Résumé
Through fostering effective team dynamics I develop strategies that challenge the market, drive digital transformation and integrate relevant technologies to future-proof organisations.
Project duration is typically 6 to 12 months on a full-time basis.
Interim Chief Product & Technology Officer
Urban Sports Club
Sports, Online bookings, B2C, B2B, B2B2C
At this European B2C & B2B health and fitness company I oversaw operations across three business verticals, provided executive and departmental support during a transitional phase.
• Profitability: Restored company profitability and boost EBIT serving as the foundation for Series E €95 million investment through strategic leadership support and the implementation of numerous efficiency measures.
• Platform Integration: Initiated plan for unifying two platforms into a single architecture, reducing operational complexity and delivering significant cost reduction.
• Organisation Transformation: Restructured Product and Engineering to scale the organisation for future growth, whilst enabling a decentralised approach to transition to the new architecture with an end-user-first focus.
• Data Warehouse Strategy: Stopped an inefficient, high-cost-undertaking data warehouse project, transitioning to a streamlined cloud implementation, delivering value in months (not years!).
• AI Innovation: Introduced an agenda pursuing a Digital Twin concept to model membership and sports activity across locations supporting Sales in growth agendas.
• Supervised: 8 direct reports in a 60+ FTE organisation across product, design, data and engineering departments.
Head of Product Platform Strategy
ABB Digital Ventures
Electric Vehicle Fleet Management, B2B, B2B2B
At ABB, a global leader in technology and electrification solutions, I crafted a SaaS agenda and platform strategy for B2B electric fleet management, positioning ABB as a leader in electric vehicle transition and charging operations.
• Strategic Platform Development: Transformed multiple disparate product initiatives into an overarching long term platform strategy with a 1-3-6 year horizon plan and revenue expectation.
• Data Orchestration: Coordinated a tactical agenda to address multivariate data requirements, ensuring security, GDPR compliance and appropriate data handling.
• Commercialisation: Established co-innovation program with key customers [i.e Daimler Trucks] in enhancing product roll out and commercialisation strategy.
Product Consultant
Zalando
Fashion, eCommerce B2C, B2B, B2B2C
My role was specific to supporting the product organisations with the development of multiple strategic initiatives
• Infrastructure Development: Organised and developed the strategic initiative to launch a new backbone services infrastructure for all Merchant Operations, aiming for a B2B2C model within the Zalando ecosystem.
• Customer Validation: Validated the requirements of the new merchant infrastructure with key brands.
• Negotiation & Roll Out: Planned the integration agenda with internal logistics, partner management and marketing teams.
• 3D Mapping & Integration: Supported the Size & Fit department in rolling out a geometric visual mapping tool aimed at reducing ecommerce returns.
Interim Chief Product Officer
MisterSpex
eCommerce, Warehousing, Logistics, B2C
My role involved supporting ongoing product strategy and operational enhancements for a B2C ecommerce platform specialising in fashion and ophthalmologist eyewear. I oversaw Product, Design, UX and Category Management, with 5 direct reports in a 30+ FTE organisation.
• Augmented Reality Launch: Introduced AR product for virtual glasses try-on, cutting physical trial operational (logistics and damage) costs.
• ERP Integration Improvement: Enhanced online-to-offline integration and stock management via MS Navision evaluation, addressing scalability challenges.
• Customer Journey Strategy: Developed a holistic view of customer friction points and value drivers to identify new business opportunities and revenue opportunities.
• Revenue Development: Contributed to revenue objectives with the roll out of a personalisation strategy using Machine Learning.
• OKRs & Agile Thinking: Supported the leadership team in rolling out OKRs and Agile methodologies.
• Business Strategy Evaluation: Assessed strategic opportunities in new subsidiary channels and technology stacks.
Launch Consultant
GAL
Voice Activated Devices
Roll out support for a bluetooth in-car audio-command device.
• Team Alignment: Addressed and resolved mismatches between hardware, firmware and software delivery teams across China and Germany, ensuring coordination and collaboration.
• Launch Planning: Coordinated launch planning across technology, logistics, marketing and PR work streams.
Digital Expert Associate Partner
Digital McKinsey & Company
My role was specific to bringing practitioner expertise to Management Consultancy. Providing support for clients entering or expanding their digital business ambitions.
