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About the role
Executive leadership in the Stuttgart industrial region
Freelance managing directors in Stuttgart step in to guide organizations through critical phases of transition, restructuring, or rapid growth. In a region dominated by automotive suppliers, machinery manufacturers, and high-tech Mittelstand companies, these interim executives steer corporate strategy and secure operational continuity. They align local engineering excellence with global market demands, managing complex supply chains and safeguarding profitability.
Strategic deliverables and operational ownership
An interim general manager takes full legal and operational responsibility to stabilize business units and drive urgent change.
- Restructuring and corporate turnarounds for manufacturing and engineering firms
- Post-merger integration and operational consolidation after acquisitions
- Execution of digital transformation programs and Industry 4.0 initiatives
- Crisis management and leadership stabilization during sudden executive vacancies
- Relocation, expansion, or optimization of production facilities and supply chains
Required expertise and industry alignment
A successful executive at this level combines profound corporate finance knowledge with deep understanding of production and technology. They navigate co-determination and works council relations, which are highly critical in Germany's industrial core. Strong communication skills in both German and English allow them to align shop-floor operations with international shareholder expectations.
Driving transition without long-term commitment
Companies in the Stuttgart metropolitan area bring in freelance executives when speed and objective external perspectives are paramount. Hiring a permanent CEO or managing director often takes several months, whereas an interim leader can deploy within days to handle immediate challenges. This setup ensures that urgent turnaround measures or strategic transitions do not lose momentum while a permanent solution is sought.
Meet FRATCH Managing Directors
Heiner Lüpertz
Executive Advisor | Interim Executive | Founder
Last position:
Executive Advisor | Interim Executive | Founder at VisionBridge Global Consultancy
- Project-based support for industrial and technology companies in transformation, growth, and turnaround situations at executive level
- Founder of VisionBridge Global Consultancy as a platform for strategy development, market entry programs (Middle East), operational excellence, change management, and executive development
- Focus on project-based mandates with the option of long-term leadership roles
Janine Schmid
Freelance Business Operations & Executive Support
Last position:
Virtual Assistant to Management / Business Administration at TBN – Technische Beratung
- Managing the operational back office
- Handling quotations and invoicing
- Supporting preparatory accounting
- Coordinating appointments and operational alignments
- Interface management between management, clients, and external partners
- Structuring administrative processes in day-to-day business
By taking over operational back office tasks, management is noticeably relieved. Administrative processes run in a more structured, reliable, and efficient way, creating more time for clients, projects, and entrepreneurial decisions.
Stephan Fritsch
Managing Partner
Last position:
Consultant at Toolmaking
The project covered the introduction of SAP S/4HANA including EWM. The customer makes tools for the international market, where 300 production orders and 2,000 shipments need to be processed every day. The project started with the "Explore phase", where the target business and SAP processes were defined, and ended with reaching the productivity goals with S/4HANA. My role was key user trainer and optimizing the live processes.
