Thomas Gaiser - Interim Digital Product Manager

Q: Where is Thomas based?

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

Q: What languages does Thomas speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Thomas have?

Thomas has at least 13 years of experience. During this time, Thomas has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 8 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 4 months . Note that Thomas may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Thomas's latest experience?

Thomas's most recent position is Interim Digital Product Manager at Novartis Pharma GmbH .

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

In recent years, Thomas has worked for Novartis Pharma GmbH , HfWU Nürtingen , Grubengold GmbH , Neckar Hub Stuttgart – My Hub Network at Neckar Hub GmbH , and DEalog – Top 20 project in the #WirVsVirus hackathon of the German federal government .

Q: Which industries is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in industries like Information Technology , Sport , and Professional Services . Thomas also has some experience in Government and Administration , Manufacturing , and Education .

Q: Which business areas is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in business areas like Product Development , Strategy , and Business Intelligence . Thomas also has some experience in Sales , Marketing , and Project Management .

Q: Which industries has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in industries like Professional Services , Information Technology , and Government and Administration .

Q: Which business areas has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in business areas like Product Development , Sales , and Strategy .

Recommended expert

Stuttgart, Germany

Experience

Apr 2025 - Nov 2025

8 months

Interim Digital Product Manager

Novartis Pharma GmbH

Defining and establishing a clear product strategy and roadmap to align product development with business goals and market trends
Leading and prioritizing product requirements of cross-functional, international stakeholder groups (TA, brand family, content managers, legal)
Efficiently managing the development process in international, agile teams to deliver critical product releases on time and within budget
Leading product launch and marketing activities in coordination with channel orchestration experts
Monitoring and analyzing product performance metrics (KPIs) for data-driven optimization and maximization of business value

Aug 2024 - Dec 2024

5 months

Digital Platform Manager

Novartis Pharma GmbH

Further developing and integrating digital platforms for a coherent, cross-channel customer experience
Designing and implementing IT systems in an agile way for efficient marketing and sales management
Evaluating automation potential and proposing innovative ideas for process optimization
Designing and delivering change management and training for field sales and marketing to ensure system adoption
Managing external international service providers and agencies to meet objectives
Actively transferring digital initiatives into the entire organization to foster digital transformation

Mar 2024 - Present

2 years 1 month

Germany

Lecturer Digital Business Models

HfWU Nürtingen

Leading the course 'Digital Business Model Transformation' (bachelor level)
End-to-end development of digital business models using a lean approach, including practical application of relevant business model tools
Delivering instruction in English to strengthen engagement with international teams and stakeholders
Writing the book chapter 'Development of a Digital Business Model' for the Springer edited volume 'Handbook of Digital Management'

Oct 2023 - Dec 2023

3 months

Innovation Consultant / Venture Developer

Grubengold GmbH

Designing and initially implementing the end-to-end product roadmap to make development stages measurable
Developing the customer journey and conducting user interviews for in-depth market research
Managing project and process workflows for internal and external customer communication to ensure targeted stakeholder information and alignment
Preparing market research, user insights, and product strategy in executive presentations as a decision-making basis for top management

Feb 2023 - Aug 2023

7 months

Digital Platform Manager

Novartis Pharma GmbH

Defining and implementing the platform vision and roadmap to significantly improve user experience
Precisely defining requirements as user stories and acceptance criteria to guide agile development processes
Continuously monitoring KPIs and conducting iterative tests for data-driven performance optimization
Managing interfaces between local and global departments, IT, and partners
Overseeing technical and administrative processes as well as project planning and coordination of the CMS migration
Directing external service providers and agencies for result-oriented roadmap implementation

Mar 2021 - Present

5 years 1 month

Germany

Location Manager / Strategic Advisor

Neckar Hub Stuttgart – My Hub Network at Neckar Hub GmbH

Strategic development of the business model to create new analog and digital revenue streams
Advising, coaching, and mentoring start-ups in the region from concept to scale-up
Building the brand and network in the Stuttgart area as well as strategic analysis and acquisition of partners

Mar 2020 - May 2023

3 years 3 months

Co-founder / Team Lead / Product and Project Manager

DEalog – Top 20 project in the #WirVsVirus hackathon of the German federal government

Development of a dual information platform (back office for institutions and an app for citizens) to close information gaps in the state-run warning infrastructure (BBK/NINA)
Coordinating the backlog in close collaboration with the development team; conducting market and customer analyses including interviews and creating user stories to guide feature development
Validating the MVP in the Arnsberg district (NRW) and negotiating with the city of Heilbronn to roll out the live application
Analyzing and acquiring partners as well as managing complex stakeholder relationships (government, authorities, municipalities)
Secured funding from the BMBF and a three-month engagement grant through ProjectTogether gGmbH

Nov 2019 - Dec 2019

2 months

Germany

Strategic Advisor

Next Shed at Eberspächer Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG

Participating in the development of a new digital service offering in the smart home/smart city sector
Strategic design of the architecture and features of an IoT platform as the technology foundation for a new ecosystem
Delivering a conceptual blueprint as a basis for investment decisions and the establishment of the new business field

