Interim Managers in Germany

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

• 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

Assignment focus: Leading digital restructuring in a highly regulated Defence and Aerospace environment. Focus areas: improving data flows and data quality, introducing paperless data collection in production, integrating machine data for automatic SPC calculation and process control, as well as cybersecurity analyses.

Main objectives:

• Analyze, structure and improve data flows and data quality in production
• Introduce paperless data collection in manufacturing areas
• Integrate machine data for automatic SPC data calculation and process control
• Implement digital restructuring while meeting regulatory requirements in the Defence environment

Measures and results:

• Analyzed and structured existing production data flows as a basis for control and reporting
• Established mechanisms to ensure data quality and availability across manufacturing areas
• Introduced paperless data collection in production — replacing manual and paper-based processes
• Integrated machine data for automatic SPC data calculation (control charts, Cp/Cpk) and real-time process control
• Conducted cybersecurity analyses in the production and IT environments

Area of responsibility: Project management for digital restructuring, paperless production, data management and data quality in a highly regulated Defence and Aerospace environment.

• Rubix is Europe’s largest supplier of industrial parts and maintenance solutions (approx. 3 bn € turnover, private equity owned). Reported to the COO of the DACH subsidiary, leading a major restructuring project.
• Project Governance: Established robust governance structures (project charter, governance plan, communication structures), ensuring transparency and executive alignment.
• Logistics Restructuring: Consolidated multiple distribution centers into two central hubs, optimizing cost efficiency and service levels.
• Team Leadership: Directed a core team of 9, guiding planning and execution in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
• Project Planning: Developed and validated a comprehensive project plan, translating high-level milestones into actionable work packages.
• Risk Management: Implemented risk register and root-cause analysis to proactively mitigate project risks.
• C-level Reporting: Presented project status and recommendations to the Steering Committee (CEO and executive board).
• Stakeholder Management: Managed alignment and engagement with diverse stakeholders in a private equity context.
• Budget Oversight: Managed a project budget exceeding 3 million €.
• Effective project governance and clear communication are essential for stakeholder alignment and successful transformation.

• Supported monthly and annual closing activities
• Checked incoming invoices for formal and factual accuracy
• Posted incoming invoices
• Contact person for internal departments on accounting matters
• Created and maintained vendor master data
• Processed open items
• Took on additional accounting-related special tasks
• Managed the functional mailbox
• Performed payment runs

Training and knowledge transfer – Accounts Payable:

In addition to the tasks above, I was responsible for training and transferring knowledge to 8 employees of an external service provider in India who took over the accounts payable activities:

• Conducted structured training and practical guidance throughout the accounts payable process
• Trained employees in checking and posting incoming invoices, including formal and factual checks
• Taught vendor master data maintenance, open-item processing and payment runs
• Trained employees in using the functional mailbox and communicating effectively with internal departments
• Explained accounting procedures, controls and company-specific accounts payable requirements
• Conducted “Training on the Job” using practical posting cases and real business transactions
• Supported the team in independently carrying out accounts payable processes and resolving accounting questions
• Checked the quality and accuracy of work results and provided continuous feedback and coaching
• Supported the transfer of accounts payable processes to the external service provider and ensured structured knowledge transfer and an orderly handover
• Supported a smooth transition by documenting processes, clarifying responsibilities and ensuring consistent application of accounting requirements

Software: JDE, ELO, SAP Concur

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.

Stabilization of a critical logistics outsourcing setup in the context of an SAP S/4HANA transformation. The focus was on restoring a reliable operational fact base between the client, logistics service provider, international supplier plants and the SAP/IT organization.

• Coordination between the client, global logistics service provider, international supplier plants, SAP/IT teams, Quality Management and the operational shop floor.
• Management, monitoring and operational correction of Inbound Deliveries; integration of Outbound Delivery processes.
• Analysis of interface, posting, batch and master data errors between SAP S/4HANA, logistics service provider, supplier plants and internal business functions.
• Significant reduction of critical inventory differences between the client and logistics service provider.
• Improved operational management capability in the logistics environment and creation of a common fact base.
• Reduction of recurring error patterns in the areas of Inbound Deliveries, inventory, interfaces, batch/posting logic and service provider processes.

