Patrick R.-COO and Head of Business Development
Check rate
Experience
COO and Head of Business Development
Fast Track Europe Ltd
- Implemented a new operations system to give the team visibility into company priorities and project execution tracking
- Established a structure for global expansion through partnerships, including a focus on legal, hiring and development frameworks
- Set up a scalable, analyzable data infrastructure system
- Started as Head of Partnerships and was promoted to COO after six weeks
Head of Business Operations
Vanguard Group Europe GmbH
- Managed seven team members across the Project Management Office, the Financial Crimes team and the new RPA automation team I created
- Changed the way we work by implementing new tools across the business to support more effective planning, collaboration and reporting
- Introduced automation through RPA, saving the equivalent of seven full-time employees within months
- Oversaw new initiatives to expand scalable offerings to customers
- Built relationships with key strategic partners
- Managed the statutory audit, halving findings year on year and maintaining an excellent relationship with auditors
- Developed the concept and laid the groundwork for the strategic expansion of the business across Continental Europe
- Wound down all operational activities due to business closure, including vendor relationships, third-party contracts and client offboarding
- Established a new automation offboarding team, saving approximately €600 000 within months
Chief of Staff and Program Manager
Vanguard Group Europe GmbH
- Served as program manager for the go-to-market launch of Vanguard Invest in Germany, leading the local project management team and overseeing side projects such as tool implementation, GDPR compliance improvements and onboarding new hires
- Wrote the go-to-market strategy for Vanguard’s new D2C business, defining future OKRs and KPIs
- Transformed regular reporting to senior management on project progress, OKRs and other areas of interest by using innovative systems
- Served as the main corporate contact for strategic partnerships and vendors
- Hired 50 people and helped shape the culture at Vanguard Germany
- Mentored five colleagues to help them develop their careers
- Planted over 9 000 trees
Chief of Staff in European Distribution
Vanguard Asset Management Ltd
- Represented Europe Sales at the London HQ on various projects across the business, including ESG product and strategy development
- Supported decision-making within Sales leadership and ensured decisions were implemented
- Created management reports for leadership and oversight functions
- Coordinated business planning and specific initiatives for the European Distribution Team, such as European expansion
- Managed critical and escalated client requests to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients
- Led the Vanguard Europe Mental Health committee
- Led the Vanguard Europe Green Team to promote corporate sustainability
Junior Wealth/Asset Manager
Quirin Privatbank AG
- Advised individual clients on their financial plans, including managing their advisory portfolios
- Prepared investment research, portfolio analyses and financial plans
- Specialized in ETFs and a global investment approach
- Supported senior consultants with daily tasks, such as opening accounts, adjusting investment strategies and organizing client events
- Created and implemented a new traineeship program
- Responsible for the branch’s compliance with the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG)
Trainee in Project Management
Moly Cop
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Banking and Finance, Professional Services, and Metals and Mining.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Strategy, Project Management, Sales, Sustainability Management, Operations, and Audit.
Summary
As a dynamic and results-focused Senior Manager, I excel at using my extensive experience in the financial services sector to drive organizational success at every level. My expertise as a versatile generalist is complemented by a strategic approach to problem-solving and an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling me to build environments where teams thrive and achieve exceptional results, even in the most challenging situations. Guided by my principle, ‘I find a way or build one', I have consistently shown my ability to turn around underperforming divisions and reenergize teams, leading to significant improvements. My strategic foresight in identifying and putting innovative solutions into practice has been key to advancing the goals of Fast Track and Vanguard Europe and improving team performance across the board.
Skills
Core Competencies
- Strategic Planning And Execution
- Client And Stakeholder Focus
- Team Leadership And Guidance
- Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking And Innovation
- Data Analysis And Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Communication And Interpersonal Skills
Key Achievements
- Turned Around A Struggling Team, Increasing Effectiveness By 200%
- Established A New Automation Team That Saved Approximately 600t € Within Months
- Changed Collaboration Across The Entire Business And Automated Reporting
- Played A Leading Role In Building And Winding Down A Business
- Mentored Five Colleagues To Help Them Develop Their Careers
- Changed The Way We Search - 9000+ Trees Planted
- Led The Vanguard Europe Mental Health Committee
- Led The Vanguard Europe Green Team To Promote Corporate Sustainability
Systems
- Ai Agents
- Powerbi
- Msdynamics
- Jira
- Confluence
- Bloomberg
- Python
Languages
Education
European College of Business and Management
M.Sc., International Business and Management · International Business and Management · London, United Kingdom
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm University
B.Sc., Economics · Economics · Bonn, Germany
High School Landschulheim Kempfenhausen
Abitur · Munich, Germany
Certifications & licenses
CFA ESG Certificate
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Patrick is based in Sofia, Bulgaria and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Patrick speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Advanced).
Patrick has at least 9 years of experience. During this time, Patrick has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 7 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: COO and Head of Business Development, Head of Business Operations, Chief of Staff and Program Manager.
Patrick's most recent position is COO and Head of Business Development at Fast Track Europe Ltd.
In recent years, Patrick has worked for Fast Track Europe Ltd and Vanguard Group Europe GmbH.
Patrick is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance, Metals and Mining, and Professional Services.
Patrick is most experienced in business areas like Strategy, Project Management, and Sales. Patrick also has some experience in Sustainability Management, Operations, and Audit.
Patrick has recently worked in industries like Banking and Finance and Professional Services.
Patrick has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Audit.
Patrick holds a Master in International Business and Management from European College of Business and Management and a Bachelor in Economics from Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm University.
Patrick has 1 certificate: CFA ESG Certificate.
The availability of Patrick needs to be confirmed.
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Average rates for similar positions
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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 11 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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