Heads of Business Development in Germany
in minutes from 15,000 CVs with the power of AIStrong heads of business development bring structure to pipeline building, partnership strategy, and market expansion. Find vetted, available freelancers who can lead Go-to-Market work, shape commercial messaging, and support deal execution with fast, precise matching.
Meet FRATCH Heads of Business Development in Germany
Karim Chigri
Last position:
Director Business Development EMEA at Fives Group
- Led cross-functional teams to drive operational efficiency and strategic alignment across projects.
- Developed and implemented process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
- Oversaw project management initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.
- Mentored junior staff, fostering professional development and enhancing team performance.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
Malte Koslowski
Last position:
Interim Head of Marketing & Digital Business Development at FORIS AG
Established legal and financial services provider building a new digital business area for incorporation, tax, and compliance services.
- Developed and launched the service offer as segmented service and pricing packages in under 5 months.
- Designed a seamless digital user experience from ad click to landing pages and ordering flow through to completion.
- Worked out the strategic direction with the business unit lead and management board and managed execution in a team of five.
Richard Hagl
Last position:
Interim Manager AI Strategy and Business Development at Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH
Supported the AI startup MachOptima during the spin-off phase in the area of industrial process optimization
Built up business development strategically and acquired the first pilot customers
Evaluated and sharpened the service offering for industrial customers
Developed and implemented an acquisition strategy for pilot projects
Managed key accounts and supported customer meetings
Shaped the strategic roadmap
Built sales processes and CRM structures
Successful placement with first pilot customers
Built a structured sales architecture and supported several customer projects
Clearer market positioning through a sharpened value proposition
Sustainable strengthening of the founding team's internal understanding of strategy and sales
Christoph Ludwig
Last position:
Managing Director at Praxis für Bewegungstherapie
- Built and managed my own practice as well as project and practice operations
- Advised and supported clients and patients
- Developed long-term customer and business partner relationships
- Responsible for communication, marketing, and financial planning
Wolfgang Oswald
Last position:
Head of Business Development DSS & Digital Ventures at Krauss Maffei Technologies GmbH
- Group-wide responsibility for developing new business models, strategic support of corporate start-ups and managing equity in start-ups
- Direct management of 3 employees
- Direct reporting line to executive management
- Business Development: designing and building an information platform on the global machine base and customer sales/margins in the aftersales area based on SAP data, supporting sales planning as part of the budget, advising project teams on profitability calculations
- Digital Ventures: defining terms, developing processes to generate and develop new business models, operational validation of new business models to expand the group's business areas, strategic support of project teams in implementing new business models, cooperation project with Munich University of Applied Sciences, steering and supporting equity investments in start-ups
René Tilly
Last position:
Managing Director at Le Shop Vegan
- Shop & ERP system, performance marketing
- Fulfilment: setup & operation of warehouse & shipping
- Finance: control & liquidity planning
Katharina Hurler
Last position:
Director, Strategic Insights & Analytics at NewtonX
- Responsible for development of a new business practice area, Strategic Insights, which focuses on providing consultancy and recommendations to clients beyond raw research data
- Lead team of around 20 external consultants on a per project basis, ensuring successful delivery of high-quality insights and solutions
- Spearhead new client acquisition, strategize and execute sales calls to drive business growth and establish long-term partnerships
- Act as a trusted sparring partner and thought leader for C-Level clients, leveraging insights and analytics expertise to provide guidance and enhance their decision-making processes
Uwe Cohrs
Last position:
Principal Business Development Manager at Keepler Data Tech GmbH
- Develop business solutions in data analytics and AI, including anomaly detection, demand forecasting, and Vision AI based on AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Make customers more competitive, agile, and resilient by integrating data into corporate processes
- Responsible for acquisition and financial success of client projects in the DACH region
- Manage projects and maintain close communication between all partners involved
António Strachwitz
Last position:
Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy at Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items
- Piloted a digital catalog with 3,000 customizable items and established lean-optimized B2B bundles for key accounts
- Negotiated commission-based partnerships with leading brands in entertainment, FMCG, and lifestyle (commission model: 10–12%)
- Implemented a CRM system with integrated AI tools for lead scoring, sales analytics, and personalized customer outreach
- Conducted agile workshops, KPI dashboard training, and AI-supported data analysis for the existing sales team; recruited three new sales employees
- Initiated TV shopping partnerships (live sales) and launched a pilot with 20 vending machines in museums and shops
- Designed NFT collector’s editions with patented AuVerIn codes and launched a pilot platform with blockchain authentication
- Increased revenue by 50% within seven months
- Improved forecast accuracy by 30% and reduced sales cycle length by 20%
- Boosted lead conversion by 25% and cut manual reporting efforts by 40%
- Raised close rate by 20% while increasing team size by 50%
- TV live sales generated €25,000/month; vending pilot achieved €30,000 in revenue
Volker Sträßer
Last position:
Head of Business Development at Moulins de Kleinbettingen
- Project lead from the idea stage through to the construction of the 20-million-euro plant for textured proteins
- Coordination and interface between management, internal staff, and external companies
- Main knowledge bridge from the customer’s point of view for the product category within the company
- Development of the required setup (including machine installation) together with the production manager to make the final veggie products all the way to the tray
- Development of a sales network, main contact for customer requests worldwide
- Research and global sourcing of raw materials (mainly plant proteins)
- Visiting trade fairs and partners across Europe
Archie Graesser
Last position:
Business Development Executive at Gartner
- Joined as Gartner's youngest global hire into this role.