• Digital Hub Establishment: Established €65 million revenue growth strategy for an international fashion brand through establishing digital infrastructure, transforming bricks-and-mortar operation and transitioning focus towards direct-to-customer initiatives.
• Agile Transformation Leadership: Established a change program for a global accounting and business management firm to improve operational efficiency. Supported the initiative with digital tools and process, RPA implementation and KPI performance management frameworks.
• M&A Consultation: Assisted a global airline in evaluating ‘buy’ scenarios for a new digital venture in customer acquisition, detailing revenue growth, operational models, and risk analysis
• Customer Service Transformation: Led digital transformation initiatives for a global paper supplier, introducing Machine Learning chatbots and evaluating full AI solutions for customer service to support EBIT initiatives and scalability of customer focus transition.
• Product CoE Establishment: Contributed to the creation of an internal Product Centre of Excellence (CoE), introducing frameworks, developmental pathways, structured learning programs, role definitions, documentation and a knowledge hub.
Agile Transformation Consultant
Eleven Management Consulting
Supporting transformational and digital business work.
Product Consultant
Skillset
Consultation for a range of elearning endeavours on user engagement, usability and product development.
Interim VP Product & Technology
HRS
eCommerce, Travel, B2C, B2B
At this global B2C, B2B, B2B2C travel company, I oversaw Ecommerce and SaaS platform operations across three business domains through a transformational period. I managed a €25 million budget spanning Germany, Poland, and China.
• Machine Learning for Efficiency: Reduced operational effort by 50% with predictive occupancy analysis initiated through a machine learning program, strengthening both client negotiations and tech leadership reputation.
• Infrastructure Modernisation: Implemented a service-oriented architecture, enabling new business functionality delivery for B2C, B2B and subsidiary operations. Migrated a subsidiary platform and decoupled the End Consumer (B2C) Booking platform.
• Organisational Transformation: Implemented a transformation restructuring framework leveraging modern product delivery technologies (CI/CD, Containerisation, Cloud) and team structures emphasising agile and digital-first thinking.
• Project Management Steering & Reporting: Supported and reported progress of key strategic initiatives PCI compliance, AWS migration and APAC (API) performance initiatives.
• Development Hub Strategy for Shanghai, China: Established the strategy, budget and hiring schedule for the development hub in Shanghai, China.
• Supervised: 12 direct reports within a 160+ FTE organisation across Product, Design, Data Analytics and Engineering teams.
Head of Product
ShareTheMeal [United Nations World Food Program]
Charity, Mobile, Social G2C
Responsible for the redevelopment & redesign of the native apps in preparation for global launch.
• App Redesign & Restructure: Led the complete redesign and restructuring of native apps, focusing on user experience, technical enhancements and backend delivery requirements.
• In-App Messaging: Delivered in-house in-app messaging functionality to enhance marketing efforts for reactivation and retention.
• Global App Store Features: Secured features on global launch in both Android and Apple app stores through native design requirements.
• Mobile Payments Initiative: Supported efforts to implement mobile payments (first Android app with in-app mobile payments for an NGO).
• Awards: Received awards including the SXSW Interactive Innovation Award, Google Play Award and Shorty Social Good Award.
Director of Product Development
Zanox [Axel Springer]
AdTech, RTB & Affiliate, B2B
Lead Product Management in a transitional phase.
• Strategic Development: Developed a mid to long-term strategy integrating marketing automation, RTB, digital customer journey & attribution and multi-channel targeting with cross-device capabilities.
• SAP Implementation: Co-finalised the implementation of SAP, achieving a fully functioning shadow implementation after 6 years of unsuccessful attempts.
Financial Management: Managed CAPEX reporting, budgeting and capacity planning.
• Customer-Centric Product Approach: Implemented a customer-centric product approach, leveraging customer focus groups and analytical/behavioural data to create strategic quarterly product roadmaps and associated KPI reporting.
• Internal Marketing Overhaul: Introduced an overhaul of processes for internal product marketing and communications.
• Innovation Stream: Launched an innovation stream to road-test new technologies.
• Stakeholder Integration: Developed a stakeholder integration strategy through a transparency program and ‘feature pitches’.
• Supervised: 4 direct reports in a 15+FTE organisation across Product, UX & Content teams
Head of Product Development
GLG
SEO, Payments, Content Marketing, B2B, B2C
This project was predominantly to deliver better product results and restructure the Product & Engineering department for a suite of platforms working in emerging markets, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey & Russia.
