Interim Managers in Germany

Agile Transformation: introducing agile principles and transforming traditional IT departments into Scrum and Kanban teams

IT Operating Model: redesigning the IT organization and introducing modern delivery structures and roles

Flight Levels: building up Flight Levels practices within IT to align strategy, coordination and operational execution

Leadership & Coaching: recruiting Agile Coaches and coaching Scrum Masters and IT leaders

ERP Operations: acting as Interim Product Owner for the existing ERP landscape and ensuring business continuity

ERP Transformation: reorganizing and supporting the ERP migration as a Project Manager; Phase 1 (financial accounting) live since October 2025

Operational Core (ERP): establishing dedicated teams for ERP Support, Feature Development, and ERP Migration

Modern Workplace: initiating the transition towards a Microsoft 365-based cloud workplace environment

Integration: establishing a dedicated team to drive integration and connectivity initiatives

Warehouse Operations: building a cross-functional team to support logistics and warehouse-related capabilities

Maintenance & Operations (M&O): introducing a dedicated team for system engineering, security, stable operations and continuous improvement

AI Initiatives: identifying and promoting practical Artificial Intelligence use cases across the IT department

As Interim Head of IT for a German medium-sized industrial distributor, I am responsible for 31 IT employees and lead the digital and organizational transformation, reporting directly to executive leadership. I took over an IT department with almost no basic structures – no clear roles, processes, documentation or ticket system – and with significant technical debt that tied up most of its capacity. Introduced agile principles and ways of working in the IT organization and transformed the traditionally structured IT department into cross-functional Scrum and Kanban teams focused on transparency, collaboration, and customer value delivery.

Redesigned the entire IT organization by establishing a modern operating model, introducing new roles such as Product Owner, Scrum Master and Solution Architect and strengthening the organization through strategic hiring and targeted capability development. Recruited and onboarded Agile Coaches to accelerate the transformation and personally managed and coached Scrum Masters as well as IT department leaders to foster servant leadership, self-management and a culture of continuous improvement.

Aligned IT-internal planning across eight teams to three Flight Levels based on Klaus Leopold (strategy, coordination, team), laying the foundation for later company-wide portfolio management. Consolidated the backlog of more than 10 workstreams and prioritized it by business value and cost of delay. Introduced a ticketing system to increase transparency and enable data-driven decision-making, flow-based work management, and greater accountability at all levels.

Established and supported multiple cross-functional teams, including the Operational Core (ERP) domain with dedicated streams for Support, Feature Development and ERP Migration, as well as teams responsible for Warehouse Operations, Maintenance & Operations (M&O) including system engineering and security, Modern Workplace, Data Quality and integration initiatives. Worked closely with Agile Coaches to support team development, remove impediments, and continuously improve delivery effectiveness.

Acted as Interim Product Owner for the operation and enhancement of the existing ERP landscape while supporting the ERP migration as a Project Manager. Reorganized the project organization and had the already negotiated contract with the implementation partner realigned with a focus on approach and overall responsibility; Phase 1 (financial accounting) has been live since October 2025. Collaborated with the selected implementation partner to design and establish the project organization and target operating model for the ERP transformation, introducing agile delivery structures and ways of working. Facilitated the alignment between business, IT and the external vendor and played a key role in negotiating the contractual framework and delivery model to ensure a sustainable foundation for the transformation program.

Initiated the strategic modernization of the workplace environment through the adoption of Microsoft 365 cloud capabilities, establishing the foundation for enhanced collaboration, scalability and future digital services.

Launched AI initiatives to identify practical business use cases and promote the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence across the IT department. Encouraged self-management and empowered teams to take ownership of decisions, delivery and continuous improvement.

