Simon K.-M&A | Transformation | Applied AI
Check rate
Experience
Transaction Lead buy-side (interim) – time-critical distressed due diligence
Corporate acquirer (confidential), via SkyBridge Solutions GmbH
Project lead for a corporate acquirer in a time-critical buy-side distress situation (target out of insolvency).
- Led the client's internal and external due diligence teams across 10 workstreams; overall coordination and negotiation support for the client's Head of M&A
- AI-supported delivery: VDR preparation, report drafting for selected DD teams, Q&A management, support for target management
- Due diligence completed in under three weeks and within the confidential DD budget
- Delivered the decision basis for the board: the transaction was stopped – the client considered the process a success
Director M&A
DKS Group (PE-backed)
M&A lead at DKS Group (PE-backed buy-and-build), reporting to the CEO.
- Built a proprietary deal pipeline (24+ targets), generating four proprietary deals that went to SPA stage
- Closed two acquisitions (c. EUR 30m EV), with two further deals in final documentation (total EUR 30–40m EV)
- Data-constrained small-cap target: Built a PE-grade investment case without a standard data room – A/B/C client and contract analysis, project deep dives, interviews and contract review to establish the repeatability of the project business
- Translated diligence findings into the integration agenda: stronger project controlling, standardized tendering for large projects, revised classification of asset investments
- Owner-exit transaction: Made the owner's complete handover viable through diligence on the second-line management, new incentivized GM contracts and an advisory role for the owner
M&A Director - Transformation Office Lead
ERIKS N.V. (sponsor-owned)
M&A and transformation lead at ERIKS (industrial distribution, owned by SHV), reporting to the CFO.
- Established the transformation office; identified EUR 50m EBITDA uplift potential, with EUR 15m realized in 12 months
- Built the M&A pipeline and turnaround plan, which formed key elements of the divestment story and proved crucial in driving competitive dynamics during the exit
- Supported the onboarding of the new investor (Lone Star) and portfolio turnaround planning
- Coordinated the turnaround across three geographies during a leadership handover without disrupting value
Head of M&A - Buy-and-Build & PMI Lead
CeramTec GmbH (PE-backed)
M&A and PMI lead at CeramTec (technical ceramics / MedTech, PE-owned), reporting to the CFO.
- Led all inorganic growth initiatives (15+ proprietary targets), repositioning the group from industrial ceramics to MedTech, with a multiple arbitrage impact of ca. 3x EBITDA
- Acquired and integrated Dentalpoint AG (ZERAMEX metal-free ceramic implant system), establishing a new EUR 50m dental segment
- Investment case: Two viable routes to market (white-label client relationships and direct access to dentists), a strong technology base (manufacturing, clinical work) and synergies with CeramTec's regulatory and global marketing capabilities
- Integration design: Kept the routes to market separate to avoid conflict with the contract-manufacturing position, while combining manufacturing, R&D and regulatory capabilities
- Result: Revenue plan exceeded within 18 months; key people and the key white-label customer retained, one new key white-label customer won
- Negotiated a polymer partnership, expanding the materials platform beyond ceramics
Director Group M&A - Carve-out Lead ARLANXEO
LANXESS AG
Senior M&A role and carve-out lead at LANXESS (listed specialty chemicals), reporting to the Head of M&A.
- Led the ARLANXEO carve-out (>EUR 3bn) across 8 countries and 150 people while both the seller and the carve-out asset were in the middle of their S/4HANA rollout
- Designed a comprehensive TSA framework that turned the seller's internal IT capacity into a third-party-ready service model; transferred critical knowledge and capabilities and cut ca. 30% of applications to keep the scope manageable
- Five-month separation timeline and ERP momentum maintained, well within the EUR 10m budget; the TSA generated a positive EBITDA impact for the seller
- Renegotiated service contracts with Currenta, enabling its divestment to Macquarie (EBITA impact >EUR 2m)
- Delivered portfolio restructuring, including the IDI (US) divestment and a Canadian site turnaround (>EUR 3m losses avoided)
Senior Manager M&A / PMI
Bilfinger SE
Senior M&A and PMI role at Bilfinger (listed engineering and services group), reporting to the Head of Corporate Development.