- Closed $391K USD in new business across mid-sized enterprises within 2025, achieving the second-highest contribution of net-new-revenue across the APAC HR practice.
- Contributed and reframed executive directions, driving greater outcomes and mitigating quantifiable risks from planning to execution.
- Positioned board-level ROI with CHROs and their leadership teams using Gartner's research to diagnose exposures in workforce planning gaps, capability risks, and strategic misalignment during cross-functional transformations.
- Closed multi-year advisory partnerships with government organisations by understanding buyer profiles, navigating stakeholders, procurement processes, and competing board-level priorities.
- Coached a direct report through career progression and supported regional AI adoption across sales workflows, saving each representative over 3 hours weekly.
- Learned that executives need information reframed to make optimal decisions and built enough trust for them to act on insights they couldn’t see from inside their organisations.
Steffi Ehrhardt
Last position:
Interim Head Global Market Access / Sales Manager / Business Development at VSI Holomedicine
- Formulated global market access strategy for innovative 3D visualization in surgery, expanding adoption across EU5, APAC, and U.S. markets.
- Initiated clinical trials in collaboration with Spanish KOLs, validating reimbursement potential and clinical safety.
- Built strategic partnerships with global surgical networks, strengthening company presence in cardiology, oncology, and neurosurgery.
- Delivered market research on cancer indications (breast, lung, kidney), informing global go-to-market models.
- Accelerated global product awareness by 50% through stakeholder mapping and cross-market communication alignment.
Jan Hanken
Last position:
Product Lead at GoDEAP.ai
- Leading the development of a virtual data scientist platform designed for business professionals, students, and SMEs.
Achim Seemann
Last position:
SVP Portfolio & Business Evolution at SAP
- Simplified and realigned the service portfolio to meet evolving customer needs and enable global scale and consistency.
- Championed innovation through AI-powered delivery, preconfigured industry packages, and commercial model evolution.
- Acted as executive sponsor for customers and board-level programs.
Vincenzo Ferrera
Last position:
Head of Business Development DACH at Culcha GmbH
Management of all sales activities including lead generation and customer development (midmarket and enterprise, C-Level) for the market establishment of our proprietary SaaS product. Implementation of the entire sales structure (team, processes) and sales strategy as well as measures and preparations for the scale up into new markets and countries.
- Technical and disciplinary personnel management of a total of 9 sales employees.
- Support of B2B key accounts for our SaaS product (midmarket and enterprise, ticket sizes in the 6-digit range)
- Development and implementation of sales processes and scaling sales strategies within the complete sales funnel
- Provide leadership and direction to achieve corporate goals using sales models and management tools
- Cross-departmental transfer of know-how and understanding of the market, as well as networking and cooperation within the framework of OKR measures
- Building strategic partnerships, from identifying relevant partners to closing deals
- Recruiting and team building
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Heads of Business Development statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
18 years
Position duration
2.7 years
Positions per freelancer
8
Top business areas
Strategy, Sales, Project Management
Top industries
Information Technology, Professional Services, Retail
Certification focus areas
Project Management, Human Resources, Information Technology
Bachelor's degree or higher
100%
Master's degree or higher
70%
Doctorate
4%
Certifications per freelancer
1
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
93%
Based on our profile pool as of 6 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role in Germany 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 Heads of Business Development in Germany
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 6 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Heads of Business Development experts industry focus
See where the role earns the most, city by city against the national average — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (76%)
- Professional Services (66%)
- Retail (31%)
- Manufacturing (28%)
- Education (24%)
- Healthcare (24%)
- Advertising (21%)
- Banking and Finance (21%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the role
Commercial leadership
A Head of Business Development sets the direction for growth work. The role turns market insight into targets, priorities, and partner plans. It is common when a company needs sharper pipeline focus, a new go-to-market path, or support for key accounts and strategic partnerships.