Project: Digital Sovereignty – Toll Collect

Workshop: Digital Sovereignty Recognize dependencies, reduce risks, remain capable of acting

Format

• One-day practical seminar

Target group

• Executive management
• IT managers
• Data protection officers
• Compliance functions

Content and objectives

• Systematic analysis of digital dependencies
• Assessment of legal and operational risks
• Development of a concrete plan to increase digital sovereignty
• Mapping of the entire IT infrastructure by participants
• Identification of critical dependencies on non-European providers
• Creation of a prioritized risk matrix based on:
• GDPR
• NIS2
• EU AI Act
• Joint development of options for action – from a hybrid model to complete migration to European solutions
• Development of an individual sovereignty roadmap with:
• Responsibilities
• Milestones
• Budget framework

Agenda

• Preliminary self-assessment (current infrastructure)
• Digital sovereignty? Nothing but an illusion
• Digital sovereignty 2026 – Germany’s dangerous dependency in focus
• Digital sovereignty & open source
• What is digital sovereignty?
• Three questions raised by digital sovereignty
• Reflection: Digital sovereignty in your own life
• Why is digital sovereignty existential now?
• Practical examples of digital sovereignty
• Schleswig-Holstein initiative
• Benefits of digital sovereignty for your company
• Assessing strategy options (cost-benefit matrix)
• Sovereign provider? 10 questions
• What does digital sovereignty specifically mean for your company?
• How do you shape digital sovereignty?
• Digital sovereignty and psychological safety
• Psychological safety: The key to high-performing teams
• Why psychological safety in your company?
• Benefits of psychological safety
• Invitation to group work: PsySafety Check (PS-C)
• The “Braintrust” experiment
• Creating a risk matrix
• Creating a roadmap & project plan
• European alternatives to US Big Tech
• 10-point plans:
• NIS2
• EU AI Act
• GDPR
• ISO 27001

Interim management and temporary leadership for industry and infrastructure. I step in where organizational change has stalled and leadership, structure and execution are needed at short notice.

Projects: AI and transformation strategy for a regional hospitality association (2026): analysis of problem areas and their interdependencies, two prioritized initiatives, metrics and roles for implementation. Result: clearly identified the core issue (the data foundation, not the technology) and delivered a practical plan. Two presentations for the Modell Hohenlohe business network (December 2026) on leadership, structure and effectiveness during periods of change. Preparing a pilot to stabilize leadership structures at a 1st-tier automotive supplier.

Conceptualization, founding and development of a non-profit organization for international future and development partnerships. Development of the basic organizational and legal structures, governance and internal processes, as well as development of the organization’s external profile and institutional networks. Coordination of the founding and registration process, development of initial project and subject areas, and establishment of contacts with policymakers, public administration, funding institutions, academia and other cooperation partners. Development of funding and financing approaches and external representation of the organization. Result: Establishment of a legally capable organization recognized as a non-profit, with defined governance and working structures, an independent external profile and initial institutional networks. Establishment of FIZE as an organizational structure for international projects and initiatives, including MICT UA.

CXO AI OS is an agent system made up of six building blocks. Instead of using AI as a chat window, it creates a system that knows a company's context, makes decisions according to its rules and acts on its behalf.

• For mid-sized companies: guided sprint followed by operation for a team, department or prioritized cluster, based on an AI assessment
• For self-employed people: program in which participants build their own agent system
• Sequence in the company: assessment, prioritization, sprint, operation
• Implementation in Claude Cowork or ChatGPT Work, without programming
• Architecture: Chief of Staff, Goals, Advisors, Agents, Context, Catalog

As part of preparing and providing operational support for a company succession:

• Company analysis: Analysis of the overall economic, organizational and structural situation (current status, strengths/weaknesses, potential risks)
• Process analysis: Recording and documentation of all relevant business processes (BPMN, UML) in the areas of management, finance, purchasing, sales and operations
• Process optimization: Identification of weaknesses and inefficiencies, development and operational implementation of improvement measures
• Stakeholder management: Identification and analysis of all relevant internal and external stakeholders; structured communication and coordination with former and future owners, shareholders and employees
• Change management: Supporting employees and management throughout the handover process; building acceptance and trust among all parties involved
• Governance & documentation: Preparation and handover of structured operating manuals, process documentation and an organizational manual for the new business owner
• Risk & weakness analysis: Assessment of operational and strategic risks in the handover process and development of recommendations for action
• Operational support: Interim assumption of management responsibilities; ensuring business continuity during the transition phase

Developed the product vision and outcome strategy for a new registry platform, designed a management workshop for strategic alignment, conducted BPMN process mapping across systems and roles, analyzed user story practices and further developed them on an outcome basis, and brought together stakeholders from business departments, management and the external development partner.

