Find the perfect Chief Information Officer in Germany in minutes from over 15.000 CVs with the power of AI

• Executed post-carve-out stabilization, system consolidation and cybersecurity uplift. Re-assessed system landscape and assets and designed new IT strategy for future. Implemented new IT operating model focusing on product-centric organization and re-internalization of critical resources.
• Successfully designed new IT operating model of the company, based on massive reduction of external dependencies, insourcing of key positions and upskilling of employees.
• Massive reduction of IT cost in the first three years (-40m$), bringing IT spend level below Gartner industry benchmark (1.27%).
• Introduced new product-centric organization based on fusion teams between business and IT across the company.
• Administered implementation of corporate-wide IT/OT cybersecurity program with more than 60 projects.
• Continuous improvement of enterprise IT/OT cybersecurity maturity level with significant increase in the first two years (CMMI >3.5, C2M2 >2.5).
• Governed successful implementation of the business transformation program within IT area by overachieving the savings target by $8m.
• Initiated and created new cloud-based data management platform based on best-in-class technology.
• Implemented first company-wide Microsoft Copilot AI program based on various business cases, leveraging GenAI and AgenticAI.

• Built Collective Minds as an AI-first company, embedding AI into operating model, delivery and client solutions.
• Built and lead an international offshore delivery organization of 25 professionals, complemented by senior specialists in Germany.
• Act as Interim CDO for ALWITRA, supporting the company-wide digitalization agenda across ERP, CRM, enterprise knowledge, AI, data and operating model.
• Advise managing directors, CIOs and IT leaders on transformation strategy, target operating models, governance, prioritization and execution.
• Own program structures, budgets, staffing, vendor coordination, risks and executive stakeholder communication.
• Develop scalable technology and delivery models across AI, CRM, IAM, integration and manufacturing-related initiatives.

• Member of the strategic management team
• Responsible for 50 direct reports and functional responsibility for 25 more
• Realigned the global IT strategy and merged individual IT divisions of the business units
• Led the central international IT organization of the corporate group
• Budget responsibility of €20 million p.a.
• Strategic advisor to the executive board
• Contributor to the company's strategic decisions as a leadership team member
• Driver of digitalization
• Evolved the global team structure across entities in a matrix setup
• Initiated and implemented process changes
• Operated and provided the central IT infrastructure including the data center for the entire group
• Designed the global application architecture
• Implemented AI-powered solutions
• Responsible for IT governance based on ISO 27001
• Rolled out Microsoft M365
• Conducted an ERP selection process for the corporate group
• Designed and implemented the new organizational structure as a foundation for future success
• Introduced requirements management, project portfolio management and capacity planning for cross-company IT within six months

• Technical lead of a team developing agentic chatbot solutions (React, TypeScript, Python, FastAPI)
• Architecture design for multi-LLM dialog systems - focus on maintainability, UX, and autonomous execution
• Stakeholder alignment, CI/CD processes, and AI integration at enterprise level

• Digitalization of accounting, signature/approval, and onboarding processes
• Restructuring of the IT department
• Introduction of a digital sales tool
• Implementation of an AI webinar series
• Introduction and optimization of information security
• Administration and optimization of the MS Office 365 environment

• Business result optimization and expansion of sales activities
• Responsible for personnel organization
• Introduction of a document management system (DMS)
• Implementation and optimization of ERP, CMS and CRM landscape
• Introduction of digital signatures
• Increase in sales, cost reduction and EBIT improvement

• Chief Information Officer with more than two decades of international leadership experience in publicly traded and regulated industrial environments.

• Responsible for the structural realignment of complex, long-standing IT organizations to bring transparency, control, and financial stability.

• Leading global IT organizations with budgets up to €120 million and up to 320 employees.

• Developing and rolling out centrally managed operating models, setting up transparent financial and governance structures, and consistently delivering business-critical platform initiatives (e.g., SAP S/4HANA).

• Focused on restoring decision-making, prioritization, and execution power during transformation phases under increased organizational pressure.

• Leveraging technology as a strategic tool to increase efficiency, stabilize operations, and support sustainable business development.

