Wolfgang Decker - Managing Director

Q: Where is Wolfgang based?

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

Q: What languages does Wolfgang speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Wolfgang have?

Wolfgang has at least 21 years of experience. During this time, Wolfgang has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 4 months . Note that Wolfgang may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Wolfgang's latest experience?

Wolfgang's most recent position is Chief Technology Officer at LegalTech Start-up .

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

In recent years, Wolfgang has worked for LegalTech Start-up , Industrial Components Group , Premium Automotive Manufacturer , Pharma & Chemicals Group , and Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence .

Q: Which industries is Wolfgang most experienced in?

Wolfgang is most experienced in industries like Information Technology , Manufacturing , and Professional Services . Wolfgang also has some experience in Telecommunication , Chemical , and Pharmaceutical .

Q: Which business areas is Wolfgang most experienced in?

Wolfgang is most experienced in business areas like Project Management , Information Technology , and Strategy . Wolfgang also has some experience in Operations , Quality Assurance , and Production .

Q: Which industries has Wolfgang worked in recently?

Wolfgang has recently worked in industries like Professional Services , Manufacturing , and Chemical .

Q: Which business areas has Wolfgang worked in recently?

Wolfgang has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology , Operations , and Project Management .

Recommended expert

Grünwald, Germany

Experience

Sep 2024 - Jun 2025

10 months

Switzerland

Chief Technology Officer

LegalTech Start-up

Defined technical roadmap for an early-stage AI-driven LegalTech solution under DACH regulations.
Implemented RAG architecture with cloud + on-prem deployment, agile DevOps and LLM-based modules.
Delivered MVP, secured pilot clients, and built partner ecosystem – enabling first revenues and investor readiness.

Jan 2023 - Dec 2024

2 years

Switzerland

Program Manager Manufacturing Transformation

Industrial Components Group

Took over an eight-year stalled MES replacement across multiple plants with fragmented initiatives and architectural drift
Consolidated target architecture, aligned ERP and quality systems, and re-established structured governance and delivery cadence
Stabilized a CHF 550M business unit, reversed heavy losses (~CHF 200M) and improved OEE by >15%, introducing execution control and an evidence-based impact loop

Sep 2020 - Dec 2021

1 year 4 months

Italy

Program Manager Digitalization Paint Shop

Premium Automotive Manufacturer

Took over a failed MES implementation reducing throughput to 8–9 cars/day vs. 23 contracted, threatening model ramp-up.
Stabilized platform, re-engineered rollout with agile deployments (summer shutdown + subsequent weekend sprints).
Increased output to 26–28 cars/day (over contractual target), securing continuity of a premium product line worth >€1B revenue.

May 2020 - Dec 2022

2 years 8 months

Program Lead Manufacturing Transformation

Pharma & Chemicals Group

Assumed leadership of a failing MES rollout in a highly regulated multi-site manufacturing environment
Rebuilt program governance, validated system design and secured compliant go-live under extreme time pressure
Restored operational stability and safeguarded uninterrupted production during global supply ramp-up under GxP constraints

Oct 2019 - Jun 2020

9 months

Germany

Program Manager Manufacturing Transformation

Automotive Tier-1 Supplier

Took over modernization of an unstable legacy MES that had failed to migrate and was blocking ERP integration and traceability
Reframed scope, set decision rights and guided the transition architecture, aligning vendors and plants to a single rollout cadence
Enabled compliant multi-site deployment, stabilized shopfloor execution and reduced OT operating cost by >20%

Jan 2019 - Present

7 years 3 months

Munich, Germany

Executive Advisor

Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence

Lead enterprise ERP, MES and digital transformation programs across Europe, the US and Asia (program value >€180M)
Recovered delivery-critical programs in PE-backed and industrial environments under cost and time pressure
Defined and governed ERP/MES target operating model and integration blueprint for scalable multi-plant execution
Established execution control, vendor governance and board-level steering in complex multi-party setups

Jan 2015 - Dec 2019

5 years

Munich, Germany

Managing Director, IT Strategy & Delivery – Industry X

Accenture

Accountable for large-scale ERP and platform transformations across industrial and regulated sectors
Advised C-level executives on IT strategy, operating models and recovery of complex delivery programs
Directed S/4HANA and hybrid cloud deployments including IT/OT convergence and cybersecurity integration
Managed multi-country delivery organizations with full financial and performance accountability

Jan 2009 - Dec 2015

7 years

Munich, Germany

Group Vice President & Chief Project Officer

Giesecke+Devrient

Led a €1.5B global project portfolio within a 350+ professional matrix organization
Established group-wide portfolio governance, risk control and executive reporting structures
Drove delivery stabilization and execution discipline across international business lines
Launched and scaled secure cloud-based platform businesses in telecom-grade environments

Jan 2005 - Dec 2008

4 years

Frankfurt, Germany

Managing Consultant, IT Strategy

PA Consulting Group

Led post-merger IT integrations aligning SAP and legacy landscapes across EMEA, US and APAC
Designed shared service and operating models for carve-out and transition programs

Accenture & Industry Roles

Managed multi-site IT operations; led data center and secure network rollouts.
Led the PMO for an industrial launch program, ensuring system readiness and stable go-live.
Shaped enterprise architectures across banking, insurance and industry.

