Chief Executive Officer
in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AIFrom strategy resets and board reporting to leadership alignment, fundraising support, and operational turnaround, get a CEO who fits the mandate. Fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
Meet FRATCH Chief Executive Officer
Ornel Franck W.
Last position:
Sales Partner at ERGO PRO
- Industry: Insurance, Trade, IT
- Customers & Projects: Consulting and selling insurance and similar services
- Main tasks: Insurance consulting (health insurance, retirement planning, wealth building); commercial services, inside and field sales; sales data analysis and forecasting; customer consulting and support; opening a new sales headquarters for private and business customers; business development & innovation management; business use case development; process optimization; stakeholder management; team leadership and training; preparation and delivery of trainings;
- Technologies used: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Draw.IO, Camunda 8, Java (8, 17,21,25), Git, Spring Boot, Spring Batch, Spring Data REST, Spring Web, Spring Security, J-Unit, Playwright, Lombock, Vaadin, H2, PostgreSQL (16, 17 18), pgAdmin, Docker, LLMs, JasperSoft Studio, JasperReports
Manuel P.
Last position:
AI Engineer at Misumi Europe GmbH & Motius GmbH
- Designed and built a next-generation NLP platform to accelerate sales-driven customer service through intelligent request analysis and routing, reducing average customer query response time by 30%.
- Architected a hybrid NLP system combining Large Language Models (LLMs) with traditional NLP pipelines for robust, explainable results.
- Developed request classification and routing mechanisms to accelerate customer support teams in handling customer queries faster and more accurately.
- Optimized LLM based data extraction and classification with context engineering.
- Integrated the platform into customer service processes, reducing response times and enhancing workforce efficiency.
Mike B.
Last position:
Freelance UX-Researcher, Designer at Bodensee Schiffsbetriebe; Labhard-Medien
- UX research, UX concept development, and UX design for an AI dialogue system with information on events, locations, public transport timetables, and special trips. Observations, remote user tests, session recordings, analytics evaluations, RapidUserTests, prototyping, etc., using Figma/Figma Make, Claude Design, and OpenAI Codex (Design)
Tobias W.
Last position:
CEO & Fouder at Wittbix
Nikola N.
Last position:
Founder and CEO - Senior Business Analyst at fintechno AI GmbH
- Business analysis
- Requirements engineering
- System design
- Various insurance projects
- Technology stack: msg.Billing (in-/ex-collection)
- Product: Pay-per-use car insurance based on blockchain and OBD-II real-time telemetry with AI
Christoph P.
Last position:
ICT DevSecOps Engineer & Security Coordinator at Abraxas Informatik AG
- Interface role with the SOC team; improved incident response time by 45% through structured escalation processes and proactive security monitoring.
- Defined technical standards for a multi-tenant enterprise platform (10+ services), resulting in a 30% shorter onboarding time for new clients in the public sector.
- Active knowledge transfer and mentoring of a 6-person team; increased team autonomy and established a sustainable engineering culture.
- Reduced time to market by 50% by optimizing CI/CD pipelines and establishing self-service deployments.
- Stack: GitLab CI/CD, Kubernetes, Nexus, Harbor, ArgoCD, HashiCorp Vault, Grafana, Python, PostgreSQL, Java, Spring Boot, Flyway, Quarkus, JBoss, Loki, Go, Kafka, Kustomize, MongoDB
Jakob H.
Last position:
Chief Transformation Officer at Engagement with an internationally active technology group
- Transformation and global scaling (listed in the MDAX)
- Stabilization and professionalization of the ongoing value creation program
- Consistent challenging of the workstreams regarding content, target achievement, and progress, as well as realization of the defined value drivers
- Identification and removal of implementation blockers to ensure execution speed
- Reporting to the Executive Board and Supervisory Board
Jürgen E.
Last position:
Chief Executive Officer at Riddle&Code GmbH
- Pivoted the company into data-driven and AI-powered energy optimization solutions for microgrids, energy communities, and grid operators.
Valérie H.
Last position:
Lecturer in Future Foresight at Hochschule für Wirtschaft
Hubertus S.
Last position:
Senior Product Manager AI
Workflow-automation SaaS for operations teams (Berlin, 120 people); full-time freelance engagement reporting to the CEO: an initial 12-month interim mandate, extended twice through the AI build-out; owned product for one squad and coached the other product managers on process.
- Led generative AI (LLM) integration into the core product: from LLM-powered steps to natural-language workflow authoring and step-level automation suggestions, plus AI-managed dynamic workflows, shipped behind eval gates with human-in-the-loop fallbacks: AI-drafted workflows grew to 31% of all new workflows, and median time-to-first-workflow fell from 3 days to 4 hours.
- Packaged the AI capabilities as a usage-based add-on priced on executed automation steps, working with sales and marketing on positioning: ~€800K added ARR in the first year, and adopting accounts churned 1.8 pp less.
- Owned the roadmap end to end: replaced feature-request-driven quarterly planning with an outcome-based rolling roadmap built on quarterly bets and explicit kill criteria, presented monthly to the executive team and quarterly to the board.