Skills: Product Strategy, Outcome Roadmapping, Stakeholder Workshops, BPMN/Process Analysis, Miro, Linear

Management of data protection & IT security-related projects. Adjustments to knowledge management and consulting processes.

Activities:

• Data protection consulting
• Process optimization in in-house consulting
• Interface to specialist departments, IT security, development and management

• Project management and consulting services with a focus on IT interim management: digitalization of corporate management, including processes and applications
• Assessment of the entire IT infrastructure, including applications, core processes and contracts, including cost optimization
• Evaluation and implementation of solutions to promote digitalization in the company in the areas of property management, CRM, invoice review and approval processes, smart metering, DMS and time tracking
• Digitization of file folders and introduction of SharePoint and Microsoft Teams as central document and communication platforms
• Design and delivery of an AI workshop, including the rollout of AI tools to increase efficiency and transparency in key business processes
• Preparation of training materials and delivery of user training for newly introduced digital processes and solutions

Advising various companies in the areas of controlling, finance and planning, transformation, business partnering, management reporting and AI-driven forecasting systems

Transformation mandate: IT operating model and governance

• Managed the operationalization of a new IT operating model for a service- and customer-oriented organization in the managed services and Microsoft 365 environment.
• Translated the organizational target vision into concrete roles, responsibilities, organizational elements, decision-making paths and collaboration principles.
• Designed and operationalized a layered model with autonomous delivery teams, supporting units and clearly defined governance functions.
• Designed governance for Service Delivery Management, People Leads, Global Service Owner (GSO), operational teams, clusters and management committees.
• Structured the transformation rollout into ramp-up, implementation, stabilization and operations, and developed kick-off, communication and feedback formats.
• Further developed PMO and office structures as well as portfolio and workforce management to create transparency on resources, risks, dependencies and decision-making needs.
• Facilitated cross-functional workshops and decision-making meetings and translated different stakeholder interests into implementable principles, rules and actions.

Interim mandate: IT service and operations management

• Took over operational responsibility for Citrix and AD/Access, including incident, escalation, transition and quality management in day-to-day operations.
• Clarified operational interfaces and clearly defined responsibilities between internal units, Service Delivery Management and external service providers.
• Conducted structured GAP analyses of existing service descriptions, prepared make-or-buy decisions and clarified roles with KPI integration.
• Managed conflicting objectives, dependencies and escalations in complex customer, operations and transformation situations.

Selected results

• The transformation target vision was translated into practically applicable roles, governance rules, organizational elements and rollout formats.
• Decision-making paths, responsibilities and interfaces between operational delivery, supporting functions and management were described transparently and bindingly.
• The foundations for self-managed teams, standardized service descriptions and reliable portfolio, resource and management transparency were established.

Methods: Operating model design, governance design, RACI, GAP analysis, stakeholder analysis, workshop facilitation, change communication, risk and escalation management, KPI and service management

Part-time assignment since 01.09.2026.

• Operational support for fixed asset and investment accounting
• Support with the accounting treatment of assets under construction
• Processing of related accounting transactions in SAP R/3

System: SAP R/3

• Developed a market entry strategy for the claims division of an insurance services provider.
• Analyzed and optimized existing claims processes.
• Defined management metrics and KPIs to improve performance and efficiency.
• Advised management on market positioning and process digitalization.
• Led an IT team of 13 employees as part of an interim vacancy cover.
• Ensured stable IT operations and managed external IT service providers.
• Led regulatory projects, particularly the implementation of the DORA regulation.
• Prepared and supported an IT security audit.
• Change management and conflict moderation in a challenging transformation environment (FI migration).

Subproject Lead – Nearshoring Transformation

Project context: Support of a transformation program for relocating operational services to an international nearshore model

• Subproject lead
• Assessment of existing organizational and operating models
• Conducting GAP analyses
• Development of a sourcing readiness model
• Coordination of various departments
• Management of external partners
• Documentation of organizational changes
• Monitoring of the service provider / nearshoring partner