Thorsten Kies - Founder and Managing Partner

Q: Where is Thorsten based?

Thorsten is based in Berlin, Germany .

Q: What languages does Thorsten speak?

Thorsten speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Thorsten have?

Thorsten has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Thorsten has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 6 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 6 years and 6 months . Note that Thorsten may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Thorsten's latest experience?

Thorsten's most recent position is Founder and Managing Partner at Rethinking Transformation .

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

In recent years, Thorsten has worked for Rethinking Transformation and DILAX Intelcom GmbH .

Q: Which industries is Thorsten most experienced in?

Thorsten is most experienced in industries like Information Technology , Manufacturing , and Professional Services . Thorsten also has some experience in Telecommunication and Transportation .

Q: Which business areas is Thorsten most experienced in?

Thorsten is most experienced in business areas like Operations , Information Technology , and Project Management . Thorsten also has some experience in Product Development , Strategy , and Sales .

Q: Which industries has Thorsten worked in recently?

Thorsten has recently worked in industries like Information Technology , Manufacturing , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Thorsten worked in recently?

Thorsten has recently worked in business areas like Operations , Product Development , and Strategy .

Recommended expert

Berlin, Germany

Experience

Jan 2024 - Present

2 years 3 months

Berlin, Germany

Founder and Managing Partner

Rethinking Transformation

Consulting firm for interim managers for ERP transformations in mid-sized companies
Transformation in mid-sized companies (implementation, harmonization, governance)
Focus: ERP implementation and migration, commercial processes, reporting, execution management, digitization, business processes, AI interface between management, finance, and IT

Jan 2011 - Dec 2023

13 years

Berlin, Germany

CEO and Managing Director as well as Board Member of the international subsidiaries

DILAX Intelcom GmbH

Transformation of the corporate group from a sensor manufacturer to an innovative, high-growth solutions provider for mobility and smart city markets (2018–2023)
Building and scaling a new business unit from €0.2M to €5M in revenue through disruptive product innovations and SaaS business models (2011–2018)
Responsibility for international subsidiaries in France, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, and USA
Private equity ownership since 2015, part of an international mobility group since 2024

Jan 2002 - Dec 2011

10 years

Munich, Germany

Interim Head of Sales North, Head of Business Unit Region East and Head of Customer Projects

Comarch Software AG

Restructuring and introduction of a sales control system and expansion of ERP and software solutions for mid-sized companies with 12 sales managers (2009–2011)
ERP mid-market expansion, new customer acquisition, P&L responsibility, and successful positioning of Comarch ERP in over 40 countries
Portfolio: ERP, CRM, BI, Cloud/IT, telecom, banking, IoT, e-health
Execution of ERP transformations & migrations (fit-gap, processes, go-live), commercial processes, project billing, reporting, team leadership (up to 30 employees), and interface between finance and IT

Jan 1999 - Dec 2002

4 years

Karlsruhe, Germany

Senior Manager Customer Network Implementation and Head of Competence Center Virtual Private Networks

KPNQwest Germany GmbH

Responsible for project-based service billing and order processing, standardization of processes in project and service business (2000–2002)
Establishment of transparent control and reporting structures, leading up to 45 employees in project and implementation teams
Setup of a VPN sales competence center: implementation and operation of IP networks, carrier management, and provisioning for international insurance and tourism customers (1999–2000)
Focus: data communication, internet access, IP and VPNs, hosting; customers: STRATO, international carriers

Jan 1996 - Dec 1999

4 years

Osnabrück, Germany

Head of Profit Center Software and Consulting and Assistant to Management

BOG Informationstechnologie & Services GmbH

Reorganization of commercial and operational processes, introduction of integrated software solutions to improve efficiency, performance and cost control, and reporting (1997–1999)
IT consulting, software development, and IT services for mid-sized companies
Investors: GE Equity Capital, 3i (1999)
Reorganization of customer service and introduction of integrated software solutions for efficiency and process optimization (1996–1997)

Jan 1993 - Dec 1996

4 years

Hamburg, Germany

Management consultant

GfP Gesellschaft für Projektmanagement mbH

Conducting consulting projects in software development, logistics and business process optimization

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Information Technology, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Telecommunication, and Transportation.

Information Technology

Manufacturing

Professional Services

Telecommunication

Transportation

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Operations, Information Technology, Project Management, Product Development, Strategy, and Sales.