- Rebuilt the product-management operating system: weekly customer-discovery cadence incl. workshop facilitation, RFC/decision-doc reviews and a single quarterly metrics narrative; coached four product managers, one promoted to senior during the engagement.
- Closed the engagement as scoped: hired and onboarded the permanent VP Product, handed over the process playbook and roadmap, and exited on schedule in June 2026.
Alexander H.
Last position:
QMS Senior Specialist at Abbott GmbH
- Conducted technical QMS assessments of the corporate complaints platform
- Estimated effort for the upgrade activity
- Developed a high-level data migration plan
- Coordinated with the software vendor on required adjustments
- Developed a proof of concept and presented it to business stakeholders
Kristian Michael H.
Last position:
Director Global IT at JC Newretail AG / Peek & Cloppenburg Group
- Lead 300+ tech professionals across internal and consulting teams
- Transformed IT into a strategic, product-centric consultancy
- As industry first: Initiated ERP migration SAP → Oracle Fusion
- Implemented AI strategy, built the data science competence and initiated AI pilots
- Established IT Strategy Board aligning technology with business vision and objectives
- Implemented a central and standardised IT vendor management process reducing IT costs by 10%
- Outsourced internal ERP management structure into an external service entity
- Implementation of IT security protocols, standards, trainings and systems
Dennis O.
Last position:
Co-Founder & CEO at Connect AI
AI Agent SaaS
Founded and built an AI agent SaaS for automated customer support and lead qualification, including implementation with pilot customers.
- Service → product transformation: productization from the agency into an independent AI agent SaaS. The starting point was a specific customer problem; the product was developed together with the customer.
- Developed and launched AI agents for website inbound, lead qualification, and customer service, reaching €8K MRR.
- Structured and led a remote team across engineering, LLM ops, and customer enablement.
- Case PTC Auto (e-commerce on Shopify): connected an AI support agent to the store, automated product data & support workflows, reducing workload by ~10–15 hours per week per support employee.
- Set up GDPR-compliant data processing for the AI agents: data processing agreements, deletion policies, and customer data storage locations.
- Assessed agents against the EU AI Act (risk class, transparency requirements) and built them accordingly.
- Addressed customers’ compliance and security requirements (questionnaires, evidence, contracts) to make sales possible in the first place.
- Built technical safeguards into the product to prevent agent misbehavior: hallucinations, escalation to humans, and logging.
Sascha L.
Last position:
CEO at SEComply
- Founder & creator of a cutting-edge Governance, Risk & Compliance SaaS solution.
- Developing and executing business development strategies to identify new opportunities and expand market presence.
- Providing information security consulting services.
- Specializing in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) topics such as risk management, ISO 27005, ISO 27001, NIS 2, DORA, PCI DSS, EU-GDPR, and more.
- Past projects:
- Kyndryl Austria GmbH: delivered IAM blueprint, conducted risk assessments, developed transformation strategy and roadmap for client projects, and provided support in pre-sales activities to align solutions with client needs.
- Cashpoint Sportwetten GmbH: conducted ISO 27001:2022 gap analysis, enhanced ISMS processes, updated security training, aligned with ISO 27001:2022 standards, and improved vulnerability management practices through regular assessments and remediation planning.
- Hornbach Baumarkt AG: supported the CISO in achieving ISO 27001 compliance, implementing a secure software development lifecycle (SDLC), strengthening vulnerability management practices, and enhancing risk management frameworks.
- MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH: created and reviewed security concepts aligned with ISO 27001 standards.
- Stromnetz Berlin GmbH: developed a comprehensive security concept based on ISO 27001 requirements.
- dmTech GmbH: conducted IT security training for employees, fostering awareness and adherence to security best practices.
- Finanz Informatik GmbH: managed PCI DSS-related tasks, including compliance assessments and control implementations.
- TIPS Messtechnik GmbH: conducted NIS2 gap analysis, developed a comprehensive compliance roadmap, and provided supportive actions to address identified gaps and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
Cyrille C.
Last position:
Founder, Sr Partner & CEO at APX Vision
APX Vision partners with organizations to design, pilot, and continually refine adaptive operating models that unlock measurable growth, resilience, and engagement through continuous, real-world implementation.
Adaptive systems consulting: Implementing the Adaptive Organization & Management System 6.0â„¢ through customized diagnostics, pilots, and actionable frameworks.
Executive and team coaching: Supporting leadership growth and culture renewal with people-centered, evidence-driven approaches.
Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence: Enabling practical, sustainable improvements across business functions.
Innovation partnerships, pilot mandates, and co-creation opportunities to advance System 6.0â„¢.
Strategic consulting and coaching collaborations for sustainable transformation.
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Chief Executive Officer statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
22 years
Position duration
5.7 years
Positions per freelancer
10
Top business areas
Strategy, Product Development, Information Technology
Top industries
Information Technology, Professional Services, Manufacturing
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Human Resources
Bachelor's degree or higher
90%
Master's degree or higher
61%
Doctorate
13%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
97%
Based on our profile pool as of 10 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.
