Dirk Nold
Interim Vice President Procurement
Experience
Interim Vice President Procurement
Kaiser+Kraft GmbH
- B2B retailer for business equipment
- Sales €590M, 1,450 employees (2024)
- Purchasing volume €350M, 3 departments / 20 employees, locations in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic
- Led the "Beat" project to achieve COGS savings / extend payment terms / reduce minimum order quantities, report on target achievement
- Strengthened collaboration with category management and warehouses
- Training & coaching of department heads/strategic buyers
Interim Project Procurement Manager for the new M4 plant in Dresden
Infineon Technologies AG
- Manufacturer of semiconductors / microcontrollers
- Sales €14.2B, 56,200 employees (2022)
- Purchasing volume €1.25B, main categories CSA (Civil/Structural/Architectural) and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems) spread over >100 tender packages
- Managed a team of >50 buyers & engineers from Infineon and the appointed general contractor
- Reporting on target achievement "in time & budget", escalation to top management
Interim Procurement Manager
Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG
- Manufacturer of plastic closures for the FMCG/chemical industry
- Sales €238M, 1,100 employees (2021)
- Purchasing volume €126M, 10 employees, locations in Germany, Serbia, Spain, USA, Mexico, China
- As-is analysis of procurement organization/processes, development of a repositioning concept, approval by management
- Digitalization of the ordering process (SAP purchase requisition mandatory, e-catalogs), setup of strategic procurement & KPI system, training & coaching of buyers
Interim Head of Procurement
Lausitz Energie Bergbau & Kraftwerke AG (LEAG)
- Lignite open-pit mining & power plants, renewable energies
- Sales €2.0B, 7,400 employees (2021)
- Direct reporting to CFO, member of the extended executive board
- Purchasing volume €840M (2021), 50 employees, main categories mechanics, electrical engineering, supply & disposal, facility management, construction
- Realignment of procurement in the tension between phasing out coal vs. growth in new business areas (PV, wind, battery storage, gas power plants)
- Reduced bureaucracy and sped up the awarding process
- Achieved savings of 8%, increased e-auction rate from 4 to 11% / reduced direct award rate from 45 to 40% (each by tender value)
- Managed procurement with monthly KPIs down to the employee level
- Designed / started implementation of a personnel development program (including category know-how/strategy, negotiation skills, conflict management)
Interim Manager for Procurement Optimization
United Initiators GmbH
- Manufacturer of organic peroxides, persulfates and hydrogen peroxide
- Sales €300M, 700 employees (2020)
- Development and implementation of cost-saving measures in the categories chemical raw materials, packaging materials, facility management and MRO
- Achieved savings: chemical raw materials 15% (through new suppliers), packaging materials 10% and facility management (through price renegotiation)
Vice President Global Procurement / Head of Central Purchasing / Purchasing Department Head
Wieland Werke AG
World's leading manufacturer of copper semi-finished products
Sales of €3.2 billion, 6,850 employees
Vice President Global Procurement, authorized signatory (04/2017 – 04/2020):
Reported directly to the CEO, member of the Global Leadership Team, acting head of Indirect Purchasing / non-production materials
Global purchasing volume excluding metals procurement €520 million
Set up global procurement with 50 staff in over 15 plants (Germany, Austria, UK, Portugal, USA, Asia)
Defined purchasing policy & compliance monitoring system
Implemented a unified supplier evaluation system
Introduced IATF 16949 compliant processes for direct materials
Trained & coached department heads/strategic buyers, actively supported the change process, outplacement of unsuitable staff
Introduced an integrated facility management supplier at all sites in Germany and Austria
Continuously increased savings achieved from €2 million to €12.9 million, halved active suppliers within 2 years
Increased productivity in operational purchasing (P2P) by over 30% through digitization (mandatory SAP purchase requisitions, 25% e-catalog ratio, auto purchase order)
Head of Central Purchasing Germany (10/2016 – 03/2017):
Purchasing volume in Germany excluding metals procurement €225 million (main categories: Capex, MRO, energy, logistics, construction, facility management)
