Interim CTO, Head of IT, Senior Consultant

Schaper Consulting specializes in providing customized IT and management consultancy services. They focus on business process optimization, software development consulting, interim CTO services, IT consulting, project and program management services, and coaching and mentoring.

As a Senior Consultant at Schaper Consulting, I focus on leading and strategically directing IT projects, leveraging my over 24 years of experience in senior IT roles, including as Head of IT, CTO, and CIO. I manage extensive IT programs and guide strategic planning and operational leadership in consulting, with a primary emphasis on strategic corporate management, stakeholder management, and optimizing IT operations. My specialization in managing large budgets, implementing agile and cloud-based technologies, and promoting DevOps cultures, combined with strong leadership and international experience, including effective remote management of teams, has led to significant contributions to the transformation and success of our clients' IT projects:

• Lead the transformation of IT infrastructure to enhance system efficiency and reduce operational costs.
• Direct strategic IT projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Pioneer the integration of DevOps practices to optimize development and operational processes.
• Manage and lead international teams to improve project delivery efficiency and enhance remote collaboration.
• Implement agile and cloud-based technologies to enable rapid adaptation to market changes and drive technological innovation.
• Strengthen stakeholder relationships to secure successful long-term partnerships and repeat business.

Arvato Financial Solutions is a financial service provider in the area of credit management in the e-commerce, mobility, telecommunications and banking sectors. It employs more than 7,000 people in 15 countries with a focus on Europe.

As Senior IT Project Manager in the BNPL division at arvato Financial Solutions, I was responsible for the technical integration of major customers into AfterPay's payment systems. My role encompassed defining, introducing, and optimizing relevant interfaces between the required departments, as well as implementing the associated process flows. I supported the agile software development teams in the further development (CI/CD) of the product portfolio and reported to the head of implementation management at arvato Financial Solutions:

• Successfully integrated major customer payment systems into AfterPay, enhancing transaction processing capabilities.
• Defined and optimized critical interfaces, improving communication and operational efficiency between departments.
• Led the implementation of process flows, streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery.
• Supported the continuous improvement of the product portfolio through CI/CD, accelerating feature deployment and product updates.
• Facilitated cross-functional team collaboration, ensuring project alignment with strategic business goals.

ASAB IMPEX LLP is a company specialized in the import and export of food and consumer goods as well as its own production of high-quality healthcare products from India. ASAB IMPEX LLP is a group company of SuSe IMPEX UG.

As CTO and co-founder of ASAB IMPEX LLP, I held the executive responsibility for architecting and configuring the IT system landscape, strategic planning, and management of associated IT projects. I set the technical direction, oversaw the development and implementation of IT infrastructures, and ensured the alignment of technology initiatives with business objectives. My leadership in the IT strategy propelled innovation and operational excellence, supporting the company's growth and competitiveness:

• Architected and configured a robust IT system landscape that supported scalable business operations and enhanced system reliability.
• Led strategic planning and execution of IT projects, aligning technology initiatives with business goals and driving company growth.
• Oversaw the development and implementation of a comprehensive IT infrastructure, modernizing our technology base and optimizing operational efficiency.
• Drove innovation in product and service offerings, significantly enhancing the company's market position and customer satisfaction.
• Ensured technology initiatives were fully aligned with the company's strategic objectives, resulting in streamlined operations and increased business agility.

CBS GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG and one of the leading payment systems on the internet. More than 14 million customers and 16,000 merchants benefit from this complete service in 26 countries, which includes 21 different currencies and 43 different payment methods.

As the Director of Support and Integration at CBS GmbH, I led a team of 12 professionals in the merchant support area, including 3 direct reports in the USA and 9 in Germany, to meet revenue and profitability targets. My responsibilities encompassed the support and integration of CBS products on the client side and aiding the Sales, Product Management, Finance, and Marketing departments. I played a pivotal role in steering business strategies and objectives, notably through the development of a performance-measurement system that substantially improved the quality of integration, operational, and financial information:

• Developed and implemented new products, tools, sales, and marketing strategies, enhancing client satisfaction, and aligning products with market requirements.
• Initiated and directed quality improvement plans in the support department, boosting efficiency.
• Contributed to the steering committee, helping to plan and define the company’s focus and marketing strategies.
• Established and implemented new service workflows, processes, and structures across various departments to streamline operations.
• Coordinated an outsourcing project for 1st level support in Bulgaria (Sofia), achieving cost reduction, and enhancing efficiency and quality.
• Reported directly to the CEO of CBS GmbH, ensuring strategic alignment and operational excellence.

CBS GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG and one of the leading payment systems on the internet. More than 14 million customers and 16,000 merchants benefit from this complete service in 26 countries, which includes 21 different currencies and 43 different payment methods.

As the Manager of Software Development at CBS GmbH, I led a team comprising 12 direct and 42 indirect reports across Germany, India, and the USA. My responsibilities included overseeing the software development and testing teams, managing all in-house software projects, and preparing reports for the board. I actively participated in project kickoff and change management meetings, ensuring the strategic alignment of software development initiatives. My role also involved frequent travel to our software development center in Hyderabad, India, to coordinate and plan the execution of ongoing and future projects. I reported to the CTO of CBS GmbH, ensuring that all activities were in line with the company's strategic goals:

• Managed a diverse and international team, effectively coordinating software development and testing efforts.
• Oversaw all in-house software projects, ensuring they met the board's reporting requirements.
• Participated in all major project kickoff and change management meetings, contributing to strategic planning and execution.
• Developed comprehensive project plans, ensuring adherence to deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards in project management.
• Implemented new software processes and organizational structures, significantly improving operational efficiency and effectiveness.

CBS GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG and one of the leading payment systems on the internet. More than 14 million customers and 16,000 merchants benefit from this complete service in 26 countries, which includes 21 different currencies and 43 different payment methods.

As a Software Designer at CBS GmbH, I was tasked with developing middleware and backend components for CBS products. My notable projects included the development of an E-money project to manage an online E-wallet, regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the United Kingdom. Additionally, I contributed to a major initiative that involved migrating over 200,000 lines of C++ backend code to Java. Reporting to the Manager of Software Development, I played a crucial role in enhancing the company's software offerings and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards:

• Developed an E-money project, establishing a regulated online E-wallet platform.
• Contributed to the migration of more than 200,000 lines of C++ backend code to Java, modernizing the software architecture and improving system performance.
• Collaborated effectively with the development team to meet project goals and adhere to regulatory compliance.

Reflection Development provides software component development, individual website designing and creation of 3D animations for all industrial applications.

As the founder and CEO, I was responsible for identifying market opportunities, managing customer acquisition, negotiating contracts, planning projects, and overseeing the development of all software projects. My hands-on involvement included developing internet pages, encompassing frontend, middleware, and backend coding. A notable achievement was designing and developing a portal page, including a search engine and CMS (Tridion R5) connection, for the eLearning area of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft:

• Identified and capitalized on market opportunities, leading to successful customer acquisition and business growth.
• Managed contract negotiations and project planning, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and client requirements.
• Developed comprehensive internet pages, handling frontend, middleware, and backend code, demonstrating technical expertise and product development capabilities.
• Designed and developed an advanced portal page for the eLearning area of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, integrating a search engine and CMS, which facilitated content management and user access.

Host Europe GmbH is one of Europe’s largest internet hosting provider specialized in solutions for private and business with more than 200,000 customers.

As a Lead Software Developer, I was in charge of all in-house software projects, focusing on the design and development of both internal and external tools. My work included creating analytical tools for monitoring customer interactions, developing web email clients, and building components for web kits. Reporting to the Manager of Software Development, my role was pivotal in enhancing our software capabilities and meeting organizational needs:

• Designed and developed analytical tools that enabled comprehensive monitoring of all customer-related interactions, improving customer service and business insights.
• Created a web email client, enhancing communication efficiency and user experience.
• Developed components for web kits, contributing to the robustness and versatility of our web solutions.