Feb 2015 - Dec 2017

2 years 11 months

Germany

Product Manager

J. Schmalz GmbH

Supporting the further development of the online shop in close cooperation with the eCommerce department
Responsible for content management of the online shop and all sales materials
Optimizing and establishing content creation processes to improve efficiency and quality
Coordinating interfaces for internal standardization and guiding technical drafters in creating product documentation to ensure compliance and quality

Jan 2013 - Jun 2020

7 years 6 months

Germany

Founder

insightity – development of data-driven fan services

Conceptualizing data-driven business models to diversify offerings and open up new revenue streams
Managing end-to-end requirements based on the entire customer or fan journey in cooperation with VfB Stuttgart, 1. FC Köln and SC Freiburg
Conducting market and stakeholder analyses to validate the business idea within the context of the Bundesliga
Identifying specific opportunities to improve the profitability and sustainability of the fan service offering

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Information Technology, Sport, Professional Services, Government and Administration, Manufacturing, and Education.

Information Technology

Sport

Professional Services

Government and Administration

Manufacturing

Education

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Product Development, Strategy, Business Intelligence, Sales, Marketing, and Project Management.

Product Development

Strategy

Business Intelligence

Sales

Marketing

Project Management

Summary

As a freelance expert in product strategy and digital transformation and as an experienced interim product manager for digital products, I bring 12 years of hands-on expertise in agile development and validation of digital products (web portals, apps) using a lean approach. My particular strength is my solid knowledge in AI applications, which allows me to design and optimize new digital products with a focus on modern automation and AI marketing strategies.

My guiding principle is to create value in a structured way by strategically combining existing elements, new ideas, and a dash of creativity. This strong entrepreneurial mindset and action, including my own experience founding companies and advising startups, as well as my in-depth understanding of interface roles between business and IT, always ensure the strategic overview and the management of complex projects to achieve successful results.

My proactive hands-on mentality shows in designing and implementing innovative solutions, where transparency and close collaboration with all stakeholders are the keys to success.

Skills

Hard Skills Product Management End-to-end: Agile Product Development (Scrum/kanban), Product Roadmapping & Backlog Management (Jira / Confluence)
Requirements Management: Lean Startup / Mvp Validation, Web/app Concept Design (Wireframing, Prototyping)
Business Transformation & Innovation: Ai Strategy, Ai Marketing Applications, Automation, Business Model Innovation
Consulting & Coaching: Interface Management (Business / It / Ux), Teaching Assignment (Digital Transformation)
Soft Skills Strategic Overview: Holistic Perspective, Customer Orientation And P&l Focus
Communication & Alignment: Stakeholder Management, Conflict Management And Transparent Cooperation
Conceptual Strength: Analytical Thinking, Creative Problem Solving And Structured Approach
Proactive Implementation: Independent Working, Initiative And High Result Orientation
Software: Microsoft 365 Products, Google Workspace Products, Slack, Teams, Zoom, Miro, Confluence, Jira, Trello, N8n, Make.com, Manus, Text, Audio, Video Ai Tools (Chatgpt, Gemini, Claude, Etc.)

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Intermediate

French

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2004 - Feb 2012

University of Stuttgart

Diploma Engineer in Technology Management · Technology Management · Stuttgart, Germany · 2.3

Certifications & licenses

Professional Scrum Master I

scrum.org

Professional Scrum Product Owner I

scrum.org

Prompt Engineering For ChatGPT

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 10

Experience in Information Technology 10.5 y

Avg length 2 y 3 m

Longest experience 7 y 5 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Interim Digital Product Manager, Digital Platform Manager, Lecturer Digital Business Models

Main industries Information Technology, Sport, Professional Services

Main business areas Product Development, Strategy, Business Intelligence

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 3

Profile

Created

January 2026

Last Update

March 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Thomas based?

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

What languages does Thomas speak?

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

How many years of experience does Thomas have?

Thomas has at least 13 years of experience. During this time, Thomas has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 8 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 4 months. Note that Thomas may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Thomas be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Thomas would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Digital Product Manager, Digital Platform Manager, Lecturer Digital Business Models.

What is Thomas's latest experience?

Thomas's most recent position is Interim Digital Product Manager at Novartis Pharma GmbH.

What companies has Thomas worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Thomas has worked for Novartis Pharma GmbH, HfWU Nürtingen, Grubengold GmbH, Neckar Hub Stuttgart – My Hub Network at Neckar Hub GmbH, and DEalog – Top 20 project in the #WirVsVirus hackathon of the German federal government.

Which industries is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Sport, and Professional Services. Thomas also has some experience in Government and Administration, Manufacturing, and Education.

Which business areas is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Strategy, and Business Intelligence. Thomas also has some experience in Sales, Marketing, and Project Management.

Which industries has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Information Technology, and Government and Administration.

Which business areas has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Sales, and Strategy.

What is Thomas's education?

Thomas holds a Master in Technology Management from University of Stuttgart.

Does Thomas have any certificates?

Thomas has 3 certificates. These include: Professional Scrum Master I, Professional Scrum Product Owner I, and Prompt Engineering For ChatGPT.

What is the availability of Thomas?

Thomas is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Thomas?

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