Operations

Information Technology

Project Management

Product Development

Strategy

Sales

Summary

Diploma in Industrial Engineering, married, 2 (almost) adult children

Long-time ERP and transformation manager with overall responsibility for complex ERP programs.
Specialized in commercial core processes in project-oriented business.

Skills

Leadership Responsibilities And Reporting Lines:

Leading Technology Companies With Up To 120 Employees Across 3 Hierarchy Levels.
Leading International Managing Directors In A Matrix Organization Across Sales, Marketing, Project Business, And Service.
Reporting Directly To The Board, Executive Management, Shareholders, Or Owners.

International And Cultural Experience:

Managing International Subsidiaries (France, Uk, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Usa) With Responsibility For Market Development, Roll-outs, And Customer Projects.
Establishing International Service Partnerships (Incl. Russia, Norway, Spain, France) To Ensure Implementation, Service Quality, And Customer Satisfaction.
Direct Work With Customers And Partners At An International Level, Including Tenders, Contract Negotiations, And Implementations In Markets Like The Uk, Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe, And Scandinavia.

Experience Matrix:

Experienced Ownership Structures: Private Equity, Owner-managed Company (Mid-market), And Corporate Subsidiary.
Participated In Company Phases: Setup, Development, And Market Leadership In Specific Business Areas, Post-merger Integration After Acquisition, Exit Preparation, International Expansion, Consolidation, Transformation, And Restructuring.
Acquired Industry Know-how: Information Technology, Software, Electronics, Internet And Telecommunications, Management Consulting, Transport Companies, Industry, Vehicle Manufacturers, Track Construction.

Weighted Functional Scope:

General Management

Leadership And Team Management.
Development Of Business Model And Strategy.
Risk Management, Compliance.
Finance, Process Design, Investment Decisions.
Audits Iso/ts 22163, Iso 9001.
Change Management (Employees, Culture, Organization).

Erp & Transformation

International Erp Transformations (Ifrs, Processes, Rollout).
Migration Of Software Solutions And Business Process Optimization.
Requirement Specification, Migration, And Go-live.
Reporting & Kpi Frameworks.
Stakeholder And Team Management.
Training And Education Concepts.

Sales, Customers, Market

International B2b Sales.
Key Account Management.
Crm / Opportunity Management.
Public Tenders.
Market Launch.
International Service Partnerships.
Escalation And Crisis Management.

Operations

Project Management And Support.
International Service Partnerships.
Escalation And Crisis Management.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Diploma · Industrial Engineering

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 6

Experience in Information Technology 31 y

Avg length 6 y 2 m

Longest experience 12 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Founder and Managing Partner, CEO and Managing Director as well as Board Member of the international subsidiaries, Interim Head of Sales North, Head of Business Unit Region East and Head of Customer Projects

Main industries Information Technology, Manufacturing, Professional Services

Main business areas Operations, Information Technology, Project Management

Qualifications

Highest degree Bachelor

Profile

Created

July 2025

Last Update

February 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Thorsten based?

Thorsten is based in Berlin, Germany.

What languages does Thorsten speak?

Thorsten speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Thorsten have?

Thorsten has at least 33 years of experience. During this time, Thorsten has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 6 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 6 years and 6 months. Note that Thorsten may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Thorsten be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Thorsten would be well-suited for roles such as: Founder and Managing Partner, CEO and Managing Director as well as Board Member of the international subsidiaries, Interim Head of Sales North, Head of Business Unit Region East and Head of Customer Projects.

What is Thorsten's latest experience?

Thorsten's most recent position is Founder and Managing Partner at Rethinking Transformation.

What companies has Thorsten worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Thorsten has worked for Rethinking Transformation and DILAX Intelcom GmbH.

Which industries is Thorsten most experienced in?

Thorsten is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Professional Services. Thorsten also has some experience in Telecommunication and Transportation.

Which business areas is Thorsten most experienced in?

Thorsten is most experienced in business areas like Operations, Information Technology, and Project Management. Thorsten also has some experience in Product Development, Strategy, and Sales.

Which industries has Thorsten worked in recently?

Thorsten has recently worked in industries like Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Thorsten worked in recently?

Thorsten has recently worked in business areas like Operations, Product Development, and Strategy.

What is Thorsten's education?

Thorsten holds a Bachelor in Industrial Engineering.

What is the availability of Thorsten?

Thorsten is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Thorsten?

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