• End-to-End Process Implementation: Implemented an end-to-end process for both product and engineering teams, resulting in smoother development cycles and faster product deployments.
• Engineering Team Restructuring: Restructured engineering teams and introduced Scrum methodology.
• UX Integration: Introduced UX practicalities to the product development of the ‘Deals platforms,’ leveraging user research and data insights.
• SEO Driven Taxonomy: Built an SEO-driven taxonomy for effective tagging and product clustering.
• Deals Platform Rebranding: Led the ‘Deals’ platforms rebranding initiative, significantly reducing bounce rates.
Head of Product
Wimdu
Travel Portal, eCommerce, Marketplace, B2C, P2P
My role encompassed providing leadership & building a strategically driven Product Department, setting out the roadmap for the ongoing initiatives across both the web platform & mobile applications. I was responsible for Product & UX teams.
• Company Objectives Realignment: Collaborated with CEOs to realign the company’s objectives, resulting in a mid-term vision and strategy.
Senior Product Owner API, Mobile, Partnerships
9Flats
eCommerce, Marketplace, B2C, P2P
Responsible for both the creative & technical concept of a suite of mobile applications & the API driven partnership objective.
• Production Roadmaps & Technical Infrastructure: Delivered production roadmaps, established a technical infrastructure knowledge base, coordinated strategic partner requirements and introduced an external program compliance framework.
• Optimised Internal Communications: Implemented new reporting procedures and optimised communications from internal teams to the product department through standardised communications, workshops and feature presentations.
• Mobile Apps Strategy: Developed the overall strategy for the mobile apps suite (phone/tablet).
• API Infrastructure & Partner Development: Led and project managed the API infrastructure build and partner development program.
International Project Manager
I-ways Sale Solutions
eCommerce, B2C
Responsible for day to day project management and team coordination.
• Platform Management: Managed 13 ‘platform-similar’ coupon website builds across Eastern Europe, the Baltics and South America ensuring coordinated deployment cycles, streamlined feature requests, language delivery and management communications.
Product Manager
BBC Radio Academy
Delivery of a video content elearning web application (both front-end & custom CMS).
Senior Product Owner
Ace Ventures [StudiVZ]
Geo-Location, User Generated Content, Social media
Responsible for the design and delivery of a new strategic endeavour to compete with Facebooks timeline.
• Product Management: Managed the product development of a web-application using the OpenSocial framework for the MeinVZ/StudiVZ social network (16+ million users).
• Concept & Feature Development: Developed the complete concept and feature set.
• Platform Integration: Scheduled the product for integration into the central platform.
2002 – 2009
Digital Agency Owner
IDCP
Founded and managed a digital agency specialising in diverse services, clients included industry leaders such as ArcelorMittal, Factiva (Dow Jones & Reuters), Rubbermaid, STA Travel, Sedifrais and LabGroup. I provided end-to-end web and multimedia application development, covering ecommerce platforms, marketing solutions and gaming applications from concept to execution.
ArcelorMittal Project Development Lead – Online Publishing, Digital Platform
Bristol Council Air Pollution Live Update Application
Factiva [Dow Jones & Reuters] Project Lead – Multimedia, E-Learning
Comigel Corporate Website Development
Rubbermaid Multimedia Promotional Landing Websites
Vanksen Media Project Manager – Guerilla Marketing
Synergy eCommerce Development
STA Travel In Queue Management System
Jamendo Project Manager – Guerilla Marketing
Sedifrais Multimedia development, E-Learning
New Media Producer
Lexington Multimedia
As a digital media agency my work involved research of initial concepts through design and development of web sites, multimedia applications & interactive gaming.
• Website Proposals & Client Pitches: Prepared website proposals and client pitches focusing on online strategy, including branding, customer acquisition and ROI.
• Client Reporting: Introduced individual client reporting with design and progress overviews to encourage and maintain client feedback.
• Standardised Client Contracts: Established standard working client contracts with a modular add-on philosophy.
Web Designer
Art of Computing
My role encompassed client consultation, market research and the design and development of SME websites. I contributed to service development, handled the creation of proposals, cost estimations and provided comprehensive development overviews.
World Traveller