Thomas Göttel
Managing Director
Last position:
Managing Director at Agula
Sergey Komarov
Managing Director Cybersecurity
Last position:
Managing Director Cybersecurity at CBA-Cybersecurity and Business Advisory GmbH
- Development of comprehensive services in cybersecurity, IT governance, and AI
- Building and delivering strategic security solutions such as vCISO service, ISMS, SOC-as-a-Service (SIEM, SOAR, use cases, playbooks, threat hunting, incident response), AI-driven risk and compliance tools, and frameworks for outsourcing and third-party risks
- Supporting companies in meeting regulatory requirements and certifications (ISMS, NIS-2, DORA, CRA, KRITIS, ISO 27001, TISAX, BSI IT Baseline Protection, EU AI Act)
- Promoting innovations in cybersecurity automation, AI governance, and secure digital transformation
- Responsible for company growth, client relations, and strategic partnerships
Tonino Lo Chiatto
Owner & Managing Director | Interim Consultant
Last position:
Owner & Managing Director | Interim Consultant at LC-PV GmbH & Co. KG
- Development & implementation of the entire PV value chain
- Business model development for tenant electricity, PPAs & contracting
- Senior consulting, interim management, program management
- Strategic and operational management of FTTx rollout projects
- Management of subsidized fiber expansion in central Hesse
- Construction project management and acceptance management for thousands of households
Thomas Arends
Interim Assignment
Last position:
Interim Management at Vincorion Power Systems GmbH
- Process and project management to optimize products and development processes for energy systems
- Technical risk management
- Requirements engineering and system architecture
- System FMEA of power generator units and energy storage modules aiming for generic structures
- Claims management according to Section 313 of the German Civil Code
- Regulatory environment: military and NATO standards, AQAP, VG norms
Georg Schönhof
Managing Partner
Last position:
Internal environmental auditor at VOREST AG
- Function of environmental audits
- ISO 19011: Principles, planning and conduction of audits
- Meeting the requirements of ISO 14001
- Identifying and assessing the EMS requirements
- Conducting audit interviews
- Documenting audit results
- Function and tasks of ISO 14001 auditors
- Function and tasks of environmental auditors
Dominik Becker
Lecturer
Last position:
Lecturer at Institute for Personality Development
- I design and lead seminars and workshops on self-leadership, communication skills, and professional personal development.
- I teach practical methods for self-awareness and self-reflection and help participants recognize and use their potential.
- I contribute to curriculum development, oversee individual projects, and support the transfer of learned content into everyday professional life.
Konrad Müller
Managing Director/Entrepreneur
Last position:
Managing Director/Entrepreneur at M-CAD Müller & Partner GbR
- External engineering services and project support for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers according to their standards and specifications (e.g. Alfa-Romeo, Audi, Daimler AG, BMW, Ford, Fiat, General Motors, Hyundai, Land-Rover, Mahindra, Mercedes-AMG GmbH, Nissan, Iveco, MAN, PSA, Porsche, Proton, Renault, Smart, Suzuki, Tata Motors, Volvo, VW)
- Cooperation with MHG Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Emission Systems GmbH, BIN Boysen Innovationszentrum Nagold GmbH & Co. KG, Miccavonics GmbH, Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG
- 3D modeling and development taking into account:
- Costs: short, targeted, efficient, scientific, innovative and competitive planning with little rework
- CFD (flow distribution, pressure loss, flow around and speeds in steady-state, unsteady, laminar, turbulent and multiphase flows)
- FEM/FEA (strength, modal, thermomechanical, fatigue and operational analyses, linear, nonlinear as well as static and dynamic structural assessments)
- Acoustics (flow-induced noise and vibrations)
- Manufacturing requirements (simplification of common-part concepts, material selection, integration of existing processes)
- Packaging compliance with suggestions for cost reduction and efficiency improvement
- Projects included:
- Exhaust manifolds for gasoline and diesel engines (3, 4, 6, 8 cylinders)
- Close-coupled and underfloor catalyst systems with SCR, urea injection and mixing chambers
- Compact commercial vehicle catalyst systems (one-box design) with fuel processor
- Catalyst systems in muffler systems for passenger cars
- Active Noise Cancelling (patented design and arrangement, prototype development and acoustic analysis)
- Development of test fixtures, prototypes and SCR distribution scanners
Xavier Reckers
Interim / Senior Project Manager / PMO
Last position:
Interim / Senior Project Manager / PMO at Mann + Hummel
- Portfolio, program, and project management using agile, hybrid, and traditional project management methods
Lars Otto
Founding Shareholder
Last position:
Founding Shareholder at LarTho GmbH
Company founding and successful market launch
Trading and distribution of new and used furniture, fixtures, trade fair items, and consumer goods via e-commerce
Stephan Johne
Managing Partner
Last position:
Responsible CRA Risk Analysis - Moderator (Cyber Resilience Act, Cyber Security) at DEUTA-Werke Bergisch Gladbach
