Program Manager

• Consulting and interim management at the interface between IT operations and regulation
• Impact analysis and implementation planning for NISG 2026 and the EU AI Act, including risk management and reporting and evidence processes
• Training for governing bodies and employees on regulatory obligations
• Lectures in Data & Information Management and Human-Machine Interaction at University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, since 2023
• Supervision of master’s theses and participation in the examination board
• Presentations for business and educational institutions
• Design and development of data and AI products, platforms and pipelines
• Privacy-first architectures and zero-knowledge encryption, cloud-native on EU infrastructure
• MLOps and AIOps in live operations
• Own applications under own brand: shared codebase, separate delivery for each target device
• AI-assisted software development (vibe coding), complete agentic pipelines, code generation, implementation, automated testing, CI/CD and release cycles
• Publications on the EU AI Act, NIS2, DORA, CRA and CER as an integrated governance system
• Publications on data sovereignty, cloud economics and industrial image processing
• AI governance / compliance: data quality, Responsible AI, EU AI Act readiness, risk classification, AI ethics

The insurance application service provider in Switzerland intended to develop a multi-channel output system to support their customers on their digital enhancement journey.

• Established an Agile Release Train based on SAFe 6.0
• Trained all ART leadership
• Coached the development of the solution intent
• Established 5 teams in the ART. Developed the Epic and Feature Backlog for the team.
• Planned and coached 2 PI planning sessions

The insurance application service provider in Switzerland intended to transform their claims management BPO and IT team into an agile delivery organization.

• Established an Agile Release Train based on SAFe 6.0
• Trained all ART leadership
• Coached the development of the solution intent
• Established 2 teams in an ART.
• Developed the Epic and Feature Backlog for the team.
• Planned and coached 2 PI planning sessions

• 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

Technologies: Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, Office 365 (Teams, PowerPoint, Copilot, Excel, SharePoint, Forms, OneNote, PowerAutomate, Word), DataDog, Conceptboard, Python, AWS, Claude, Perplexity Methodology: Scrum

• Steering and supporting the organization in introducing Scrum and a SAFe-inspired quarterly roadmap and portfolio planning at program level.
• Servant leadership for Scrum teams and managers to achieve quarterly goals and measurably increase value creation for internal and external customers.
• Designing and building efficient communication and collaboration structures between multiple development teams and central stakeholders in the organization.
• Moderating and facilitating cross-functional workshops and management meetings to align on shared goals.
• Coaching leaders, Product Owners, and development teams on agile values, role understanding, and scaled ways of working (Scrum, SAFe, Business Agility).
• Removing structural obstacles at team and organizational level through targeted impediment management and escalation processes.
• Enabling teams to become more self-organized, accountable, and end-to-end responsible along the value streams.
• Individual coaching of key people (Product Owners, Chapter Leads, Scrum Masters) to strengthen their impact in the transformation program.
• Organization-wide identification, planning, and implementation of process, structure, and tool improvements to sustainably increase efficiency, throughput, and value creation.
• Close support for Product Owners in stakeholder management, business value prioritization, product strategy, roadmap planning, and effective collaboration with development teams.
• Introducing, governing, and scaling Azure DevOps as the central project and product management tool, including coaching the organization on usage, reporting, and alignment at all levels.

Achievements:

• Clear increase in visibility, transparency, and perceived value creation of the development teams within the overall organization.
• Noticeable improvement in communication between development, business, and other stakeholders.
• Optimization of work processes, workflow, and backlog structures, which reduced lead times, sharpened priorities, and sustainably increased team effectiveness.

• Support for a carve-in project involving 5 sites worldwide (3 in Germany, 3 in the US) as part of a global M&A project
• SAP S/4HANA
• Introduction of structures and best practices, as well as a consistent project management methodology for a global carve-in program
• Optimization of tracking, monitoring, and communication
• Development of a change and communication concept to engage the carve-in sites
• Implementation management, stakeholder management
• Coaching and support for the project team regarding project management and communication
• Establishment of a sustainable communication cascade and structures to support the transformation
• Advising and supporting the client project lead

• Launch of a new digital product in the Chinese market as part of a global growth strategy.