Set up central purchasing as an independent division with 3 departments, 35 staff, separated strategic vs. operational purchasing, introduced category management, began establishing efficient and user-friendly ordering processes/systems, defined KPIs & success monitoring
Purchasing Department Head & Project Leader Purchasing Optimization (02/2016 – 09/2016):
As-is analysis of purchasing organization/processes in Germany, developed a centralization concept, approved by the executive board
Started process optimization with 4 plants and headquarters
Built an SAP BI based KPI system for analyzing & optimizing value contribution (S2C strategic purchasing) and the P2P process (operational purchasing)
Project Manager Purchasing Potential Analysis
CABB Chemicals
- Manufacturer of chemical precursors/intermediates/active ingredients
- Sales > €500 million, 1,000 employees (2015)
- Identified savings potential for direct and indirect materials
- Best practice-based SWOT analysis of purchasing processes
Project Manager Optimization of the Professional Services Category
Deutsche Börse AG
- Stock exchange trading
- Sales €2.1 billion, 4,500 employees (2014)
- Process reengineering of the procure-to-pay process for professional services (IT consulting, management consulting, temporary staffing, > €250 million), documentation, development of training concept
- Project management for setting up a Procurement Shared Service Center in Prague
- Tenders in IT and management consulting categories
Project Manager Project One
Viega GmbH & Co. KG
- Manufacturer of heating and sanitary installation products
- Sales > €1 billion, > 3,500 employees (2013)
- Managed the merger of various purchasing divisions
- Redefined processes for project purchasing and category management
- Established strategic purchasing for turned parts (20% savings on €20 million), capital goods, spare parts (30% savings on €10 million)
Project Leader Purchasing Potential Analysis
Erwin Müller Group Holding AG
- B2B mail-order retailer for hotel and catering supplies
- Sales > €150 million, > 750 employees (2013)
- Reviewing purchasing organization and processes
- Savings workshops in categories: furniture/porcelain/textiles
Interim Head of Project Procurement
Tier 1 automotive supplier
- Electronics, controls, interior trim parts
- Sales > €2bn, > 40,000 employees (2013)
- Managed 10 staff with > 50 ongoing development projects
- Close cooperation with supplier management (SQA, SQD, Global Sourcing)
Interim Head of Global Procurement & Supplier Quality
Valmet Automotive
- Tier 1 automotive supplier for convertible top development/production and contract manufacturing
- Sales > €200m, 1,600 employees (2013)
- Purchasing volume €150m (hydraulic systems, stamped/turned/cast/forged parts, seals, machinery, MRO, facility management, temporary labor)
- Managed 70 staff (36 buyers, 34 supplier quality)
- Separation of strategic procurement vs. project and production purchasing, recruitment/training/coaching of strategic buyers, set up procurement controlling, enforced extended payment terms, created standardized contract documents
- Project procurement for production launch of Porsche Targa, Audi A3 Cabriolet
- Led the SAMPO restructuring project for procurement of the convertible top business unit (21 commodity groups with €55m purchasing volume, €4m savings)
Interim Head of Procurement
Intersnack Knabbergebäck GmbH & Co. KG
- Snack manufacturer (funny frisch, Chio Chips, Pombär, private labels)
- Sales €600m, 1,500 employees (2012)
- Purchasing volume €280m (agricultural raw materials, oil, packaging, logistics, marketing, capex, MRO, facility management, temporary labor)
- Set up a central procurement department at headquarters, optimized processes
- Created transparency over indirect material purchasing volume
- Set up procurement controlling (savings tracking)
- Post-merger integration of Snack Partners (brands 'Pauly' and 'Spreeback')
- Team development (training strategic buyers, external recruiting)
Project Manager, Integrated Procurement Initiative
IDT Biologika GmbH
- Vaccine manufacturer / pharma contract manufacturing
- Sales €130m, 1,000 employees (2011)
- Quick scan of total purchasing volume
- Identified saving potential in direct and indirect materials
Project Manager, Purchasing Review
Wessel-Werk GmbH
- Vacuum cleaner nozzles / accessories
- Sales €55m, 500 employees (2011)
- Best practice-based strengths and weaknesses analysis of purchasing processes
- Price benchmarking in injection molded parts, stamped parts, and packaging
Interim Head of Purchasing
Tier 2 automotive supplier
- Stamped parts, metal-plastic components, toolmaking
- Revenue €200 million, 1,500 employees (2011)
- Purchasing volume €100 million, vacancy filling
- Built a global central purchasing team at the German headquarters
- Separated strategic and operational purchasing, built supplier management
- Process optimization together with quality and supply chain management
- Supplier reduction/renegotiation of volume contracts for steel/stainless steel/aluminum/copper, 8% savings on processing costs
Interim Manager for Global Category Technical Operations
Pharmaceutical manufacturer
- Revenue $50 billion, 120,000 employees (2010)
- Vacancy filling
- Managed the categories facility management, energy, CAPEX, and MRO
Project Manager Purchasing Optimization
Euromaster GmbH
- Europe's largest tire retailer
- Revenue €312 million, 1,900 employees (2009)
- Established strategic purchasing and purchasing controlling
- Identified and achieved €1 million in savings (13%) on a purchasing volume of €8 million in the categories wear parts, consumables, temporary labor, building cleaning, print, and promotional materials
Project Manager Packaging Optimization
Food retailer
- Revenue CHF 20 billion, 53,500 employees (2010)
- Potential analysis of packaging purchasing (cardboard, film, labels)
- Identified and achieved €1.5 million in savings (10%) through RFP and e-auction, plus another €0.4 million through packaging redesign
Project Manager Fleet Management Optimization
Erdal Rex
- Market leader in shoe care and cleaning products
- Revenue €103 million, 350 employees (2009)
- Potential analysis of company car procurement and fleet management
- Identified €0.1 million in savings (22%) through re-specifying required company cars and conducting fuel-saving training
Project Manager for Optimizing Temporary Labor Procurement
Deutsche Börse AG
- Stock exchange trading
- Revenue €2.1 bn, 3,300 employees (2010)
- Mapping the current processes between procurement, internal departments and temp agencies
- Designing a Managed Service Provider (MSP) concept
Project Manager - Procurement Optimization
Essmann GmbH
- Skylights, smoke exhaust systems, building security
- Revenue €130 m, 850 employees (2009)
- Procurement potential analysis and reorganization
- Onboarding of the new strategic head of procurement
Project Manager - Procurement Optimization
Roth & Rau AG
- Mechanical engineering company in the solar industry
- Revenue €285 m, 1,200 employees (2010)
- Procurement potential analysis; development of strategic procurement, supplier management, procurement controlling (savings tracking, KPI system)
- Procurement reorganization; creation of procurement manual
- Support in recruiting and onboarding new strategic buyers
- Identification and implementation of 7 % savings on a procurement volume of €28 m in the product groups vacuum chambers/pumps/rotary feedthroughs
Project Manager / Program Manager
Deutsche Post DHL
World's leading mail and logistics group
Revenue €51.5 bn, 421,000 employees (2010)
Project Manager for building the global Category Facility Management (09/2007-04/2008):
Analysis of procurement strategies in Germany, UK, Benelux, France, Poland
Implementation of cross-country procurement synergies and best practices
Program Manager for integration of logistics provider Exel plc (01/2006-01/2007):
Led a team of buyers from all procurement regions (Germany, Europe, Eastern Europe, USA, APAC) with 164 individual projects across 18 categories
Identified and achieved savings of €18.4 m worldwide on a targeted procurement volume of approx. €100 m
Project Manager Facility Management (08/2005-11/2005):
Reintegration of facility management service procurement from the real estate subsidiary into Procurement Germany
Identified potential savings of €8 m in building cleaning, security, energy supply, waste disposal, relocations on a procurement volume of approx. €200 m
Project Manager for trade fair & events procurement (05/2005-08/2005):
Cost reduction in trade fairs and events procurement
Achieved 12 % savings on a procurement volume of approx. €40 m
Procurement Coaching for Executive Management
Dornbracht GmbH & Co. KG
- Market leader in designer fittings
- Revenue approx. €200 m, approx. 800 employees (2010)
- Procurement potential analysis; development of improvement measures
- Coaching executive management in implementation
Interim Category Manager Fruit/Vegetable Procurement
Food Discounter
- Consolidation of requirements across 6 locations/distribution centers, tendering, reduction of supplier number from 40 to 8