• Global IT Transformation & Operating Models

• SAP S/4HANA & Platform Harmonization

• Digital Manufacturing & Industry 4.0

• Governance, Compliance & Cyber Resilience

• International Organizational Leadership

• Sourcing & Location Strategies

• Overall responsibility for strategy, governance, budget, and operations of the global IT function with an annual budget of approximately €45 million and an international team of about 95 employees across all locations.

• Direct reporting line to the executive management and close strategic coordination with the CFO and COO.

• Realigned a historically decentralized IT landscape of 28 legally independent entities and separate budget and control logics into a centrally managed, internationally standardized operating model.

• Introduced transparent governance, reporting, and financial structures with clear separation and active management of CapEx and OpEx budgets at the corporate level.

• Established group-wide IT financial and performance management with clear investment prioritization, transparent CapEx/OpEx structure, and active portfolio governance to sustainably enhance decision-making at the executive level.

• By consistently centralizing, standardizing, and harmonizing platforms (including global rollout of SAP S/4HANA), structural complexity was significantly reduced.

• IT cost base was sustainably cut by about 15% while significantly improving performance and service levels and increasing transparency and control for executive management and leadership.

• At the same time, strategically expanded the production IT architecture in the context of Industry 4.0 by integrating MES and IoT systems in OEM-related, safety-critical production environments and building audit-ready governance and security structures while meeting regulatory requirements (e.g., automotive standards, TISAX-like frameworks, global compliance rules).

• Maintained strict focus on strategically relevant initiatives by clearing parallel projects, reducing redundant structures, and establishing clear responsibilities to noticeably increase speed, commitment, and execution power in the organization.

• High international presence with operational responsibility at production sites and an active role as a strategic sparring partner to the executive management.

• Built, led, and directed a global team of 350+ FTE across Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Romania, Tunisia, Philippines, and India to drive delivery and transformation through smart solutions and platforms.
• Managed a product/platform portfolio exceeding €25M, linking investment to measurable outcomes.
• Delivered two client-facing platforms: FMSP Financial Managed Services Platform (30+ products for Tax and Consulting) and Fund Audit Platform (Genesis).
• Launched an internal digital platform (employee facing) with 15+ tools for internal functions Finance, HR, and QRM.
• Established and executed the AI strategy (data extraction, generation, exploration) to unlock productivity and create new data driven solutions and opportunities.
• Deployed M365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Copilot Agents locally in Luxembourg to more than 40% of the EY Luxembourg users.
• Led the migration of EY Luxembourg from on-prem to Microsoft Azure cloud, improving scalability, resilience, and security.
• Instituted a product-centric operating model (OKRs, portfolio & demand management, release governance) and delivery standards (DevSecOps, SRE, QA automation) with InfoSec metrics.

• Developing and implementing a long-term financial strategy in collaboration with the executive board and other leaders

• Responsibility for budgeting, financial forecasting, and liquidity planning

• Monitoring the company's financial performance and identifying risks and opportunities

• Defining basic financial principles

• Developing strategies to optimize business processes

• Improving or implementing management information systems

• Leading financial communications, maintaining relationships with shareholders and investors, and overseeing internal audits

• Human resources management and general services

• Designing a financial, controlling, and reporting system for the company

• Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all financial reports and documents

• Ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements in finance

• Leading the finance team and coordinating with external auditors and tax advisors

• Managing off-balance-sheet transactions (acquisitions, mergers, divestitures)

• Managing cash operations and financing

• Maintaining third-party relationships with bankers and auditors

• Monitoring and validating company controlling (planning, budgeting, reporting, data analysis)

• Preparing and managing annual financial statements, accounting, management reports, federal gazette filings, and supporting auditors

• Handling legal and tax matters

• Creating financial business plans for the parent company and future subsidiaries

• Consolidating results

• Coordinating financial due diligence and audits

• Implementing effective financial controls and procedures

• Optimizing financial processes and systems to increase efficiency

• Evaluating investment opportunities and risk management strategies

• Preparing studies on industrial and financial investments

• Liquidity management

• Developing a comprehensive IT strategy to support business goals

• Ensuring the security and integrity of all IT systems and data

• Responsibility for selecting, implementing, and maintaining IT infrastructure and applications

• Monitoring compliance with all IT policies, regulations, and standards

• Identifying and managing IT risks and security threats

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure IT systems meet business requirements.