• Contact point and coordinating interface between central product management, local Chinese teams, and international stakeholders.

• Managing the full program management for coordinating complex digital projects.

• Successful launch of a digital product in China (including successful certification for the Chinese market).

• Balancing local requirements with global priorities while taking tax and regulatory conditions into account.

• Introducing a new way of working to improve collaboration and governance across locations.

• Developing and implementing a scaling strategy for the digital business model in China.

• Use of Jira, Confluence, Miro, Scrum, agile ways of working, SAFe.

• Project language: English.

• Program planning and management – time, costs, resources, sub-projects
• Stakeholder management – coordination and communication with executives, employees, and employee representatives
• Risk and opportunity management – identification and management of risks and success factors, as well as cultural change and transformation processes

Led implementation of an Azure cloud-based, event-driven enterprise integration platform connecting Salesforce, Momentus(event) and ERP applications. Reduced overall costs by 60%, lowered operational errors to under 1%, and delivered on time.

• Led the full project lifecycle from initiation to delivery using agile and hybrid methods - platform vision, feasibility, technical blueprint, architecture, implementation, integration, testing, rollout and business adoption.
• Built the engineering team from the ground up, leading teams across Switzerland, Bulgaria and India using Scrum and Kanban; established Jira, Confluence, Asana and SharePoint for delivery and reporting.
• Established and managed frequent steering meetings, reporting that gave stakeholders transparency and drove key decision-making.

• 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 introduction of solutions to support 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 the central document and communication platform
• Design and delivery of an AI workshop, including rollout of AI tools to increase efficiency and transparency in key business processes
• Creation of training materials and delivery of user training for newly introduced digital processes and solutions

• Implementation and optimization of group structures
• S4 transformation for a manufacturing company
• Optimization of financial structures
• Establishment of IFRS and US GAAP reporting structures
• Restructuring and change/integration management

• Management of security and governance initiatives
• Development of SAP BTP as an innovation platform
• Trusted advisor to executive management

In-house consulting provider and driver of transformation within the group, multi-stakeholder environment and C-level.

Realignment and stabilization of a cross-functional transformation and scaling program within the group. Sharpening the target picture, priorities, and set of measures, as well as building reliable governance, planning, and steering structures. Structuring roles, responsibilities, and strategic initiatives while including AI and IT automation ideas.

• Designed program realignment and project portfolio management

• Developed strategy model and target picture for IT projects

• Structured portfolio, roadmap, and priorities

• Established governance and regular meetings

• Worked out operating model for flagship projects

• Assessed AI and automation ideas

• Clarified roles and responsibilities

• Implemented change measures

• Developed, moderated, and evaluated workshops

• Transformed 17 initiatives into a steering model

• Increased transparency and decision-making ability

• Strengthened commitment in steering

• Sharpened the operating model structurally

• Integrated three top-5 institutes

• Involved over 80% of stakeholders

• Governance

• Portfolio steering (PPM)

• Change management

• Artificial intelligence

• Workflow automation

• AI use case assessment

• Confluence

• Jira

• Stakeholder management

• Challenge: poor project results and team performance, very poor work environment
• Solution: introduction of agile planning processes, teaching agile principles within the SAFe framework
• Innovation: consistent use of agile methods; introduction of requirements engineering, story writing
• Leadership: interface with the board, program management Opel Europe, GM USA and international markets
• Result: most productive team in the ART; increased planning accuracy to over 85%
• Team size: 10

• Partnering with organisations to manage complex IT programmes, architect and implement ERP solutions, and embed AI where it drives measurable performance gains.
• ERP solution architecture and hands-on delivery across the full lifecycle (Oracle Cloud, Infor LN, Cegid, iValua)
• Programme and delivery leadership in both Waterfall and Agile environments (SAFe / Scrum / Kanban) - governance, stakeholder management, and execution at scale
• Comprehensive assessment of business processes, organizational maturity, and technology landscape to ensure successful ERP adoption and digital transformation initiatives
• Current mandate: Oracle Cloud SCM implementation for a Big Four consultancy
• Geneva-based; operating across Switzerland and the EU