Simon Stilcken

Director · Strategy & Operations · Burda International | Transforming & scaling digital, e-com & media platform businesses across 10+ markets | P&L, M&A & post-merger integration | Supervisory Board Chair

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

About

Experience

  • Hubert Burda Media (7 yrs 6 mos)
    • Director · Strategy & Operations · International
      Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos

      'Global holding operating in 11 countries with 2,400 employees – platforms, consumer apps, media, and e-commerce.' - Leading strategic development and transformation of Burda’s international portfolio, spanning Europe to Asia, with P&L accountability for business performance and long-term value creation. - Shaping growth, business model innovation, and digital product initiatives, combining organic expansion and accretive M&A to accelerate portfolio performance. - Optimising product portfolios and operating models within local businesses, delivering enhanced profitability and operational resilience through targeted change initiatives. - Driving corporate development and organisational change, including commercial due diligence, post-merger integration, and jointly building high-performing teams and leadership capabilities across markets.

    • Head of Strategy & Business Development - International
      Apr 2021 - Dec 2023 · 2 yrs 9 mos

    • Manager Strategy & Business Development
      Feb 2019 - Mar 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mos

  • Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Cocolita
    Dec 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

    'A beauty & personal care e-commerce business in CEE.' - As board chair, set strategic direction, structure key corporate functions, hire senior leaders including a new C-Level, and align incentives with growth objectives. - Stepped in as interim operator alongside the board role: introduced new product, marketing and pricing strategies and a CRM/tech rollout, driving a substantial increase in revenue, profitably.

  • Member Board of Directors at Doğan Burda
    2023 - 2024 · 1 yr

    - Board director through a period of high economic volatility, focused on performance management and revenue diversification. - Sell-side preparing and executing the exit of the privately held company stake

  • Investment Associate at Burda Principal Investments
    May 2017 - Feb 2019 · 1 yr 10 mos

    'Burda Principal Investments (BPI) is a growth capital investor and provides strategic support for fast-growing digital companies. BPI's investment focus centres on brand-led consumer / B2M businesses and marketplaces across Europe and Asia. Current and past portfolio companies include Etsy, Nord Security, Aleph Alpha, Vinted, Carsome, Bloom & Wild, Skillshare, and others. BPI is led by a dedicated team of investment professionals based in New York, Munich, London, Berlin, and Singapore.' - Worked on 10+ growth investments (€5–25m tickets): financial modelling, market sizing, valuation and end-to-end due diligence. - Sourced deals through market screening and founder/VC relationships, and supported portfolio companies on growth, market expansion and fundraising.

  • MGP at Hubert Burda Media
    May 2016 - May 2017 · 1 yr 1 mo

    'Consulting projects with various portfolio companies and investments." Built operational experiences and track record on engagements with: - Immediate, London: Transactions business & e-commerce optimization - Xing, Hamburg: Business model & monetization strategy - Cyberport/ComputerUniverse, Munich: Internationalization strategy, pricing and category management - BurdaForward, Munich: Yield Management