshops: AI & digital transformations from strategy to execution
- Project-based consulting: concrete implementation of AI & digital transformations & restructurings
- Project-based consulting: scalable organizational & IT structures to make companies future-ready
- Interim executive engagements: temporary takeover of responsibility for strategic & operational leadership
- Retained advisory: long-term support for sustainable transformation & decision support
Vice President Operations
Statista GmbH
- Revitalization and transformation of the GRC departments (Governance, Risk, Compliance)
- Founding and establishment of operational IT security
- Internationalization of IT and cloud services across 14 countries
- Designing, implementing, and steering the coexistence of hierarchical and lateral leadership and organizational principles
- Decoupling growing administrative costs from company growth
- Budget responsibility >9 million/year
- Direct disciplinary responsibility for 45-60 employees
Vice President IT Operations
Statista GmbH
- Revitalization and transformation of the IT Service, IT Infrastructure, and Cloud Engineering teams
- Founding and establishment of Operational IT Security
- Internationalization of IT and Cloud Services across 14 countries
- Design, implementation, and steering of the coexistence of hierarchical and lateral leadership and organizational principles
- Decoupling growing IT costs from company growth
- Budget responsibility > EUR 7 million/year
- Disciplinary responsibility for 35-45 employees
Co-Founder
Some Engineering Inc
- Founder and partner
Managing Director
Some Engineering Services GmbH
- Founding and operations of two companies (US Inc, GmbH)
- Distribution and enterprise sales
- Investor acquisition, roadmap, and KPIs
Managing Partner
Neil Scholten Beteiligungs UG
- Company founding
- Company investments
- Advisory
- M&A due diligence (organizational fitness / social deep dive)
Program Manager Infrastructure, Department Head
Fielmann AG
- Development and operationalization of the IT corporate strategy in the area of stable and future-proof IT infrastructures
- Consulting and support in other IT corporate strategy areas with a focus on hiring and retention as well as modernizing ways of working
- Operationalization of the cloud strategy: launch and management of migration teams for >200 applications, including architecture review and individual solution consulting
- Building and leading a new department with three teams in the areas of Zero Trust, native cloud integration, and Identity and Access Management (since February 2020)
Director IT Operations
SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH
- Reorganization of IT operations with a focus on compatibility with agile working principles
- Phasing out legacy technology cycles and reducing maintenance load by 60%
- Establishment of engineering and helpdesk teams across locations
- Implementation of AWS partner/reseller setup and training/certification
- Implementation strategies for cross-functional teams while avoiding an intermediate DevOps stage
- Consulting and implementation of digital transformation for internal teams and customers
Head of IT Operations
conversis GmbH
- Site lead Hamburg
- Maintaining operations during major changes at customer gamigo AG
- Further development of existing structures based on the requirements of a managed hosting service provider
- Ensuring operations and team building during the transition phase of the carve-out (50% staff turnover in six months)
Head of IT Operations
gamigo AG
- Took over department leadership independently after the unexpected absence of the former head
- Ensured IT operations
- Improved team cohesion and transparency of work progress
- Rapid and efficient restoration of operations during a business-critical security incident
- Continuous improvement with increased efficiency (reduced sick days, automation of repetitive tasks)
System Architect
gamigo AG
- Design and implementation of system architectures and working principles
- Automation of the Windows and Linux server landscape as well as applications and games
- Automated tracking and visualization of technical operating costs
- Development of unified working principles and tools within IT operations
- Development of an automated accounting platform to determine actual technical costs
Head of IT (CIO)
flashpoint AG
- Overall responsibility for IT
- Reorganization of IT
- Expansion of IT services
- Optimization of IT/logistics processes
- Development, design and operation of scalable, multi-tenant web shops for the subsidiary 4u2play GmbH
- Building the IT team
- Professionalization of the development of the warehouse logistics platform (Microsoft Dynamics/Navision)
- Obtaining the training authorization for IT specialists in system integration and application development
System Administrator
scoyo GmbH
- Design, setup, and maintenance of the IT infrastructure
- Project responsibility for IT security and the server farm (~420 virtual instances)
- Automation of application deployments and server installations
- Handover of live operations to an external service provider, including tooling for maintenance and application updates
Head of global IT-Infrastructure
Wazap AG
- Design, setup, and maintenance of the IT infrastructure in Germany, Japan, China, and the USA
- Setup and coordination of a 24/7 support team
- Project coordination
- Responsibility for IT infrastructure and IT security, budget planning
- Responsibility for four data centers and one office (180 servers, 40 workstations/notebooks)
- Building international teams at the respective locations
- Automation of operations through in-house developments and tooling (e.g. CFEngine)
Application Developer, Customer Support
Krawall Gaming Network GmbH
- Application development (Python, PHP, MySQL, Apache)
- Server administration (Linux, Windows 2000/2003 Server)
- Customer support (24/7 phone & email)
- Migration of the game server platform from Delta Interactive GbR
- Automation of the patch processes for all game platforms
Office Management, IT Services
IT Akademie Hessen - Dr.-Frank-Niethammer-Stiftung
- Setup and maintenance of the IT infrastructure (Windows XP / Windows 2003 Server)
System Administrator, Application Specialist
Delta Interactive GbR
- Web development (PHP, MySQL, Apache)
- Server administration (Linux, Windows 2000 Server)
- Customer support (24/7 phone & email)
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Information Technology, Professional Services, Education, Media and Entertainment, Retail, and Automotive.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Information Technology, Operations, Strategy, Project Management, Finance, and Product Development.
Summary
I bring clarity to complex situations, build solid strategies, and make sure execution delivers real results.
Creating structures for growth I help companies untangle processes, align leadership in a focused way, and ensure operational scalability.
Making transformation tangible AI & digital transformation is not about technology for technology's sake. I make sure innovation has a real impact - on efficiency, market position, and employee retention.
Impact at executive level Working on equal footing with decision-makers to turn strategies into concrete, effective actions.
With more than 20 years of experience in IT, operations & organizational development, I have guided companies from startups to large corporations through complex change processes.
I have worked in both agile, fast-moving environments and in heavily regulated, mature structures - and I know which mechanisms work in which situation.
My consulting does not end with the concept - I make sure strategy becomes reality.
I identify the key levers and make sure they are actively used to not only start change, but anchor it sustainably.
Skills
- Revitalization Of Business Units (Liquidity & Organizational Design)
- Digital Transformation From Agile Environments In Dax Companies
- Cio For Complex System Architectures, Build-Up & Change Situations With Deep Technical Know-How
- Building International Infrastructures And Teams
- Industry Experience In Ecommerce & Gaming, Data & Market Research, Health, As Well As Merchandise Management & Logistics
- Design And Implementation Of Organizational, System & Software Architectures
- Strong Driver Of Innovation With An Entrepreneurial Mindset
- Father, Founder, Nerd
Languages
Education
Krawall Gaming Network GmbH / Global Media GmbH
IT specialist - application development · Idstein, Germany
Graf-Adolf-Gymnasium
University entrance qualification · University entrance qualification · Tecklenburg, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Neil is based in Hamburg, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Neil speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).
Neil has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Neil has worked in at least 17 different roles and for 18 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 2 months. Note that Neil may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Neil would be well-suited for roles such as: Program Manager & Transformation Architect, Managing Partner, Self-employed.
Neil's most recent position is Program Manager & Transformation Architect at Xpertpulse GmbH.
In recent years, Neil has worked for Xpertpulse GmbH, superluminar GmbH, fimancia UG, Solopreneur, and Statista GmbH.
Neil is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Professional Services, and Education. Neil also has some experience in Media and Entertainment, Retail, and Automotive.
Neil is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology, Operations, and Strategy. Neil also has some experience in Project Management, Finance, and Product Development.
Neil has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Media and Entertainment, and Information Technology.
Neil has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Finance, and Information Technology.
Neil holds a Bachelor in IT specialist - application development from Krawall Gaming Network GmbH / Global Media GmbH.
Neil has 1 certificate: Training authorization for the fields IT specialist system integration and IT specialist application development.
Neil is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
Daily rate distribution
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Average rates for similar positions
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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 5 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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