Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Experienced Leader, Co-Founder & Entrepreneur Expertise: Sourcing + China Business + Automotive + Renewables + 5 Languages • Sourcing Expert: Proven track record of COST REDUCTION and achieved savings • Internationally experienced: worked and lived in EU, Asia, Latin America • Speaks 5+ languages • In-depth knowledge of the Chinese Market since over 20 years • Automotive Industry: 15 years of experience in LEAN Manufacturing and Purchasing • Renewable Energy, SOLAR and Heating Industry since 2006
Dual executive mandate: Head of Procurement for VIESSMANN REFRIGERATION SOLUTIONS with €300M annual purchasing volume, and simultaneously leading VIESSMANN GROUP-wide procurement transformation initiative across portfolio companies with €700M total purchasing volume Organizational Leadership: ✔ Designed and built resilient purchasing organization with standardized processes across entities ✔ Developed and implemented category management concept, creating specialized expertise across business units ✔ Established purchasing controlling systems and comprehensive risk management framework ✔ Built OEM/third-party products organization for efficient management of external suppliers Commercial Impact: ✔ Consistently exceeded cost saving targets across all production facilities ✔ Established value creation framework maximizing procurement synergies across portfolio companies ✔ Directed complex EPC project negotiations for large-scale Singapore-based project Digital & Process Transformation: ✔ Led new ERP system implementation for procurement operations ✔ Established purchasing infrastructure for sales companies, enabling decentralized procurement Crisis Management: ✔ Secured supply continuity through COVID crisis and Ukraine war — maintaining deliverability across all facilities
Led complete transformation of Purchasing & Supply Chain organization during unprecedented electronics shortage, managing 60+ employees ✔ Prevented production stops across the entire Viessmann Group during peak allocation crisis ✔ Achieved 35% material cost reduction through best-cost-country sourcing of PCBs ✔ Re-sourced 30% of annual spend to more competitive suppliers — quality maintained ✔ Pioneered Sourcing 4.0 / Digital Procurement — first mover in the organization ✔ Implemented PLM system for electronics components lifecycle management ✔ Developed and qualified China supplier base for PCB assembly outsourcing ✔ Deployed group-wide supply chain risk management framework ✔ Improved inventory turnover and warehouse efficiency through lean logistics
Built the Asia-Pacific sourcing organization from zero, managing €250M annual purchasing volume and establishing the regional foundation that underpins the group's competitiveness today. ✔ Set up and led Viessmann Representative Office in Shanghai from scratch ✔ Built cross-functional teams in China and Eastern Europe (Sourcing, Engineering/R&D, Quality) ✔ Achieved 20–40% total cost reduction through strategic global sourcing ✔ Led product localization for Chinese market: new boilers reaching >85% local content at SOP ✔ Established stable Asia supply base for photovoltaic / solar energy products ✔ Led Chinese M&A acquisition team; served as Legal Representative of new China entity (2013–2015) ✔ Speaker at INSEAD and Renmin University Beijing on China market strategy (2013)
Head of Forward + Global Sourcing Led sourcing strategy for all new car model launches with €2 billion annual purchasing volume, managing 35 employees across four teams at one of China's largest automotive joint ventures. ✔ Appointed Executive Manager of Volkswagen Group (2005) ✔ Achieved >30% total material cost reduction over 4-year period ✔ Implemented transparent global sourcing process, improving supplier selection & negotiations ✔ Organized supplier workshops achieving 25% material cost reductions ✔ Pioneered e-business tools including online auctions — delivering up to 35% cost savings ✔ Awarded Medal for Extraordinary Performance, Shanghai Volkswagen (2003)
Progressive Leadership Roles in Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing at VW Group headquarters. ✔ Section Manager Purchasing, Metal & Chassis Parts (2001–2002): Managed €500M stamping and chassis parts portfolio, team of 10 ✔ Corporate Sourcing Analyst, VW Group Purchasing Metallic (1999–2001): Led supplier insolvency task force (Germany & Ireland); managed localization for VW Brazil and Latin America/South Africa export programs ✔ Strategic In-Sourcing, Supply Division (1997–1999): Improved competitiveness of VW component plants through material cost reduction
Production Strategy, Lean Manufacturing, Benchmarking ✔ Lean Manufacturing & Benchmarking (1994–1997): Introduced lean manufacturing in VW Group plants worldwide; led VW Salzgitter / Renault Cléon benchmarking project ✔ Industrial Engineering, FAW-VW, Changchun (1993): First China assignment: introduced lean manufacturing and standardized work processes ✔ International Trainee Program, Volkswagen AG (1992-1993): Trainee program in Sales, Finance, R & D, Production, Planning and Purchasing