- Build and refine outreach and partnership strategy
- Qualify channels, segments, and target accounts
- Shape value propositions and commercial messaging
- Guide deal setup, negotiation, and handover
What they deliver
In freelance projects, a Head of Business Development is often brought in to fix stalled pipeline, open a new market, or support a launch. The work can include market mapping, partner outreach, lead qualification, proposal input, and internal alignment with sales, marketing, and product.
- Go-to-market plans for a product, region, or segment
- Partner and alliance frameworks
- Account plans for high-value opportunities
- Decision-ready reporting for leadership
Core skills
Strong candidates combine commercial judgment with clear execution. They understand how to build trust with prospects, assess commercial fit, and keep many moving parts in sync. Common search terms include Business Development Director, BD Lead, and Chief Business Development Officer, especially in larger firms.
- B2B sales and partnership development
- Negotiation and stakeholder management
- CRM discipline and pipeline control
- Clear writing for outreach and proposals
Tools and methods
The exact stack depends on the company, but this role often works with CRM systems, market research sources, outreach tools, and reporting dashboards. They may also use product briefs, ICP documents, partner scorecards, and funnel reviews to keep activity focused.
In Germany, this often matters for companies that work across DACH, serve industrial clients, or need English and German communication across teams and buyers.
When to bring one in
Companies hire a freelancer when they need senior commercial input without a long internal search. It also works well when the founder, sales team, or country lead needs temporary support before a permanent hire is made.
- Pipeline is weak or unfocused
- A new market or partner channel must open
- The team needs interim commercial leadership
- A launch needs close sales and product alignment
What good looks like
A strong Head of Business Development is specific, structured, and practical. They do not just create activity; they move opportunities forward and leave a clear process behind. Good work shows up in sharper prioritization, better partner conversations, and cleaner handover to sales or account teams.
They should be comfortable working with remote teams, joining on-site meetings when needed, and adapting to the company’s sector and buying cycle. In complex B2B settings, especially in Germany, the best professionals can balance direct communication with careful relationship building.
Frequently asked questions
Curious about Heads of Business Development? Here are the answers that come up again and again.
A Head of Business Development defines the commercial path, then helps execute it. That usually includes market focus, partner strategy, lead prioritization, and support for key deals or launches. The freelance format is useful when a company needs senior direction without adding a permanent layer too early.
The strongest profiles combine strategy, sales judgment, and stakeholder management. They need to read markets quickly, write and speak clearly, and keep pipeline work tied to business goals. Experience with CRM hygiene, negotiation, and cross-functional coordination is also important.
Often, yes, but the scope can differ by company size. A Business Development Director may own a wider team or budget, while a BD Lead can be more hands-on in execution. The title matters less than the actual mandate, seniority, and decision scope.
A freelancer makes sense when the need is urgent, project-based, or uncertain. That includes entering a new segment, rebuilding pipeline, or covering an interim gap while you search for a permanent hire. It is also a good option when the company wants senior input before committing to a long-term structure.
Be clear about the objective, target market, and expected handover. A good Head of Business Development needs to know whether the focus is new business, partnerships, key accounts, or market entry. You should also define who they work with inside the company and who approves commercial decisions.
Both are possible. Remote work fits research, outreach, partner mapping, and reporting, while on-site time helps with internal alignment, workshops, and important client meetings. In Germany, many companies expect a mix, especially for roles that touch sales, product, and leadership.
Look for clear examples of commercial outcomes, not just senior titles. A strong Business Development Director or head of business development explains how they built pipeline, opened doors, and moved deals forward in a repeatable way. They should also be able to describe their process, not only their network.
This role is common in B2B software, manufacturing, services, logistics, and other sectors with longer sales cycles. In Germany, it is especially useful where buying decisions involve several stakeholders and careful commercial alignment. The best fit is usually a business with a clear offer but a need for sharper market access.
The average hourly rate for Heads of Business Development in Germany is 123 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 982 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Heads of Business Development in Germany, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 70% hold at least a Master's degree, and 4% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Heads of Business Development in Germany have 18 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.7 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Heads of Business Development in Germany are German (97%), English (97%), and Spanish (31%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Heads of Business Development in Germany are Information Technology (76%), Professional Services (66%), and Retail (31%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Heads of Business Development in Germany are Strategy (90%), Sales (83%), and Project Management (69%).
FRATCH Heads of Business Development 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
