Michael Rachinger

Industry, Technology & Strategy | PhD

Greater Salzburg

About

I am a strategy and transformation professional with experience driving group-wide change in global industrial organizations. My work focuses on enterprise-level strategy, operating model design, technology enablement, and governance. I have led enterprise transformation programs, supported board- and C-level decision-making, and worked across R&D and corporate development with direct exposure to value creation, capital allocation, and organizational performance.

Experience

  • PALFINGER AG (4 yrs 9 mos)
    • Head of Inside Sales | North America
      Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Transformation Program Manager
      Jun 2023 - Mar 2026 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Group-wide transformation initiatives: ▹ Transformation governance, steering decision-making across executive and senior leadership levels ▹ Supported portfolio, R&D, and operating model decisions in a global industrial context ▹ Interface between corporate strategy, sales, service, R&D, and operations

    • Business & Corporate Development Manager
      Oct 2021 - Jun 2023 · 1 yr 9 mos

      Corporate development role with focus on strategy, R&D structures, and cross-unit alignment. ▹ R&D Transfer Pricing // Reconceptualization of global Approach // Project Lead ▹ Development of new Business Models // Dealer Organization ▹ Organizational Development // Digitalization & Project Management

  • FH CAMPUS 02 (6 yrs 10 mos)
    • Honorary Professor | Hon.-Prof. (FH)
      Dec 2025 - Present · 7 mos

      Recognition for contributions to management education and research on strategy, organization and business development.

    • Elected Member of the FH Kollegium (Governing Board)
      Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

      Highest decision body of the university of applied science (UAS)

    • Adjunct Faculty | Management Education
      Sep 2019 - Present · 6 yrs 10 mos

      𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 ▹ Received award for outstanding teaching performances in 2022 ▹ Submission by students; anonymous review and selection by an expert commission Lectures on Agile Business Development, General Management & Organisation and Innovation Management; supervision of theses

  • Adjunct Faculty | Management Education at Technische Universität Graz
    Jul 2021 - Present · 5 yrs

    Foundational topics of Technology Management; financial valuation of innovation projects; management simulation

  • Senior Researcher | Cognitive Production Systems at Pro2Future GmbH
    Jul 2021 - Oct 2021 · 4 mos

    Strategic analyses and organizational development

  • Research and Teaching Associate | Graz University of Technology at Institute of General Management and Organisation | UFO @ TU Graz
    Jan 2017 - Jun 2021 · 4 yrs 6 mos

    ▹ Research and Teaching Assistant to Prof. Dr. Stefan Vorbach ▹ Research on business model innovation and business ecosystems ▹ Lectures on General Management and Technology Management; supervision of theses