Patrick Lerner - Business Transformation Consultant

Q: Where is Patrick based?

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

Q: What languages does Patrick speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Patrick have?

Patrick has at least 17 years of experience. During this time, Patrick has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 8 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 2 months . Note that Patrick may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Patrick's latest experience?

Patrick's most recent position is Management Consultant at Self-employed .

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

In recent years, Patrick has worked for Self-employed , Ayming Deutschland GmbH , and BDO AG .

Q: Which industries is Patrick most experienced in?

Patrick is most experienced in industries like Professional Services and Information Technology .

Q: Which business areas is Patrick most experienced in?

Patrick is most experienced in business areas like Strategy , Marketing , and Sales . Patrick also has some experience in Finance , Information Technology , and Operations .

Q: Which industries has Patrick worked in recently?

Patrick has recently worked in industries like Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Patrick worked in recently?

Patrick has recently worked in business areas like Strategy , Marketing , and Sales .

Recommended expert

Available

Düsseldorf, Germany

Check rate

Experience

Oct 2025 - Present

11 months

Management Consultant

Self-employed

Advising primarily mid-sized companies on growth and transformation topics
Developing business models, positioning, and strategies, including implementation plans and KPI roadmaps

Nov 2023 - Sep 2025

1 year 11 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Managing Director | Country Manager

Ayming Deutschland GmbH

Responsible for a €15M P&L and 65 employees
Reporting line: Executive Committee
Primary target segment: upper mid-market, manufacturing SMEs
Increasing profitability
Boosting visibility and market share
Strengthening the employer brand
Strategically expanding the service portfolio
Developing and implementing an M&A strategy
Restructuring marketing: increasing leads by 30% and improving conversion rates by 10%
Increasing AI usage through concrete use cases and building a tailored AI strategy. Achieved 20-30% efficiencies in marketing and operations
Building a new "Strategic Partnerships" team to structurally leverage multipliers, creating a new lead channel including new contracts
Positioning Ayming as a quality leader/premium provider in the market through high-end thought leadership, keynotes, and expert panel discussions, boosting inbound leads by approx. 30%
Professionalizing the finance function and enhancing controlling and reporting processes
Target clients primarily SMEs in mechanical engineering, automotive, biotech & pharma, and IT

Jan 2021 - Dec 2022

2 years

Hamburg, Germany

Head of Business Development, Authorized Signatory

BDO AG

Mandate to restructure the go-to-market division
Building and leading a team of up to 8 people
Reporting line: Board of Management
Realigning the division to a new market matrix focusing on growth segments and target industries
Expanding market presence in the upper mid-market and public sector through targeted go-to-market strategies
Establishing new service areas and target client segments, acquiring clients at C-level
Venture building: setting up the "Emerging Entities" division, including business plan, operational setup, and go-to-market strategy, opening up a new client segment from the start-up/investor ecosystem
Project to rejuvenate and modernize the brand through rebranding and a new offering logic

Aug 2019 - Nov 2020

1 year 4 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Head of Operations, Authorized Signatory

RSM GmbH Auditing Firm

Mandate to redefine enabling services
Member of the management committee
Reporting line: Executive Committee
Realigning HR, IT, finance, business development, and marketing into an integrated service logic
Digitizing business processes and improving operational efficiency
Developing an integration strategy for acquired entities, including rebranding and process centralization
Implementing a new travel booking and expense system, reducing travel costs by 12% and saving significant time
Restructuring the finance department with a new cost center logic and Power BI dashboards for better control and budget management
Creating synergies in central service areas and strengthening a unified market presence after integrations

Aug 2017 - Jul 2018

1 year

Düsseldorf, Germany

Europe Alliance Director

Baker Tilly

Reporting line: Managing equity partner
Responsible for cross-border client acquisition in Germany and Central Europe in the upper mid-market
Building cross-border go-to-market and acquisition strategies
Co-responsible for marketing as well as internal and external communication
Developing the Europe Alliance brand
Winning new mandates through improved offering logic and leveraging shared references, primarily for SMEs and real estate companies

Jan 2009 - Jul 2017

8 years 7 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Business Development Manager

Deloitte Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Reporting line: Managing Equity Partner
Co-built the Business Development area (approx. 25 FTEs)
Strategic and operational new client acquisition, primarily in the upper international mid-market
Created highly customized proposals and managed complex tender processes
Developed a key account program for selected strategic target clients
Led the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Award for the West region, significantly increasing visibility in family-run mid-sized companies and winning new mandates
Closely collaborated with Deloitte Garage on new ventures, new business models, and business redesign

Mar 2008 - Dec 2008

10 months

Barcelona, Spain

Vice President Sales & Strategy

LiveTraffic

Oct 2005 - Aug 2006

11 months

Leverkusen, Germany

International Project Manager

Leyhausen International Services GmbH

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Professional Services and Information Technology.

