Dietrich Firnhaber

Head of Strategy & Portfolio Development at Covestro

Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

About

Internationally experienced manager: 20 years of executive experience (at C and C-1 level). Solution oriented executive, persistent negotiator with proven success in conflict resolution and building new businesses, restructuring, M&A, financing, compliance, as well as experience negotiating with regulators and public authorities in Germany, US and Chile.

Experience

  • Covestro (10 yrs 9 mos)
    • Head of Strategy & Portfolio Development
      Jan 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 6 mos

    • Head of Portfolio & Project Management
      Oct 2015 - Dec 2015 · 3 mos

  • SVP Corporate Development at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Sep 2007 - Sep 2015 · 8 yrs 1 mo

    • Leading a portfolio assessment, developing measures and milestone plans • Leading restructuring teams • Leading strategy and M&A projects • Negotiate strategic partnerships

  • Member of the Board, SVP Strategy and Chief Legal Officer at American Water
    Jan 2003 - Aug 2007 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    • Leadership IPO Project Office • Developed and implemented growth strategy for the non-regulated business in new markets • Post Merger Integration • Leading crisis management and dispute resolution in Chile • Transformation of legal department towards an entrepreneurial service unit

  • Head of Legal, Office of the CEO, et alia at RWE Groupe (RWE Solutions AG)
    Jan 1999 - Dec 2002 · 4 yrs

    • Leading legal team in the public take over by RWE and steering merger team of LAHMEYER into RWE • Heading legal restructuring of the group • Transforming legal department into an entrepreneurial service unit • Leading German and international M&A projects • Running an operational and debt-restructuring project after dotcom crisis

  • Corporate Counsel & Head Office of the CEO at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Jul 1996 - Dec 1998 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    • Advising management at the IPO and organizing first public shareholder meeting • Leading German and international M&A projects • Advising on legal matters on a public take-over and restructuring of Linotype Hell AG • Leading the merger project (Linotype Hell AG with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG)