Cord Oehlers - Professional Reorientation / Interim Management

Q: Where is Cord based?

Cord is based in Bad Schwalbach, Germany .

Q: What languages does Cord speak?

Cord speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Cord have?

Cord has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Cord has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 3 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 9 months . Note that Cord may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Cord's latest experience?

Cord's most recent position is Professional Reorientation / Interim Management .

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

In recent years, Cord has worked for Tokai COBEX .

Q: Which industries is Cord most experienced in?

Cord is most experienced in industries like Energy , Chemical , and Banking and Finance . Cord also has some experience in Manufacturing and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas is Cord most experienced in?

Cord is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing , Project Management , and Finance . Cord also has some experience in Investments, M&A & Venture Capital , Supply Chain Management , and Quality Assurance (QA) .

Q: Which industries has Cord worked in recently?

Cord has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Cord worked in recently?

Cord has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing and Project Management .

Recommended expert

Bad Schwalbach, Germany

Experience

Apr 2023 - Present

2 years 11 months

Professional Reorientation / Interim Management

May 2022 - Mar 2023

11 months

Sabbatical

Jun 2018 - Apr 2022

3 years 11 months

Wiesbaden, Germany

Global Procurement Director

Tokai COBEX

Responsible for and leading strategic and operational procurement in an international setting with €250 million in annual spending.
Direct reporting to senior management.
Personnel responsibility for up to 20 employees.
Successfully transformed the procurement function from operational to strategic.
Developing and implementing sustainable procurement strategies.
Leading complex contract negotiations with internal stakeholder involvement.
Redesigning the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) process to increase efficiency, reduce risks, and ensure compliance.

Nov 2017 - May 2018

7 months

Germany

Interim Procurement Manager

Self-employment

Built an interim management business focused on strategic procurement.

Feb 2013 - Oct 2017

4 years 9 months

London, United Kingdom

Financial Trader/Investor

Self-employment

Developed, executed, and evaluated short- and long-term trading strategies.
Traded futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

May 2010 - Jan 2013

2 years 9 months

Bochum, Germany

Senior Procurement Manager (Europe)

BP

Management of product categories for European warehouses and handling terminals and the ARAL filling station network
Development and implementation of strategies to optimize synergies, increase efficiency and reduce or avoid costs
Implementation of a cross-functional procurement forum to achieve optimized purchasing

Apr 2004 - Apr 2010

6 years 1 month

London, United Kingdom

Global Sourcing and Delivery Manager (LPG Business Unit)

BP

Management and direction of strategic and operational procurement requirements in direct and indirect purchasing
Responsible for implementing e-sourcing tools

May 2002 - Mar 2004

1 year 11 months

London, United Kingdom

Supply Chain Project Lead (BP Solvay JV)

BP

Optimization of demand and production planning
Design and implementation of new business processes

Apr 2000 - Apr 2002

2 years 1 month

London, United Kingdom

Product and Asset Manager (BP Chemicals)

BP

Management of the European aromatics business
Leading price negotiations for raw materials and products

Feb 1998 - Mar 2000

2 years 2 months

London, United Kingdom

Aromatics Supply Specialist (BP Chemicals)

BP

Responsibility for BP's purchasing and sales positions for chemical products in Western Europe and quality assurance

Feb 1996 - Jan 1998

2 years

London, United Kingdom

Research Manager (BP Chemicals)

BP

Leading a team to research new methods for the production of olefins

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 Energy (11 years), Chemical (8 years), Banking and Finance (4.5 years), Manufacturing (4 years), and Professional Services (3.5 years).

Energy

Chemical

Banking and Finance

Manufacturing

Professional Services

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 Procurement (17.5 years), Project Management (4.5 years), Finance (4.5 years), Investments and M&A (4.5 years), Supply Chain Management (4.5 years), and Product Development (2 years).

Procurement

Project Management

Finance

Investments and M&A

Supply Chain Management

Product Development

Summary

With me, you get

a goal-oriented, multilingual leader in international procurement with extensive experience in designing and implementing procurement transformations, developing sustainable sourcing strategies for various commodity groups, and successfully managing large procurement projects.

an expert with a proven track record of achieving significant cost savings and consistently exceeding performance targets year after year.

a buyer with solid expertise in direct and indirect procurement, managing an annual spend in the triple-digit million range.

a driven and strong negotiator committed to introducing and maintaining optimal procurement practices in a changing business environment.

a professional with strong leadership skills and dedication, capable of successfully handling complex projects across business units, regions, and cultures.

Skills

15 Years Of Experience In All Facets Of International Procurement And Supply Chain, E.g., Conducting Tenders (Rfx) And Contract Negotiations, Developing And Implementing Category-specific Strategies, Performance Management, And Developing And Implementing Top-quartile Procurement Processes.
Expert Knowledge In Designing And Implementing A Comprehensive Procurement Transformation Within Bp And Tokai Cobex.
Solid Expertise In Strategic And Operational Procurement With Annual Expenditures Of Up To €250 Million And A Successful Record Of Achieving Significant Savings.
Long Experience In Working With Strategic Suppliers To Create Win-win Situations.
Leading Complex Contract Negotiations With Strategic Suppliers.
Solid Knowledge Of Trading Futures Contracts And Chemical Products On Global Markets.
A Team Player Who Initiates And Supports Close Collaboration With Internal Corporate Functions To Increase Transparency And Minimize Risks.
Strong Leadership Qualities, Excellent Analytical Skills, And A Willingness To Challenge The Status Quo.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Apr 1989 - Oct 1992

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / Max-Planck-Institut für Strömungsforschung

PhD in Physical Chemistry · Physical Chemistry · Göttingen, Germany

Oct 1983 - Mar 1989

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / Max-Planck-Institut für Strömungsforschung

Diploma in Chemistry · Chemistry · Göttingen, Germany

Schulzentrum Bürgerpark

High School Diploma · High School Diploma · Bremerhaven, Germany

Profile

Created

October 2023

Last Update

April 2025

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Cord based?

Cord is based in Bad Schwalbach, Germany.

What languages does Cord speak?

Cord speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Cord have?

Cord has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Cord has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 3 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 9 months. Note that Cord may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Cord be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Cord would be well-suited for roles such as: Professional Reorientation / Interim Management, Sabbatical, Global Procurement Director.

What is Cord's latest experience?

Cord's most recent position is Professional Reorientation / Interim Management.

What companies has Cord worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Cord has worked for Tokai COBEX.

Which industries is Cord most experienced in?

Cord is most experienced in industries like Energy, Chemical, and Banking and Finance. Cord also has some experience in Manufacturing and Professional Services.

Which business areas is Cord most experienced in?

Cord is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing, Project Management, and Finance. Cord also has some experience in Investments, M&A & Venture Capital, Supply Chain Management, and Quality Assurance (QA).

Which industries has Cord worked in recently?

Cord has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Cord worked in recently?

Cord has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing and Project Management.

What is Cord's education?

Cord holds a Doctorate in Physical Chemistry from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / Max-Planck-Institut für Strömungsforschung and a Master in Chemistry from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / Max-Planck-Institut für Strömungsforschung.

What is the availability of Cord?

Cord is immediately available for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Cord?

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