- Directed the EUR 1bn+ sale of Building & Facility to EQT under liquidity constraints – three months from the start of due diligence preparation to final SPA negotiations
- Executed buy-and-build (4 acquisitions, 2 integrations), creating Europe's #2 automation service provider; acquisition of Westcon (US)
- Led the global construction carve-out in preparation for divestment: separation of legal entities, contracts, litigation and past project liabilities
- Designed a TSA addendum for projects with outstanding work, allowing a more aggressive carve-out of risks while maintaining access to key operational people; transferred the key knowledge holder to the carved-out asset with incentives tied to risk-management objectives
- Divestment timeline and price expectations met; legacy risks reduced by >EUR 100m; no additional P&L impact from the carved-out assets for the seller in the following three years
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Construction, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Chemical.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Investments and M&A, Project Management, Strategy, Finance, and Information Technology.
Summary
Senior M&A leader with 16 years of experience driving buy-and-build, divestments, carve-outs and post-merger integrations – including 7 years in PE- and sponsor-owned platforms and 5 years applying AI and automation tools, with €6.5bn in aggregate transaction value (€2.6bn in lead M&A roles).
Skills
Key Skills
- Deal Origination: Nine Large-Scale Pipeline Generation Initiatives Focused On Privately Held Mid-Cap Targets
- M&A Deal Execution: Closed Sixteen M&A Deals In Lead Roles And Two Dozen In Varying Support Roles
- Carve-Out: Three Carve-Outs Completed, Including Large-Scale Organizational And It System Separation
- Integration: Ran Two Major Post-M&A Consolidations And Integrated Five Bolt-On Deals
- Turnaround Management: Executed Cost Reduction Programs And Operational Contract Negotiations
- Financial Analysis: Extensive Modeling Experience In Lbo, Business Planning, Financing, Ppp, Ppa
Sector Experience
- Manufacturing: Mechanical & Electrical Components; Automation; Engineering; Maintenance
- Medtech: Ultrasonic Devices; Dental; Ceramic And Polymer-Based Implant Systems; Pharmaceutical Plants
- Technology: Semiconductors; Electronic & Hermetic Seals; Ceramic & Polymer Materials; Cnc And 3d Printing
- Process Industry: Chemical Industrial Parks; Specialty Chemicals; Midstream Oil & Gas; Food & Beverages
- Pe Sponsors: Eqt, Bc Partners, Macquarie, Lonestar, Shv, Aurelius
Languages
Education
University of Mannheim
Dipl.-Kfm., specialized in Finance, M&A, Accounting and Databases · Business Administration · Mannheim, Germany
Distance University of Hagen
Vordiplom · Business Administration · Hagen, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Deploying AI for Strategic Impact and Driving Innovation with Generative AI programs
MIT xPRO
Digital Transformation and AI Certificate of Specialization
Harvard Business School Online
PeopleCert / AXELOS
Certification in M&A Integration (CM&AI)
PRITCHETT, LP
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Simon is based in Arnstein, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Simon speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).
Simon has at least 15 years of experience. During this time, Simon has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 6 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 7 months. Note that Simon may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Simon would be well-suited for roles such as: Transaction Lead buy-side (interim) – time-critical distressed due diligence, Director M&A, M&A Director - Transformation Office Lead.
Simon's most recent position is Transaction Lead buy-side (interim) – time-critical distressed due diligence at Corporate acquirer (confidential), via SkyBridge Solutions GmbH.
In recent years, Simon has worked for Corporate acquirer (confidential), via SkyBridge Solutions GmbH, DKS Group (PE-backed), ERIKS N.V. (sponsor-owned), and CeramTec GmbH (PE-backed).
Simon is most experienced in industries like Construction, Healthcare, and Manufacturing. Simon also has some experience in Chemical.
Simon is most experienced in business areas like Investments and M&A, Project Management, and Strategy. Simon also has some experience in Finance and Information Technology.
Simon has recently worked in industries like Healthcare and Manufacturing.
Simon has recently worked in business areas like Investments and M&A, Strategy, and Finance.
Simon holds a Master in Business Administration from University of Mannheim and a Bachelor in Business Administration from Distance University of Hagen.
Simon has 4 certificates. Among them, these include: Deploying AI for Strategic Impact and Driving Innovation with Generative AI programs, Digital Transformation and AI Certificate of Specialization, and PRINCE2 Practitioner.
Simon is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
Daily rate distribution
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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 14 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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