- 5% savings on a purchasing volume of £75 million, reduction of delivery time from 2 days to 1 through simplified ordering processes
Senior Project Manager Procurement Optimization
A.T. Kearney GmbH
Top management consulting
Revenue €220M, 600 employees (2010)
Responsible for all areas of procurement optimization
European trainer for "Strategic Sourcing" and "Negotiation"
Member of the German recruiting team, University Marketing Manager, Cologne
RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen (10/2002 – 09/2004): Mining, chemicals, energy, real estate. Led multiple client/advisor teams in strategic sourcing of building materials, construction services, fittings, pumps with a purchasing volume of over €400M/year. Achieved savings of €35M (9%), plus an additional 3% savings through eAuctions
Fläkt Woods, Sweden/Finland/USA (02/2002 – 10/2002): World market leader for industrial fans. Led an international client team in strategic sourcing of housings, shafts, and hubs, focusing on nearshoring to Eastern European suppliers. Saved around €13M (32.5%), reduced delivery lead times
Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (01/2001 – 12/2001): Designed, founded, and implemented a central federal procurement company. Coached newly hired staff. Managed public tenders for IT and vehicles (€60M volume), achieving up to 25% savings
A.P. Möller Maersk, Denmark (10/2000 – 12/2000): Identified savings potential in facility management, telecommunications, and software (€150M volume). Reviewed e-procurement tools
Hewlett-Packard, Germany/USA (01/2000 – 09/2000): Led a European team for strategic sourcing of marketing services, management consulting, and IT contracting. Purchasing volume €180M, 8% savings
Other projects at EWE, Quelle – Karstadt – Neckermann, Deutsche Bank (01/1999 – 12/1999): Product development, spin-off companies, transaction banking
Regional Sales Manager
Vobis Microcomputer AG
- PC production and IT retail discounter
- Revenue approx. €1B, around 1,500 employees (1995)
- Managed a network of 80+ stores and 400+ employees with annual revenue of approx. €250M
- Oversaw and evaluated stores, developed operational KPIs, regularly reviewed profit results with district and store managers
- Sales policy, developed marketing campaigns, assortment and pricing
- Rationalized the existing store network including location analysis (site planning)
- Converted existing stores into franchise stores, franchise support
District Manager
Aldi Süd
- Food discounter
- Revenue €28B (2009)
- Managed a sales district of 8+ stores and 80+ employees with annual revenue of approx. €50M
- Monitored sales (pricing, store layout, food regulations)
- Sales, cost, and productivity planning/control
- Audited cash registers
- Regular inventory counts
- Opened new stores, recruited/trained new employees
District Manager / Trainee
Aldi Süd
- Managed a sales district of 8+ stores and 80+ employees
- Monitored sales (pricing, store layout, food regulations)
- Sales, cost, and productivity planning/control
- Audited cash registers
- Regular inventory counts
- Opened new stores, recruited/trained new employees
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 Manufacturing (17 years), Retail (12.5 years), Energy (10.5 years), Metals and Mining (10 years), Transportation (8.5 years), and Information Technology (8 years).
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 (24 years), Project Management (19.5 years), Supply Chain Management (16 years), Operations (10.5 years), Strategy (6 years), and Marketing (2.5 years).
Summary
Interim Head of Procurement / CPO with broad international industry experience in mid-sized and large companies
"Troubleshooter", "Goal chaser", "Lead wolf", "Pace-setter"
- Implementation of complex procurement transformation programs (building, repositioning, restructuring)
- Organization/process development and cost reduction
- Combination of analytics and proven practical methodology
- Hands-on, practical execution with the team
- Performance improvement through a tailored mix of procurement strategy/organization, S2C and P2P processes, supplier management, procurement controlling, HR & IT
Languages
Education
Cranfield University, School of Management
Master of Business Administration · Business Administration · Cranfield, United Kingdom
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing · Marketing · Maidenhead, United Kingdom
Pennsylvania State University
State College, United States
Certifications & licenses
Certified Trainer
Neuland & Partner
Profile
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