Björn Bemelmans - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Q: Where is Björn based?

Björn is based in Aachen, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Björn speak?

Björn speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Dutch (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Björn have?

Björn has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Björn has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 4 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 6 years and 9 months . Note that Björn may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Björn's latest experience?

Björn's most recent position is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Heimbach Group .

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

In recent years, Björn has worked for Heimbach Group and 2B Management Consulting .

Q: Which industries is Björn most experienced in?

Björn is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Food and Beverage , and Manufacturing . Björn also has some experience in Automotive .

Q: Which business areas is Björn most experienced in?

Björn is most experienced in business areas like Accounting , Finance , and Audit . Björn also has some experience in Project Management , Strategy and Planning , and Human Resources (HR) .

Q: Which industries has Björn worked in recently?

Björn has recently worked in industries like Automotive , Food and Beverage , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Björn worked in recently?

Björn has recently worked in business areas like Finance , Project Management , and Human Resources (HR) .

Recommended expert

Aachen, Germany

Experience

Dec 2021 - Jan 2024

2 years 2 months

Düren, Germany

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Heimbach Group

Overall management of Heimbach GmbH with an annual turnover of €160 million and approx. 1,300 employees alongside the CEO
Responsible for finance, controlling, purchasing, IT and human resources including personnel development
Managed and further developed the commercial organization and ensured integrated corporate planning and management
Actively supported strategic and operational decision-making processes
Increased EBITDA margin from 8% to 11% during challenging conditions through improved financial transparency, performance and cost programs, and optimization of purchasing, organizational and IT structures
Led preparation and successful execution of due diligence and sale of the company to a strategic investor (EBITDA multiple approx. 10x)

Mar 2019 - Present

7 years 1 month

Interim CFO | Interim Manager | Finance Expert | Senior Advisor

2B Management Consulting

Interim CFO and project manager focusing on financial and overall corporate management in transformation, restructuring and special situations
Support management, shareholders, investors and management teams in the stabilization and further development of companies in private equity-dominated environments and internationally active medium-sized companies
Assume management and CFO responsibility on a temporary basis and perform project management tasks to establish and reorganize financial and management structures
Ensure liquidity and quality of results and actively support strategic decisions
Provide financial and operational support for M&A, carve-out and exit processes and act as sparring partner for management, advisory board and investors
Interim commercial director of a medium-sized German food manufacturer in the meat processing sector (€100 million turnover, ~500 employees, several locations; private equity financed) (2025)
Project manager for post-merger integration of an international industrial company (€160 million in sales, ~1,250 employees) into a group (approx. €1.1 billion in sales, ~5,500 employees) (2024)
Interim CFO of a medium-sized German automotive supplier in aluminum die casting (€100 million turnover, 900 employees, several locations; private equity) (2019–2020)
Project manager for consulting firms: restructuring of a medium-sized German mechanical engineering company (approx. €900 million turnover, ~3,000 employees, several locations) including design and implementation of a comprehensive restructuring concept under Section 270b of the German Insolvency Code (2021)
Project manager for consulting firms: implementation of performance improvement programs and expert opinions according to IdW S6 (restructuring reports) and IdW S11 (solvency assessment) for companies in various industries (since 2020)

Dec 2013 - May 2019

5 years 6 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Business Unit CFO EMEA Food & Consumer | Managing Director

Coveris Group

Co-managed the EMEA Food & Consumer Business Unit with €450 million annual turnover, approx. 2,000 employees and 10 production sites in 4 countries
Served as commercial business partner to group management, private equity investor and European subsidiaries
Responsible for finance, accounting, treasury, controlling, taxes, restructuring and IT management at business unit level
Co-designed and implemented corporate and M&A strategy and ensured integrated corporate planning and management
Managed comprehensive reorganization from country-based to functional structure, centralized administrative functions in Europe including establishment of a shared service center, and harmonized systems and processes in finance, HR, purchasing, IT and sales
Oversaw performance and restructuring programs, restructured underperforming sites and temporarily assumed CFO roles in subsidiaries to ensure uniform governance and quality standards