Industry Experience

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

Experienced in Information Technology, Professional Services, Manufacturing, Telecommunication, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical.

Information Technology

Professional Services

Manufacturing

Telecommunication

Chemical

Pharmaceutical

Business Area Experience

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

Experienced in Project Management, Information Technology, Strategy, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Production.

Project Management

Information Technology

Strategy

Operations

Quality Assurance

Production

Summary

CFO-Grade Operational Performance Turnaround

„ Turning shopfloor action into verifiable EBIT and cash impact “

Context In industrial special situations, operational activity is visible, but financial steering reliability is not. Boards see KPIs. CFOs see volatility. Investors see narrative risk. The gap is rarely effort. It is the missing cause-effect chain between shopfloor intervention and verifiable EBIT and cash impact.

Typical mandate situations

Underperforming plants with margin erosion
High scrap, rework, unstable delivery performance
Excess inventory and working capital pressure
PE value bridge, refinancing, covenant stress
Digital, ERP, MES programs that do not land in results

Core contribution I establish a closed impact loop that links operational signals to validated EBIT and cash effects: operational signal, explicit decision ownership, targeted intervention, measured operational effect, verified financial contribution. This converts visibility into control. Not reporting. Execution-grade financial steering.

30 / 60 / 90 orientation

0–30: Loss-driver baseline accepted by operations and finance (no narrative, only facts)
31–60: Top value levers prioritised, owners named, cadence installed, evidence trail defined
61–90: First verified financial effects visible in reporting and usable in board communication

Working Mode Cadence-driven. Small lever set. Clear ownership. Evidence after action.

Fit check Impact requires a clear mandate and direct access at CFO / COO level. I am strongest with operational authority plus financial transparency aligned

Skills

Build Digitalization Roadmaps For Regulated Manufacturing Across Global Site Networks
Translate Operational Pain Into Prioritized Automation, Analytics And Integration Initiatives
Orchestrate Delivery Across Internal Teams, Integrators, Technology Partners To Secure Adoption
Establish Portfolio Governance For Digital And Oe Initiatives With Roi Discipline And Kpi Steering
Digital Transformation For Manufacturing And Supply Chain (Mes, Integration, Data)
Operational Excellence And Continuous Improvement With Shopfloor Standards
Value Realization And Kpi Steering From Operational Signals To Verified Impact
Portfolio, Program And Vendor Governance In Complex Multi-party Delivery Setups

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Education

UAS Kaiserslautern

Diploma, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science · Electrical Engineering & Computer Science · Kaiserslautern, Germany

University Saarbrücken

Postgraduate, Business Administration · Business Administration · Saarbrücken, Germany

Certifications & licenses

Supervisory Board Certification

ESMT Berlin

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 10

Experience in Information Technology 11.5 y

Avg length 3 y

Longest experience 7 y 2 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, Switzerland, Italy)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Chief Technology Officer, Program Manager Manufacturing Transformation, Program Manager Digitalization Paint Shop

Main industries Information Technology, Professional Services, Manufacturing

Main business areas Project Management, Information Technology, Strategy

Qualifications

Highest degree Bachelor

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Created

February 2026

Need a freelancer? Find your match in seconds.

Try FRATCH GPT

Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Wolfgang based?

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

What languages does Wolfgang speak?

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

How many years of experience does Wolfgang have?

Wolfgang has at least 21 years of experience. During this time, Wolfgang has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 4 months. Note that Wolfgang may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Wolfgang be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Wolfgang would be well-suited for roles such as: Chief Technology Officer, Program Manager Manufacturing Transformation, Program Manager Digitalization Paint Shop.

What is Wolfgang's latest experience?

Wolfgang's most recent position is Chief Technology Officer at LegalTech Start-up.

What companies has Wolfgang worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Wolfgang has worked for LegalTech Start-up, Industrial Components Group, Premium Automotive Manufacturer, Pharma & Chemicals Group, and Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence.

Which industries is Wolfgang most experienced in?

Wolfgang is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Professional Services. Wolfgang also has some experience in Telecommunication, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical.

Which business areas is Wolfgang most experienced in?

Wolfgang is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Information Technology, and Strategy. Wolfgang also has some experience in Operations, Quality Assurance, and Production.

Which industries has Wolfgang worked in recently?

Wolfgang has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Chemical.

Which business areas has Wolfgang worked in recently?

Wolfgang has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology, Operations, and Project Management.

What is Wolfgang's education?

Wolfgang holds a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UAS Kaiserslautern.

Does Wolfgang have any certificates?

Wolfgang has 1 certificate: Supervisory Board Certification.

What is the availability of Wolfgang?

Wolfgang is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Wolfgang?

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