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Find the perfect Commercial Directors in Germany in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AI.

Need a commercial leader for go-to-market planning, revenue growth, pricing, partner strategy or contract negotiations? Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers who can step into complex sales and commercial projects without delay.

About the role

What they do

A commercial director shapes how a company earns, grows and protects margin. In freelance projects, they often step in to fix stalled pipelines, sharpen pricing, rebuild account plans or lead a new market entry. They work across sales, key account management, partnerships and commercial operations.

Typical deliverables

  • Commercial strategy and revenue plans
  • Pricing and margin recommendations
  • Sales pipeline reviews and forecast discipline
  • Key account plans and partner frameworks
  • Contract support for commercial terms
  • Go-to-market plans for new products or regions

Core skills

A strong commercial director combines board-level thinking with hands-on execution. They can read a P&L, challenge the sales funnel, align marketing and sales, and negotiate with clients without losing sight of profit. They also know how to turn data from CRM, ERP and reporting tools into clear actions for the team.

Tools and focus areas

Common work includes CRM analysis in Salesforce or HubSpot, revenue reporting in Excel or BI tools, and commercial planning around SAP, pricing models and partner channels. In Germany, they are often hired by industrial, SaaS, B2B services and manufacturing companies that need local market knowledge, German-language stakeholder management and clear coordination with remote teams.

When to bring one in

Companies hire a freelance commercial director when a permanent hire would take too long or when the need is clearly defined. That includes growth resets, interim leadership, post-merger alignment, market expansion, sales process cleanup or support for a new product launch. It also fits when an existing team needs a senior operator to bridge strategy and execution.

What strong people bring

  • Clear commercial judgement under pressure
  • Direct communication with sales, finance and leadership
  • Practical plans that teams can execute
  • Experience with complex B2B deals and long sales cycles
  • A structured way to improve margin, pricing and forecast quality
  • The ability to lead without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

Meet FRATCH Commercial Directors

Christian Baudisch

Christian Baudisch

Project List | Interim Management & Commercial Leadership

Cologne

Last position:

External Commercial Advisor / Project Manager at Global automotive supplier for press and stamped parts

Automotive | Manufacturing | Commercial Excellence

  • Analyzed sales strategy, product/market positioning, customer portfolio, acquisition approach, sales funnel, opportunity quality, and conversion.
  • Developed a prioritized sales roadmap with quick wins and structural measures for target customers, pipeline, roles, routines, and management reviews.
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Philip Krüger

Philip Krüger

CFO / Commercial Management

Munich

Last position:

Consulting / Interim Management at self-employed

  • Focus areas: restructuring, operations management, commercial management, purchasing, production
  • Industries: automotive, metal processing, shipbuilding, electrical, elevators / escalators
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Franz Forster

Franz Forster

Interim Commercial Director

Moosach

Last position:

Interim Commercial Director at KYOCERA AVX Components (Automation) GmbH

  • assumed commercial management for three companies at the site

  • monthly reporting to the US parent company (US GAAP)

  • timely submission of all filings (VAT returns, statistics)

  • weekly forecasting and production progress

  • preparation of the 2024 and 2025 annual financial statements (HGB + IFRS)

  • completion of the 2024 financial statements with tax returns (PwC)

  • completion of the 2027 budget planning

  • project controlling

  • point of contact for tax advisors and auditors

  • further development of processes and tools

  • timely submission of various reports in a complex group structure

  • resolution of tax issues

  • stabilization of administrative processes

  • re-motivation of employees despite short-time work

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Dennis Trawinski

Dennis Trawinski

Head of Finance / Commercial Managing Director

Hamburg

Last position:

Head of Finance / Commercial Managing Director at Lotsenbüro für temporäre Bauten und mobile Lösungen GmbH

  • Responsible for Finance, Insurance, and Legal, including 3 department heads
  • Leading and managing day-to-day accounting
  • Preparing and reporting monthly financial statements according to HGB and IFRS
  • Corporate controlling including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
  • Point of contact for external authorities, banks, tax advisors, and auditors
  • Implementing group-wide processes at the corporate level
  • Preparing annual financial statements according to HGB
  • Supporting the annual audit
  • Supporting special audits and due diligence projects at the group level
  • Insourcing of accounting, including ERP implementation and department development
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Stephan Appel

Stephan Appel

Commercial Director & Head of Treasury

München

Last position:

Freelance Consultant in a Family Foundation and Other Companies

Freelance consultant in a family foundation and other companies in the role of commercial manager/CFO in the real estate/construction industry Responsibilities

  • Treasury & Financial Planning
  • Controlling
  • Accounting
  • Human Resources
  • IT
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Dirk Rosenstock

Dirk Rosenstock

Interim CCO, Chief Commercial Officer

Schenefeld

Last position:

Interim CCO, Chief Commercial Officer at LADE GmbH

  • defining product/market fit and strategic positioning including ramp-up planning

  • designing, implementing & optimizing target-group-oriented marketing activities

  • strategic alignment of sales & digitalization as well as process optimization (CRM: HubSpot, ERP: weclapp)

  • developing new markets & partners as well as operational sales of charging solutions including key account management

  • tripling revenue compared to the previous year and building an AE funnel of over €4 million

  • increasing sales efficiency through clear prioritization of leads, customers and partners as well as centralizing sales work in one CRM (HubSpot)

  • introducing partner management

  • recruiting new employees, building and leading a sales team including necessary processes and preparing handover to the successor

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Wolfgang Horlacher

Wolfgang Horlacher

Interim Commercial Manager

München

Last position:

Head of Finance and Controlling (Interim) at Kunert Fashion Group

  • Financial accounting: daily general ledger entries and month-end closing

  • Preparation of FY 2024 financial group statements (subunits KF, KNL, KAU, KCH)

  • Preparation of physical inventory for KF with inventory instructions for Logistic

  • Further development of ERP Finance processes integration with MS Dynamics BC 14

  • Implementation of electronic invoice verification and Multi Cash banking software

  • Expansion of sales and e-commerce controlling toolbox and processes

  • Preparation of budgets 2026, 2027, 2028, including investment plan, cost accounting

  • Preparation and commentary on monthly reports for sub-units and Group

  • Preparation of weekly financial plans, cash flow and liquidity plans

  • Further development of sales controlling, focusing on margins & product profitability

  • Creation and integration of accounting workflows for MS Dynamics

  • Leadership focus: Stabilization of the finance team and clear scope of work responsibility

  • Communication with banks, auditors, tax advisors, and tax authorities

  • Complete and accurate monthly reporting for each business unit and the KF Group

  • Preparation 2024 financial statements for KF Germany, KNL, KAU, and KNL with audit opinion

  • Detailed setup and preparation of the KF 2026 budget for the management and shareholders

  • Weekly cash flow planning coordinated with the management and shareholders

  • Turnaround in net sales and EBIT from September 2025 onwards – stable growth

  • Leadership & change through consistent, data-driven KPIs

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Reinhard Wein

Reinhard Wein

Commercial Manager (incl. Controlling)

Berching

Last position:

Commercial Manager (incl. Controlling) at TR Plast Group

  • Leading the Finance and Accounting department of TR PLAST GROUP

  • Responsible for monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements as well as group consolidation according to HGB

  • Collaborating with banks, leasing companies, tax advisors, insurance brokers, lawyers, auditors, tax inspectors and authorities

  • Reporting to the managing director and advising on all business management issues

  • Signing authority for leasing and hire-purchase contracts up to €325,000

  • Built and expanded the Controlling, Accounting and Finance areas with a six-figure contribution to company success

  • Implemented and set up cost and performance accounting, liquidity management, corporate planning and group consolidation

  • Ensured accurate company results by implementing internal cost allocation and accruals

  • Reduced budget costs by 24% through digitalization and process automation

  • Lowered interest expenses by 44% and increased cash discount earnings by 23% by introducing liquidity management

  • Achieved six-figure cost savings in maintenance costs by implementing cost accounting

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Andreas Lakebrink

Andreas Lakebrink

Fractional C-level Commercial Leadership

Kelkheim (Taunus)

Last position:

Fractional C-level Commercial Leadership at MarketEntry.EU

  • C-level commercial leadership for growth-stage B2B companies scaling internationally

  • Provides fractional commercial leadership, strategic direction, and hands-on execution for growth-stage B2B companies expanding internationally that need senior commercial leadership (CRO, CCO, Head of International, or Head of Business Development) but are not ready for a full-time C-level commitment

  • Mitigates risks such as delayed business expansion, missed opportunities, competitors setting market standards, weakened positioning, and untapped growth potential

  • Offers multi-industry expertise across seven sectors with cross-sector pattern recognition

  • Leverages relationship capital to achieve 60-70% response rates through established networks