May 2003 - Nov 2013

10 years 7 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

German Certified Public Auditor / Senior Manager / Authorized Signatory

EY Wirtschaftprüfungsgesellschaft

Audited and advised medium-sized and large corporate groups in various industries and ownership structures, including family-owned, private equity-financed and internationally active industrial companies
Managed audits of annual and consolidated financial statements (HGB, IFRS, US GAAP) and advised on accounting, governance, internal control systems and compliance
Supported complex special situations including ERP implementations and harmonization, IPO preparations, restructuring and transformation projects, and post-merger integrations
Led interdisciplinary project and audit teams and collaborated closely with board members, management, shareholders and investors
Acted as sparring partner for top management on strategic, financial and organizational issues

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 (17.5 years), Food and Beverage (12.5 years), Manufacturing (7.5 years), and Automotive (7 years).

Professional Services

Food and Beverage

Manufacturing

Automotive

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 Accounting (16 years), Finance (12.5 years), Audit (10.5 years), Project Management (7 years), Strategy (5.5 years), and Human Resources (2 years).

Accounting

Finance

Audit

Project Management

Strategy

Human Resources

Summary

Experienced CFO with extensive expertise in the overall and financial strategic management and development of companies. Strong focus on finance leadership, transformation and restructuring. Sound background as an auditor with a long-standing focus on private equity-led companies as well as several years of CFO responsibility in internationally active manufacturing companies. Recognized skills in business representation, business relationship management, and strategic decision-making.

Implementation experience in special situations: Establishment and stabilization of financial organizations, cash and earnings management, performance programs, M&A support as well as preparation and implementation of company sales/ exits. Entrepreneurially minded interim manager with a clear focus on results, high speed of implementation and secure management of all relevant stakeholders in demanding transformation phases.

Skills

Corporate Governance And Strategy
Performance Improvement
Restructuring & Turnaround
Employee Management And Development
Project Management
Stakeholder Management (Shareholders, Banks, Management, Consultants)
M&a, Carve-outs & Exit Preparation
Development And Reorganization Of Commercial And Operational Functions
Financial Governance, Controlling & Kpi-systems
Cash Flow Management & Liquidity Protection
Budgeting, Forecasting & Scenario Analysis
Reporting & Investor Relations

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

French

Advanced

Dutch

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2002 - Jun 2003

Kristianstad University

MBA International Business · International Business · Kristianstad, Sweden · with honors

Oct 1999 - Jun 2002

Aachen University of Applied Sciences

Diploma in Business Administration (University of Applied Sciences) · Business Administration – focus areas: Finance, Taxes, Auditing, Law · Aachen, Germany · 1.3

Jun 1998 - Present

Royal Athenaeum Eupen

German Abitur · Eupen, Belgium

Certifications & licenses

Appointment As An Auditor

Chamber Of Public Accountants

Profile

Created

January 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Björn based?

Björn is based in Aachen, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Björn speak?

Björn speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Dutch (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Björn have?

Björn has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Björn has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 4 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 6 years and 9 months. Note that Björn may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Björn be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Björn would be well-suited for roles such as: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Interim CFO | Interim Manager | Finance Expert | Senior Advisor, Business Unit CFO EMEA Food & Consumer | Managing Director.

What is Björn's latest experience?

Björn's most recent position is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Heimbach Group.

What companies has Björn worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Björn has worked for Heimbach Group and 2B Management Consulting.

Which industries is Björn most experienced in?

Björn is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Food and Beverage, and Manufacturing. Björn also has some experience in Automotive.

Which business areas is Björn most experienced in?

Björn is most experienced in business areas like Accounting, Finance, and Audit. Björn also has some experience in Project Management, Strategy and Planning, and Human Resources (HR).

Which industries has Björn worked in recently?

Björn has recently worked in industries like Automotive, Food and Beverage, and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Björn worked in recently?

Björn has recently worked in business areas like Finance, Project Management, and Human Resources (HR).

What is Björn's education?

Björn holds a Master in International Business from Kristianstad University and a Bachelor in Business Administration – focus areas: Finance, Taxes, Auditing, Law from Aachen University of Applied Sciences.

Does Björn have any certificates?

Björn has 1 certificate: Appointment As An Auditor.

What is the availability of Björn?

Björn is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Björn?

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