• Prepared and reviewed quarterly royalty settlements for licensors across music, publishing and media brands, including minimum guarantees, recoupment, returns reconciliation and process optimisation.
• Reconstructed historical licensing data for an external audit by a major US studio, covering music publishing and recorded music across ROW and AUS, and coordinated the resulting statements with the licensor.
• Supported the reconciliation of music royalties with the German collecting society and its international hub for 2018 to 2024.
• Assessed licensing data for accruals and provisions, and structured metadata for contract negotiations.
• Designed target processes and SOPs for a royalty automation tool and accompanied testing during rollout.

Process architect and transformation driver for company-wide excellence initiatives (covering a vacancy) Establishment and management of a company-wide process and governance framework to strengthen structure, leadership and effectiveness in an internationally growing family-owned company. Responsibility for the global process house, end-to-end governance, process role architecture and further development of the integrated management system – including international implementation (Romania, USA).

Scope:

• Management of the Business Excellence department with 6 employees and functional leadership of 20+ Process Owners
• Establishment of a global process operating system (architecture, roles, governance, global-local logic)
• Development of a group-wide control and KPI system for processes (transparency, KPIs, maturity)
• Introduction of mechanisms to ensure effectiveness in day-to-day operations (role enablement, communities, feedback)
• Governance and role framework for new production sites in Romania and USA (mandates, roles, decision logic)
• Stabilization and further development of the integrated management system (IMS)

Sustainable Results:

• Global process operating system established - Structure, roles, governance and global-local rules defined as a binding framework and anchored in the management system — the basis for consistent management and scalability.
• End-to-end process ownership strengthened - Process Owner roles globally defined, qualified and anchored in Communities of Practice — clear ownership structures across all sites for the first time.
• KPI and process management logic established - Uniform KPI system, maturity model and reporting principles developed — the basis for fact-based decisions, prioritization and transparency throughout the company.
• Effectiveness in day-to-day operations increased - Enablement architecture, onboarding mechanisms, regular meeting formats and feedback loops introduced — the process system is applied in daily work and continuously improved.
• Governance framework for new site implemented - Mandates, roles, decision paths and escalation logic for the new production site in Romania developed — clear structure for setup, management and integration.

• 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 – implementing Flight Levels 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 – supporting the migration from Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as a Project Manager

• 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

• ConnectHub – 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 focused on stable operations and continuous improvement

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

• As Interim Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for a leading industrial supplier with a strong e-commerce focus (often described as 'the Amazon for industrial goods') responsible for leading the digital and organizational transformation while reporting directly to executive leadership.

• Introduced agile principles and ways of working across the 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.

• Implemented Flight Levels practices based on Klaus Leopold to align strategic objectives, cross-functional coordination and operational execution across the organization.

• 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), Modern Workspace and ConnectHub.

• Acted as Interim Product Owner for the operation and enhancement of the existing ERP landscape while supporting the migration from Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as a Project Manager.

• 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 language: German

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 understands a company’s context, makes decisions according to its rules, and acts on its behalf.

• For mid-sized companies: a guided sprint followed by operation for a team, department, or prioritized cluster, based on an AI assessment
• For self-employed professionals: a 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 coding
• Architecture: Chief of Staff, Goals, Advisors, Agents, Context, Catalog

Using periods between projects to deepen leadership skills and Change Management methods.

• Personnel and culture development: Supporting specialists and managers with professional reorientation and providing strategic coaching for successful self-presentation.

• Empowerment & Performance Coaching: Conducting systemic personality assessments to identify performance bottlenecks and specifically develop strengths within teams.

• Moderation & Training: Managing interdisciplinary workshop and seminar groups in both industrial-technical and commercial environments.

• 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