Professional Services

Information Technology

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Strategy, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Information Technology, and Operations.

Strategy

Marketing

Sales

Finance

Information Technology

Operations

Summary

Experienced Managing Director, Country Manager, Head of Business Development, and Head of Operations
Experienced consultant and corporate entrepreneur
Proven track record in business development, P&L responsibility, and scaling consulting businesses, focusing on upper mid-market and manufacturing SMEs.
Advises boards and executives at eye level on growth, transformation, and efficiency programs, and implements them with clear KPI roadmaps.
Skilled in building and leading high-performing teams, and shaping a trust-based, results-oriented culture.
Experience in developing a tailored, ROI-focused AI strategy
Go-to-market strategies
Interim Head of Sales or Head of Marketing

Skills

Business Development
Marketing Strategy
Sales Strategy
Go-To-Market Strategy
Digital Transformation
Ai Strategy
Professional Services
Portfolio Strategy
Business Transformation
Positive Leadership
Interim Cmo / Interim Ceo
Agile Working: Okr Coach And Scrum Master

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Advanced

French

Elementary

Italian

Elementary

Education

Aug 2006 - Mar 2008

ESADE Business School

Master of Business Administration · Business Administration · Barcelona, Spain

Oct 2001 - Oct 2004

International Business School

Bachelor of Arts (hons.) · Media Business Administration · Cologne, Germany

Aug 1990 - Jun 1999

Nikolaus-Ehlen Gymnasium

General higher education entrance qualification · Velbert, Germany

Certifications & licenses

AI For Business Transformation

Kellog Executive Education

Counterintuitive Leadership Strategies For VUCA

LinkedIn Learnings

Leadership Coaching

Kathrin Nökel

OKR Coach Certification

HelloAgile

Positive Leadership

LinkedIn Learnings

Understanding The CSRD Directive

LinkedIn Learnings

Sustainable Leadership & CSR

London Business School

Driver's license: Class B

Scrum Master

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 8

Experience in Professional Services 16.5 y

Avg length 2 y 1 m

Longest experience 8 y 6 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 2 (Germany, Spain)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Management Consultant, Managing Director | Country Manager, Head of Business Development, Authorized Signatory

Main industries Professional Services, Information Technology

Main business areas Strategy, Marketing, Sales

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 9

Profile

Created

May 2026

Last Update

May 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

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

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

Patrick has at least 17 years of experience. During this time, Patrick has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 8 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 2 months. Note that Patrick may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Patrick would be well-suited for roles such as: Management Consultant, Managing Director | Country Manager, Head of Business Development, Authorized Signatory.

Patrick's most recent position is Management Consultant at Self-employed.

In recent years, Patrick has worked for Self-employed, Ayming Deutschland GmbH, and BDO AG.

Patrick is most experienced in industries like Professional Services and Information Technology.

Patrick is most experienced in business areas like Strategy, Marketing, and Sales. Patrick also has some experience in Finance, Information Technology, and Operations.

Patrick has recently worked in industries like Professional Services.

Patrick has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Marketing, and Sales.

Patrick holds a Master in Business Administration from ESADE Business School and a Bachelor in Media Business Administration from International Business School.

Patrick has 9 certificates. Among them, these include: AI For Business Transformation, Counterintuitive Leadership Strategies For VUCA, and Leadership Coaching.

Patrick is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

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

To hire Patrick, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.

Daily Rate Distribution

0 2 4 6 8

<€880 €960-1040 €1040-1120 €1120+

The rates shown represent the typical market range for freelancers in this position based on recent contracts on our platform.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

Average rates for similar positions

Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.

1200

900

600

300

Daily rate avg. 1015 €

The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.

1200

900

600

300

Median rate 1000 €

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.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.