Risk analyses according to CRA for E/E systems with safety levels SIL2 and SIL3 according to IEC61508 & EN 50126 ff. in the rail sector, Role: Responsible CRA Risk Analysis - Moderator
Frank Krauss
Managing Director
Last position:
Managing Director at Deltaget GmbH
- Set up and further develop management systems according to DIN EN ISO 9001, 14001, 50001 and IATF 16949
- Audit management (9001, 14001, 50001, 16949) for all system, process and product audits
- Conduct and document process audits according to VDA 6.3
- Organizational development
- Restructuring and turnaround management
- Support in supplier selection, approval and evaluation
- Strategic supplier development and task force management of critical parts
- Process analysis, process modeling, optimization and documentation of relevant materials
- Conduct sample reviews according to VDA-PPF and PPAP including IMDS management
- Project management according to VDA-RGA and APQP
- Complaint management
Harald Bergmann
Software Architect
Last position:
Software Architect at Amoria Bond
- Developed gateway demonstrator
- Defined system requirements for topology and data concentrator
- Designed zonal controllers for Leoni
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Managing Directors statistics
Typical experience
25 years
Average project duration
3.9 years
Certifications per freelancer
3
Top business areas
Project Management, Strategy, Operations
Top industries
Professional Services, Automotive, Information Technology
Most common languages
German, English, French
Bachelor's degree or higher
88%
Master's degree or higher
29%
Doctorate
12%
Daily Rate Distribution
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 Managing Directors & Seniority distribution
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.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more? Find helpful information about FRATCH
A freelance Managing Director assumes full operational, financial, and legal responsibility for a company or business unit during a period of transition. They stabilize operations, implement strategic turnarounds, or manage specific growth phases before handing over to a permanent successor.
Stuttgart businesses typically hire an interim General Manager to bridge sudden leadership vacancies, manage urgent corporate restructuring, or lead complex post-merger integration projects. This approach provides immediate executive-level expertise without the long onboarding times and long-term financial commitments of a permanent contract.
Experienced interim leaders in Germany understand the critical importance of co-determination and works councils, especially in Stuttgart's industrial sector. They work collaboratively with employee representatives to implement necessary restructuring measures or operational shifts smoothly and legally.
A high-caliber freelance Chief Executive Officer must have a proven track record of P&L responsibility, crisis management, and strategic realignment within relevant industries. Strong background in corporate finance, production management, and stakeholder communication is essential for immediate impact.
Yes, an interim CEO usually works primarily on-site at the company headquarters or manufacturing facilities in Stuttgart to build trust with local teams and closely monitor operations. Some administrative tasks and strategic planning can be handled remotely, but physical presence remains key for effective leadership.
While a management consultant primarily analyzes problems and proposes strategic recommendations, a freelance Managing Director actively implements those strategies and carries full legal liability for the company. They make operational decisions, manage staff directly, and steer day-to-day business.
The duration of an assignment for an interim Geschäftsführer usually spans from several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the turnaround or transition. The project finishes once the defined strategic goals are achieved and a permanent replacement is successfully onboarded.
A top-tier interim manager is evaluated by their concrete track record of successful turnarounds and corporate transformations in similar industrial environments. Strong reference calls with previous supervisory boards and clear, transparent communication during the briefing phase are reliable indicators of quality.
The average hourly rate for Managing Directors in Stuttgart is 132 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,055 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Managing Directors in Stuttgart, 88% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 29% hold at least a Master's degree, and 12% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Managing Directors in Stuttgart have 25 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.9 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Managing Directors in Stuttgart are German (100%), English (100%), and French (16%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Managing Directors in Stuttgart are Professional Services (63%), Automotive (58%), and Information Technology (47%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Managing Directors in Stuttgart are Project Management (74%), Strategy (74%), and Operations (68%).
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
