António Strachwitz - Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy

Q: Where is António based?

António is based in Castell, Germany .

Q: What languages does António speak?

António speaks the following languages: Portuguese (Native), German (Intermediate), English (Intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate), French (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does António have?

António has at least 19 years of experience. During this time, António has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 1 month . Note that António may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is António's latest experience?

António's most recent position is Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy at Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items .

Q: What companies has António worked for in recent years?

In recent years, António has worked for Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items , Unspecified Tech Startup , Luise Händlmaier GmbH , Goldsteig Käsereien GmbH , and Strachwitz Consulting .

Q: Which industries is António most experienced in?

António is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Food and Beverage , and Retail . António also has some experience in Banking and Finance , Information Technology (IT) , and Transportation and Logistics .

Q: Which business areas is António most experienced in?

António is most experienced in business areas like Marketing , Sales , and Strategy and Planning . António also has some experience in Operations , Supply Chain Management , and Logistics .

Q: Which industries has António worked in recently?

António has recently worked in industries like Professional Services , Food and Beverage , and Information Technology (IT) .

Q: Which business areas has António worked in recently?

António has recently worked in business areas like Marketing , Sales , and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Castell, Germany

Experience

Jan 2025 - Jul 2025

7 months

Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy

Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items

Piloted a digital catalog with 3,000 customizable items and established lean-optimized B2B bundles for key accounts
Negotiated commission-based partnerships with leading brands in entertainment, FMCG, and lifestyle (commission model: 10–12%)
Implemented a CRM system with integrated AI tools for lead scoring, sales analytics, and personalized customer outreach
Conducted agile workshops, KPI dashboard training, and AI-supported data analysis for the existing sales team; recruited three new sales employees
Initiated TV shopping partnerships (live sales) and launched a pilot with 20 vending machines in museums and shops
Designed NFT collector’s editions with patented AuVerIn codes and launched a pilot platform with blockchain authentication
Increased revenue by 50% within seven months
Improved forecast accuracy by 30% and reduced sales cycle length by 20%
Boosted lead conversion by 25% and cut manual reporting efforts by 40%
Raised close rate by 20% while increasing team size by 50%
TV live sales generated €25,000/month; vending pilot achieved €30,000 in revenue

Jan 2024 - Dec 2024

1 year

Germany

Head of Sales & Growth

Unspecified Tech Startup

Established a unified sales flow, including a CRM rollout with AI-powered lead scoring and deal prioritization
Recruited and led an international sales team (0→5 FTE) through agile workshops, KPI dashboard training, and sales playbooks
Conducted executive demos and workshops for pilot clients in manufacturing and logistics, demonstrating a 50% reduction in negotiation time
Closed pilot and framework agreements on a commission basis; defined flexible pricing models and discount tiers
Collaborated closely with product and marketing teams to create customized case studies and success stories
Built a pipeline of €2M, with €500K from pilot deals
Achieved annual revenue of €450K (110% of target)
Scaled the sales team from 0 to 5 FTE and increased close rate by 25%
Multiple successful implementations in companies across industry, logistics, and aviation

Jan 2023 - Dec 2023

1 year

Regensburg, Germany

Sales Director

Luise Händlmaier GmbH

Led a sales team of five, including coaching, KPI monitoring, and performance optimization
Acquired new customers, including members of the “Rewe für Sie” organization, to open additional markets
Designed, launched, and successfully marketed private-label products for various customers and markets
Efficiently managed a 10-person logistics team to reliably handle growing demand
Strategically leveraged competitors’ weaknesses to increase market share and build long-term customer relationships
Grew revenue by €40M (+44%)
Secured new business within the “Rewe für Sie” organization
Expanded private-label business in various markets

Mar 2018 - Dec 2022

4 years 10 months

Cham, Germany

Head of Exports

Goldsteig Käsereien GmbH

Acquired new customers by targeting grocery retailers, distributors, and agents across Europe
Strengthened market position in Italy and expanded business activities in other European countries
Led a team of seven to coordinate expansion and customer acquisition
Increased export revenue to €150M (+21%)
Successfully won new customers in the food retail sector as well as distributors and agents across Europe

Feb 2015 - Feb 2018

3 years 1 month

Rehburg-Loccum, Germany

Key Account Manager EMEA

Frischli Milchwerke GmbH

Developed and built sales structures in 18 new countries (Africa and the Middle East)
Identified and onboarded new sales partners to support market expansion
Introduced efficient processes for market entry and optimized logistics operations
Managed a team of two assistants to support the expansion operationally
Increased revenue in new markets by €12M (+80%)
Developed and executed an optimized sales strategy for the food service sector in Europe
Strengthened existing partnerships and strategically grew the customer base in the French market
Launched targeted marketing and sales campaigns for France
Increased food service sector revenue to €38M (+51%) and grew France revenue from €2M to €9M

Jan 2014 - Present

12 years 2 months

Castell, Germany

Interim Manager CSO / CRO

Strachwitz Consulting

Conceptualized and implemented sales and marketing strategies based on data-driven analyses and market requirements
Built and led high-performing teams with clear goals and ongoing development
Introduced innovative processes, digitized workflows, and improved operational efficiency
Opened new markets, strengthened customer relationships, and increased customer satisfaction
Took advantage of competitor weaknesses and adapted strategies to dynamic market changes
Achieved results in implementing sales strategies that enabled sustainable growth paths
Enhanced processes and workflows, leading to greater operational efficiency
Successfully expanded into new markets and established long-term business partnerships
Drove positive improvements in customer satisfaction and loyalty through targeted actions