Assignment: Integrating division IT into the group

• Operating and further developing the company's IT landscape, including IT infrastructure (data centers, networks, endpoints), SAP landscape (ERP, PLM), Microsoft environment (M365, SharePoint) and IT security

• Integrating new plants and production lines into the company's IT structures

• Integrating HBPO IT into the corporate group

• Advising business units on using IT systems to meet business requirements effectively and efficiently

• Planning and monitoring the IT budget

• Project and program management

• Designing the IT organization

• Technical and disciplinary leadership of staff and managing external service providers

• Migrating and consolidating IT systems, Active Directory, M365 and SharePoint, SAP SuccessFactors, network, data centers and endpoint technologies, IT security tools

• Developing and implementing the IT strategy for the OPmobility group

• Developing and implementing a global IT operating model for the OPmobility group

• Developing the SAP S/4HANA transformation strategy for HBPO

• Took over overall project IT responsibility as Interim CTO for one of the largest European infrastructure projects in the energy sector with 8 locations and about 4500 users
• Designed and delivered the technical operations platform and related services like data integration, automation & reporting, helpdesk, on-site support, user and asset management, rollout management, operational IT security, service operations, infrastructure & platforms, and collaboration activities
• Spun off the department into a shared service center for 3 of the 4 German transmission system operators, including shaping all key processes, vision, mission, values and building the new company
• Restructured and modernized the project IT into a scalable, automated and integrated platform for over 15 grid expansion projects with ~7500 users across 12 sites
• Steered the IT strategy toward Cloud First, migrating on-premise and cloud environments to a central cloud platform with shared services focused on automation and ML/AI integration
• Shifted the organization to a value-stream-driven operating model based on SAFe, implemented a unified support model, evaluated and re-selected the managed service provider including EU procurement procedures
• Prepared a sovereign cloud approach, led the enterprise architecture area and established an information security management system (ISMS) for ISO 27001 and BSI certifications
• Built a highly automated and integrated IT platform with a shared services model, cut costs and staff by ~30%, and introduced a monitoring and alerting system with AI-based reporting

• Transformational leadership at the intersection of business strategy and technology innovation

• Managed technology transformations with budgets up to €150M (OPEX & CAPEX)

• Led multinational teams of 50-150 professionals across various industries

• Directed enterprise-wide security programs and digital transformation initiatives

• Orchestrated successful M&A integrations, carve-outs and crisis management

• Executed large-scale transition programs for global organizations

• Security excellence: advanced implementation of ISO27001, NIS2, TISAX, DORA, ISMS frameworks, among others

• Digital innovation: cloud transformation, AI security integration, IoT/Industry 4.0

• Infrastructure expertise: enterprise architecture, network security, data center optimization

• Program management: PMI, PRINCE2, ITIL, ITSM methodologies

• Risk management: cyber resilience, compliance, business continuity

• Strategic vision: translating complex technical challenges into business opportunities

• Change leadership: guiding organizations through digital evolution and security transformation

• Crisis management: rapid response and recovery in high-pressure situations

• Stakeholder engagement: building consensus across the C-suite, boards and global teams

• Innovative mindset: quick adaptation to emerging technologies and market demands

• Global perspective: extensive international experience and multicultural sensitivity

• Talent development: mentoring and building high-performance technical teams

• Knowledge transfer: effective communication of complex concepts at all levels

• Solution focus: pragmatic problem solving with strategic long-term vision

• Relationship building: strong stakeholder management and executive presence

• Bilingual: English (native), German (business level)

• Strategic thinking combined with meticulous attention to detail

• Results-driven with a service-oriented approach

• Analytical mindset with creative problem-solving skills

• Diplomatic leadership style enriched by strategic humor

• Industry experience: financial services, banking & insurance, energy & utilities, automotive & engineering, healthcare & life sciences, technology & telecommunications

• Software development
• Team management
• Project management

• B2C customer portals, ecosystems
• DXP
• CDP strategy and platforms