Zandt, Bavaria, Germany
Accomplished Senior Executive with over 15 years of leadership experience spanning global industry, management consulting, and mid-sized enterprises (Mittelstand). Specialized in driving strategic initiatives, stabilizing complex corporate situations, and leading cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams through high-stakes transformations. Currently serving as Senior Task-Force Manager at Zollner Elektronik AG, I orchestrate critical automotive projects with multi-billion-dollar material volume responsibilities. My focus is on securing competitive pricing structures, ensuring supply chain resilience, and successfully navigating high-risk project and organizational challenges. I act as a central strategic liaison between business units, procurement, and global clients, regularly presenting and operating at Board and Executive Management level. My background includes executive roles in both corporate and mid-market environments, including positions as CFO / Commercial Director and Managing Director. This operational leadership is backed by extensive management consulting expertise in corporate restructuring and strategic business development. Known for strong analytical capabilities, strategic vision, and high execution power—particularly in demanding, dynamic, and mission-critical environments. Core Areas of Expertise: ▪ Leadership & Transformation ▪ Procurement & Supply Chain Management ▪ Program & Project Management ▪ Restructuring & Business Development ▪ International Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
Role Overview & Key Responsibilities • Strategic Problem Solver: Central turnaround specialist for critical automotive projects, reporting directly to divisional executive management. • Financial Scope: Driving procurement strategy and managing multi-billion-dollar material volumes for the largest project in corporate history. • Team Leadership: Leading a high-performing team of 7 professionals while orchestrating complex interfaces between business units, central procurement, and global client organizations. • Crisis Management: Steering high-stakes escalations during critical supply bottlenecks (e.g., semiconductor shortages) through direct supplier C-level negotiations. • Executive Advisory: Presenting key performance indicators and strategic action plans up to Board level and global senior client management. Key Achievements & Impact • Profitability Turnaround: Closed critical target price gaps, delivering a >8% bottom-line improvement in material costs for a major strategic project. • Cost Engineering: Achieved ~90% target price alignment across multiple large-scale projects through targeted strategic measures. • Business Growth: Facilitated the acquisition of a landmark new project by defining highly competitive material cost baselines. • Supply Stabilization: Significantly increased customer satisfaction scores by stabilizing volatile pricing structures and securing the supply chain. • Operational Excellence: Redesigned organizational structures, eliminated operational inefficiencies, and accelerated executive decision-making. • Silo-Busting: Transformed and sustainably enhanced the collaboration model between the Automotive Division and Central Procurement. • Change Agent: Purposefully appointed to drive structural transformation in high-risk project and organizational environments.
Role Overview & Key Responsibilities • Disciplinary & Functional Leadership: Led and developed a specialized procurement team, driving strategic resource planning, workload balancing, and performance management. • Global Project Management: Served as Procurement Sub-Project Manager for high-stakes, international engine development programs across Europe, the USA, and Asia. [1] • Financial & Risk Ownership: Accountable for comprehensive procurement budget planning, cost controlling, and high-level escalation management. • Executive Decision Governance: Steered cross-functional committee processes and prepared analytical, data-driven decision frameworks for executive management. • Strategic Development: Contributed to the long-term design and optimization of corporate procurement strategies and operational supply chain processes. Key Achievements & Performance • Top-Tier Performance Rating: Consistently recognized with the highest possible performance evaluations and outstanding operational results. • Global Synergy: Successfully aligned international supplier networks and cross-border project teams to secure milestones across three continents.
• Global Project Governance: Steered and co-led procurement operations for the Common Base Engine 1 program, driving international alignment and collaboration with global partners (including Scania). • Cross-Functional Interface: Served as the central strategic liaison between global project teams, core procurement, and specialized engineering/business divisions. • Financial Controlling: Developed and executed targeted cost-containment measures to ensure strict budget compliance and financial efficiency. • Executive Reporting: Prepared, structured, and facilitated management committees and executive decision-making boards.
• Project Leadership: Led complex restructuring, turnaround, and corporate finance projects tailored for mid-sized enterprises (Mittelstand). • Strategic Turnaround Planning: Developed and executed comprehensive corporate restructuring frameworks, solvency concepts, and long-term business succession strategies. • Client Relationship Management: Built, deepened, and managed high-level client relationships while actively contributing to internal corporate development and growth initiatives. • Core Competencies: Demonstrated high autonomy, exceptional strategic vision, and decisive project leadership in fast-paced, critical business environments.
• Project Delivery: Executed consulting engagements focusing on corporate restructuring, organizational design, and strategic business development. • Financial & Market Modeling: Authored comprehensive business plans, conducted data-driven SWOT analyses, and performed deep-dive market assessments. • Operational Excellence: Developed and implemented cross-departmental optimization initiatives to improve efficiency across multiple business units. • Analytical Problem Solving: Leveraged advanced quantitative analysis and problem-solving methodologies to tackle complex corporate challenges.
• Executive Leadership: Held full P&L and strategic accountability for corporate strategy, finance, sales, and organizational development. • People Management: Led, mentored, and developed a team of up to 28 professionals, including the direct management of department heads and senior leaders. • Corporate Turnaround: Spearheaded the comprehensive restructuring and strategic realignment of the enterprise to ensure long-term viability. • Financial Governance: Designed and implemented robust controlling frameworks, executive reporting structures, and data-driven performance management systems. • Growth Architecture: Formulated and executed high-impact growth and market expansion strategies to capture new business opportunities. • Global Representation: Acted as the primary international ambassador for the company, establishing and managing global business relationships.
• Strategic Oversight: Accountable for end-to-end procurement operations, supply chain management, and continuous process optimization. • Leadership & Scaling: Led a dedicated team and drove the modern restructuring and scalable development of organizational workflows. • Financial Performance: Successfully reduced operational costs, optimized spend management, and enhanced overall supply chain efficiency.
• Strategic Category Management: Served as the lead buyer responsible for indirect procurement, focusing on Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO), operating supplies, and Capital Expenditures (CapEx). • People Leadership: Formally led, mentored, and coordinated a dedicated team of 5 procurement professionals. • Financial Management: Managed category budgets, drove cost-control initiatives, and ensured strict budget compliance.