Aug 2013 - Jan 2015

1 year 6 months

Hamburg, Germany

Financial Advisor & Sales Specialist

Freelancer

Identified and implemented tailored EU funding programs to maximize financial benefits
Designed and executed targeted approaches to reach new customer segments and leverage market potential
Planned and carried out focused marketing and acquisition activities to enter new markets
Organized and delivered customer training for optimal use of funding
Implemented effective measures to improve customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty
Analyzed market and price trends to support strategic decisions and enhance competitiveness
Expanded market presence and attracted new customer groups
Increased revenue through optimized funding strategies and solid market analyses
Built long-term customer relationships through personalized training and consulting
Strengthened clients' market position with innovative strategies and precise analyses

Feb 2009 - Jul 2013

4 years 6 months

Lisbon, Portugal

Sales Manager

Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG

Introduced an optimized shift system to reduce overtime
Implemented effective controls to improve inventory tracking
Conducted regular training to boost cost awareness and work efficiency
Developed and implemented processes to reduce product losses from damage and theft
Significantly reduced overtime costs
Cut inventory variances and shrinkage, increasing profit per store
Optimized labor costs through more efficient use of work hours
Increased sales and improved store profitability

Jul 2007 - Feb 2009

1 year 8 months

Paris, France

Credit Analyst

BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Banking

Introduced a structured system for creditworthiness checks and ensured compliance with credit standards
Developed precise risk assessment models to identify and evaluate risks
Implemented targeted risk mitigation strategies to maximize credit portfolio profitability
Conducted detailed operational and profitability analyses, especially for German automakers and their suppliers
Worked closely with internal stakeholders to support strategic decisions
Significantly reduced administrative costs by optimizing credit approval processes
Minimized credit risks through efficient risk assessment models and mitigation strategies
Enhanced analyses and more accurate risk estimates greatly improved decision making
Played a key role in supporting strategic business decisions with solid creditworthiness and risk analyses

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Professional Services (12.5 years), Food and Beverage (9 years), Retail (5 years), Banking and Finance (1.5 years), Information Technology (1 year), and Transportation (1 year).

Professional Services

Food and Beverage

Retail

Banking and Finance

Information Technology

Transportation

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Marketing (12.5 years), Sales (12.5 years), Strategy (12 years), Operations (4.5 years), Supply Chain Management (4.5 years), and Logistics (4 years).

Marketing

Sales

Strategy

Operations

Supply Chain Management

Logistics

Summary

As an interim CSO, I implemented a modern CRM with AI-powered lead scoring, automated forecast models, and comprehensive process automation within a few months. Real-time dashboards enabled data-driven decisions and led to revenue increases of +44% at Händlmaier, +21% at Goldsteig, and +51% at Frischli. I also built an international sales team, led agile workshops and KPI training, introduced lean methods, and took full responsibility for over 100 employees in direct and indirect sales.

At the same time, I conducted in-depth market and competitive analyses and used predictive analytics and A/B tests to continuously optimize the sales funnel. Account-based marketing and data-driven storytelling in relevant channels increased the conversion rate by 20% and the average order value by 15%. This strategic research component laid the foundation for targeted market expansions and high-quality leads.

In my subsequent role as interim CRO, I developed flexible pricing models and incentive structures, coordinated cross-functional teams, and used advanced AI analytics for accelerated growth in new markets. Automating recurring reporting tasks reduced manual efforts by 40%. Proactive stakeholder alignment and risk management ensured smooth implementation of complex transformation projects even in volatile phases.

Skills

Leadership Strength
Conceptual And Strategic Thinking
Problem-solving Skills
Innovation Ability
Organizational Adaptability
Integrity
Assertiveness And Decision-making Ability
Audience-appropriate Expression And Communication Skills
Networking Skills
Analysis Of Financial Metrics
Understanding Of Technological Processes
Experience With Digital Transformation

Languages

Portuguese

Native

German

Intermediate

English

Intermediate

Spanish

Intermediate

French

Elementary

Education

Oct 2006 - Jun 2007

Technische Universität München

Erasmus Scholarship · Business Administration, Economics, Economic Sciences · Munich, Germany

Oct 1998 - Jun 2007

Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics

Diploma in Business Administration · Business Administration with a focus on International Management · Lisbon, Portugal

Profile

Created

August 2025

Last Update

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is António based?

António is based in Castell, Germany.

What languages does António speak?

António speaks the following languages: Portuguese (Native), German (Intermediate), English (Intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate), French (Elementary).

How many years of experience does António have?

António has at least 19 years of experience. During this time, António has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 1 month. Note that António may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would António be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, António would be well-suited for roles such as: Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy, Head of Sales & Growth, Sales Director.

What is António's latest experience?

António's most recent position is Head of Business Development & Sales Strategy at Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items.

What companies has António worked for in recent years?

In recent years, António has worked for Company in catalog sales of high-quality gold gift items, Unspecified Tech Startup, Luise Händlmaier GmbH, Goldsteig Käsereien GmbH, and Strachwitz Consulting.

Which industries is António most experienced in?

António is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Food and Beverage, and Retail. António also has some experience in Banking and Finance, Information Technology (IT), and Transportation and Logistics.

Which business areas is António most experienced in?

António is most experienced in business areas like Marketing, Sales, and Strategy and Planning. António also has some experience in Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Logistics.

Which industries has António worked in recently?

António has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Food and Beverage, and Information Technology (IT).

Which business areas has António worked in recently?

António has recently worked in business areas like Marketing, Sales, and Strategy and Planning.

What is António's education?

António attended Technische Universität München for Business Administration, Economics, Economic Sciences.

What is the availability of António?

António is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of António?

António's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.