  • Focuses on execution by opening doors, guiding deals, and building processes rather than just providing advice

  • Core industry expertise includes Food & Beverage (B2B), Information Technology, Manufacturing & Industrial, and Business Consulting

  • Additional sector exposure in Aviation, Energy, Logistics, CPG, Medical Devices, and Hospitality

  • Network of industry specialists for sector-specific insights and warm introductions

  • Commercial operations: sales process and optimization, pricing and deal structuring, and revenue forecasting and KPI

  • Market entry expertise: barrier analysis, regulatory navigation, and cultural adaptation

  • Leadership capabilities: C-level stakeholder management, board reporting and investor relations, and team hiring and development

  • Delivers market exploration, competitive landscape analysis, growth strategy with KPIs, and go-to-market groundwork

  • Provides expansion roadmaps with concrete milestones and decision-maker access through established networks

  • Offers deal guidance, partnerships, and team leadership while acting as a strategic sparring partner for commercial decisions

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Dirk Limburg

Dirk Limburg

Commercial Director & Retail Media GSA

München

Last position:

Commercial Director & Retail Media GSA at TitanOS Philips CTV

  • Pipeline development and strategic sales growth: Prospect and grow the pipeline of programmatic platforms (DSPs, SSPs, data providers, etc.) that integrate linear and streaming TV.
  • Develop effective sales strategies, channel sponsorships, deliver compelling product demonstrations for Automotive, FMCG, Retail, Travel, Digital Services, etc.
  • Consultative selling and partnership management with content partners (Amazon, Disney, Netflix, etc.) and retail media partners to optimize the use of TV data for targeting, planning, and measurement in omnichannel marketing.
  • Lead cross-functional EU5 team and projects (16 pax), collaborating with business development, marketing, and product teams to align departments, geographies, and tactics for performance and revenue targets.
  • Manage high-value opportunities, cultivate and grow relationships, develop ecosystem partnerships, and share best practices regionally.
  • Build and manage strategic partnerships, including trading agreements and support agencies in creating new revenue streams and media solutions. Create and execute data-driven procedures, bundled offers, and global frameworks to promote expansion.
  • Success: Revenue growth from zero to 1.5 million in 18 months
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Tabea Jost

Tabea Jost

Commercial Leader & Commercial Excellence

Woltersdorf

Last position:

Head of Data & Digital Performance at Dr. Kade pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH

  • Develop and implement sales and marketing strategies, including targeted initiatives for e-commerce channels, driving growth in online sales and through sell-out at POS
  • Responsible for data insights to understand and act on both conscious and subconscious purchasing behaviours, refining customer targeting and segmentation strategies
  • Lead regular sales and marketing training programmes, equipping teams with the tools and skills needed to execute strategies effectively and maximise performance
  • Streamline workflows, improve salesforce effectiveness, and enhance customer engagement
  • Collaborate in product innovation processes by contributing insights from sales and marketing data to influence product development and market positioning
  • Manage third-party distributor partnerships, ensuring product implementation aligned with regulatory standards and commercial objectives
  • Build and maintain successful relationships with external providers and partners, negotiating favourable terms and securing alignment with business goals
  • Drive data-driven marketing and sales initiatives, leveraging advanced technologies and process improvements to achieve measurable commercial growth
  • Achieved a 15% increase in sales productivity through CRM system optimisation, improving data accessibility and integrating actionable insights into sales strategies
  • Increased marketing ROI and sales growth through data-driven initiatives and precise customer segmentation strategies
  • Delivered sales and marketing training sessions, resulting in a 30% improvement in salesforce effectiveness and enhanced collaboration across teams
  • Improved customer satisfaction by 25%, driven by enhanced personalisation and digital transformation initiatives that improved the overall customer experience
  • Streamlined workflows, reducing manual tasks by 30%, and enhanced salesforce effectiveness with targeted crossfunctional tools and training
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Bernd Scheunemann

Bernd Scheunemann

Event Manager, Commercial Management

Hamburg

Last position:

Report Reviewer at Hansa Partner GmbH

  • Formal review according to accounting standards (e.g. IDW, HGB, IFRS)
  • Arithmetic accuracy check
  • Plausibility check of key figures (balance sheet, P&L, cash flow)
  • Cross-reference and reconciliation check
  • Consistency and completeness control
  • Final editing (spelling and grammar)
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Andreas Hey

Andreas Hey

Interim Managing Director

Hannover

Last position:

Interim Managing Director at DGVT München ABZ GmbH & Co. KG

  • Successful restructuring through an asset deal of the insolvent DGVT ABZ Munich
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Stefan Reinhardt

Stefan Reinhardt

Commercial Director and Owner

Maasholm

Last position:

Insurance company near Munich

  • Migrated existing software into the w3group SOFTWARE development environment.
  • Project duration approx. 2 years.
  • Tools: ANSI-C, HTML, svn, v3lib
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Frank Bley

Frank Bley

Head of Accounting; Head of Sales Financing (Group, International Europe), Director Leasing (DK); Head of Commercial &

Ihlow

Last position:

Head of Accounting; Head of Sales Financing (Group, International Europe), Director Leasing (DK); Head of Commercial & at Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG

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Discover over 15,000 top freelancers

Commercial Directors statistics

Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.

Experience

30 years

Position duration

3.6 years

Positions per freelancer

12

Top business areas

Finance, Sales, Business Intelligence

Top industries

Professional Services, Manufacturing, Information Technology

Certification focus areas

Finance, Accounting, Strategy

Bachelor's degree or higher

92%

Master's degree or higher

58%

Doctorate

25%

Certifications per freelancer

3

Most common languages

German, English, French

Speak two or more languages

100%

Daily Rate Distribution

0 2 4 6 8
<€640 €640-800 €800-960 €960-1120 €1120-1280 €1280-1440 €1440+

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. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

Average rates for Commercial Directors & Seniority distribution

Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.

1200
900
600
300
Rate comparison chart
Daily rate avg. 1058 €

The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.

1200
900
600
300
Rate comparison chart
Median rate 1100 €

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.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for clear information? Everything important about FRATCH is here

A Commercial Director usually owns revenue-related priorities that sit between sales, marketing, finance and operations. That can include pricing, pipeline discipline, account strategy, partner development and go-to-market planning. In some projects, the role is closer to a sales director; in others, it is a broader head of commercial function.

A freelance Commercial Director makes sense when the need is urgent, temporary or very specific. Companies use this setup for restructuring, market entry, interim leadership or a commercial reset after weak forecast performance. It is also useful when you need senior judgement before committing to a long-term hire.

Look for strong commercial thinking, negotiation skill and a firm grip on numbers. A good commercial director should understand margin, pricing, sales funnel health and how to align teams around one plan. They also need credibility with senior stakeholders and the ability to turn decisions into action.

Not always. A Sales Director is usually focused on sales execution, team performance and target delivery, while a Commercial Director often has a wider scope across pricing, channels, contracts and revenue strategy. In smaller companies, the titles may overlap, so the actual mandate matters more than the label.

Yes, much of the work can be done remotely, especially strategy, reporting, planning and stakeholder coordination. For companies in Germany, on-site time is often useful for leadership meetings, team alignment and key customer visits. Strong freelancers can handle both, as long as the setup is clear from the start.

Ask for examples of commercial problems they solved, not just the titles they held. A strong commercial director can explain how they improved pricing, cleaned up forecasts, supported key accounts or opened a new market. Their answers should be specific, structured and tied to outcomes that matter to the business.

The role shows up in B2B sales environments where deals are complex and margins matter. That includes SaaS, industrial businesses, manufacturing, logistics, professional services and technology-led companies. In Germany, it is especially relevant where local customer relationships, distributor networks and structured sales processes are important.

Freelancers should expect to work close to leadership and to be judged on business impact quickly. A good sales director or commercial lead is not just advising; they are shaping decisions, coaching teams and cleaning up priorities. Clear access to data, decision-makers and the sales team is essential for the work to succeed.

The average hourly rate for Commercial Directors in Germany is 132 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,058 € based on an 8-hour working day.

Of the freelancers working as Commercial Directors in Germany, 92% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 58% hold at least a Master's degree, and 25% hold a doctorate.

On average, freelancers working as Commercial Directors in Germany have 30 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.6 years.

The most common languages among freelancers working as Commercial Directors in Germany are German (100%), English (100%), and French (38%).

The most common industries among freelancers working as Commercial Directors in Germany are Professional Services (69%), Manufacturing (63%), and Information Technology (56%).

The most common business areas among freelancers working as Commercial Directors in Germany are Finance (81%), Sales (81%), and Business Intelligence (75%).

FRATCH Commercial Directors main locations

Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.

Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg

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Philipp Thomaschewski

FRATCH CEO

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