Average rates for Chief Executive Officer
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 10 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Chief Executive Officer experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (70%)
- Professional Services (68%)
- Manufacturing (42%)
- Banking and Finance (33%)
- Automotive (32%)
- Retail (29%)
- Education (28%)
- Energy (26%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the role
What a CEO does
A Chief Executive Officer sets direction and carries the final responsibility for execution. Companies bring in a freelance CEO, interim CEO, or chief executive when they need a clear mandate, fast decisions, and a leader who can step in without a long ramp-up.
- Define or reset strategy and priorities
- Align the leadership team around goals and ownership
- Review performance, risks, and cash focus
- Represent the company to board, investors, and key partners
- Guide major changes such as restructuring, growth, or succession
Core strengths
Strong CEOs combine judgment, communication, and control of the business model. They know how to read the numbers, ask the right questions, and keep teams focused when the situation is unclear.
- Executive leadership and decision-making
- P&L ownership and commercial thinking
- Board communication and stakeholder management
- Change leadership and crisis handling
- Hiring, delegation, and team alignment
Typical tools and context
A CEO works with management reports, cash flow views, KPI dashboards, board packs, strategy decks, and investor updates. In practice, the role often sits close to finance, operations, sales, and HR, because the best decisions depend on how these parts fit together.
Freelance CEOs are often brought in for founder transitions, turnaround projects, growth phases, post-merger integration, or when a business needs temporary executive leadership. That also makes the role useful when a permanent hire would take too long or when the assignment is limited and sharply defined.
What clients need
This role is a fit when a company has one of these situations:
- The founder needs to step back or share responsibility
- The leadership team lacks clear ownership
- Growth has outpaced structure and decision-making
- The business needs turnaround discipline
- A temporary chief executive is needed during change
In some companies, the brief is not full-time leadership but a focused mandate: stabilize the business, prepare a sale, support a merger, or professionalize reporting and governance.
How strong CEOs work
A strong CEO is not only visible. They are specific. They set priorities, remove friction, and keep the organisation honest about trade-offs. They know when to lead from the front and when to let the team own the work.
Companies should look for proof of outcomes, not just senior titles. Useful signals are clear communication, calm handling of pressure, and the ability to work with owners, boards, and management without losing the line of responsibility.
Freelance or permanent
A freelance CEO makes sense when speed matters, the assignment is temporary, or the company needs a senior leader for a defined phase. This is common in transition periods, during growth inflection points, or when the board wants an outside perspective before hiring permanently.
For freelancers, the best engagements are clear on mandate, authority, decision rights, and the expected handover. That is what keeps a chief executive assignment effective from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Not sure where to start with Chief Executive Officer? These answers cover the essentials.
A Chief Executive Officer sets direction, makes key decisions, and keeps the leadership team aligned. In a freelance or interim mandate, the scope often includes strategy, board communication, cash focus, and major organisational change. The exact remit should be written down clearly before the assignment starts.
A freelance CEO is a good choice when the company needs leadership now, but the long-term structure is not yet clear. This often happens during founder transitions, turnaround work, post-merger integration, or while a permanent search is still open. It is also useful when the mandate is temporary and tightly defined.
Not always. In some companies, managing director or general manager is the local title for the same top leadership role, while in others the scope is narrower. The key question is who owns the full business mandate, the leadership team, and the final decisions.
Look for executive judgment, clear communication, and a solid grip on finance and operations. A strong chief executive can translate strategy into action, handle board and investor conversations, and make hard trade-offs without losing team trust. Past responsibility for P&L, change, or turnaround work is especially relevant.
The brief should define the mandate, decision rights, reporting line, and what success looks like. It should also state whether the role is hands-on, advisory, or fully operational. For a CEO assignment, ambiguity about authority is one of the fastest ways to create friction.
Yes, many parts of the role can be handled remotely, especially strategy work, board preparation, and leadership alignment. But CEOs often need on-site time for key meetings, team resets, or sensitive change processes. The right setup depends on how much trust, visibility, and operational control the company needs.
Focus on evidence of outcomes in similar situations, not on the size of the job title alone. Look for clear examples of growth, turnaround, succession, or restructuring where the person had real accountability. A good CEO can explain what they changed, how they led people through it, and what improved as a result.
They need a clear mandate, access to decision makers, and enough authority to act. They also need fast access to financial data, operational insight, and the people who carry the work. Without that setup, even a very capable chief executive will struggle to deliver value.
The average hourly rate for Chief Executive Officer is 134 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,074 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Chief Executive Officer, 90% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 61% hold at least a Master's degree, and 13% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Chief Executive Officer have 22 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 5.7 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officer are German (98%), English (97%), and French (32%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officer are Information Technology (70%), Professional Services (68%), and Manufacturing (42%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officer are Strategy (77%), Product Development (71%), and Information Technology (70%).
FRATCH Chief Executive Officer main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home all over Germany — available on-site in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and every major business hub, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Cologne 
Frankfurt 
Dusseldorf 
Vienna 
Zurich Countries:
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Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
