Elias Schwalme

Chief Product Officer

Elias Schwalme
Berlin, Germany

Experience

Nov 2023 - Jan 2024
3 months
Berlin, Germany

Interim AI/ML - Digitalisation Lead

N26 Bank AG

Develop and implement an AI-powered fraud detection system for N26's mobile banking platform, aiming to identify and prevent 95% of fraudulent transactions in real-time.

Created a machine learning model to personalize spending insights and savings recommendations, targeting a 30% increase in user engagement with N26 Insights feature within 3 months.

Developed an AI-driven credit scoring model for N26's lending products, aiming to reduce default rates by 20% while increasing approval rates for creditworthy customers by 15%.

Successfully launched an AI-powered fraud detection system that identified 97% of fraudulent transactions in real-time, preventing an estimated €10 million in potential losses within the first quarter.

Implemented a personalized spending insights and savings recommendation engine, resulting in a 35% increase in user engagement with N26 Insights and a 20% growth in average savings per user.

Jun 2023 - Oct 2023
5 months
Germany

Interim Head of Strategy & Digital

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH

Accelerate AI integration and deploy at least 5 AI-powered solutions to automate internal processes within 2 month.

Optimize customer experience:

  • Implement an omnichannel customer service platform, aiming to reduce response times by 30% and increase customer satisfaction scores by 20% within a very short time.

Achieved 95% migration of internal applications to Azure, resulting in a 25% reduction in IT infrastructure costs and 40% improvement in application performance.

Enhanced productivity -> Microsoft 365 adoption reached 98%, leading to a 30% increase in cross-team collaboration and a 20% reduction in time spent on routine tasks.

Also achieved that 85% of managers now use Power BI dashboards daily, resulting in a 40% improvement in decision-making speed and accuracy.

Jun 2023 - Sep 2023
4 months
Frankfurt, Germany

VP of Revenue Operations

Lufthansa Consulting GmbH

Develop tailored revenue management strategies for 5 airline clients, aiming to increase their revenue by 5-8%.

Implemented dynamic pricing models for 3 airlines, targeting a 10% improvement within 3 months.

Conduct comprehensive audits of revenue management processes for 4 clients, identifying at least 5 areas for optimization per client.

Successfully implemented a new revenue management strategy for a low-cost carrier, resulting in a 7.5% increase in overall revenue within 10 months.

Designed and deployed a dynamic pricing model for a legacy airline, leading to a 12% improvement in yield management and a 4% increase in average fare within 3 months.

Jan 2022 - Mar 2024
1 year 3 months
San Francisco, United States

CEO & Founder

Lee-AI Inc. Delaware

Lee-AI is designed to provide personalized mental health support and coaching to users.

The chatbot aims to:

  • Offer 24/7 availability for users seeking mental health assistance
  • Provide personalized responses tailored to individual user needs
  • Deliver fast and accurate mental health support

Accessibility:

  • Lee-AI is designed to be easily accessible to users:
  • It is available as a mobile application on the Apple App Store
  • The chatbot can be accessed anytime, providing round-the-clock mental health support

Potential Benefits: By utilizing AI technology for mental health support, Lee-AI aims to offer several advantages:

  • Increased accessibility to mental health resources
  • Personalized and responsive support
  • Potential for more efficient and cost-effective mental health assistance
Jan 2022 - Dec 2023
1 year
Berlin, Germany

Founder in Residence

Antler Innovation GmbH

Selected as one of the top 2% of applicants for Antler's highly competitive Founder Residency program.

Participating in an intensive 12-week, in-person residency focused on startup ideation, co-founder matching.

Collaborating with a cohort of 50-70 exceptional entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and skill sets.

Developing and validating innovative business ideas through expert-led workshops and dedicated sparring sessions.

Pitching to Antler's Investment Committee for the opportunity to secure €300,000 in pre-seed funding and €1m in seed.

Gaining hands-on experience in areas such as product development, market validation, and go-to-market strategy.

Jan 2022 - May 2023
5 months
Berlin, Germany

Interim Chief Restructuring Officer

Triton Investment Management Sàrl

Reduce operational expenses by 20% within 6 months.

Improve EBITDA margin by 5 percentage points.

  • Streamline workforce while maintaining productivity. Reduce procurement costs across major categories by 15%.

Achieved a 22% decrease in operational expenses within 4 months, surpassing the goal ahead of schedul. Increased EBITDA margin from 12% to 18% through strategic cost-cutting and revenue enhancement initiativ.

Reduced workforce by 15% while increasing overall productivity by 7%, measured by output per employ.

Negotiated with key suppliers, achieving an average of 18% reduction in procurement costs.

Aug 2022 - Dec 2022
5 months
London, United Kingdom

Interim Business Transformation Lead

EQT Partners GmbH

Increase profit margins by 10% within one fiscal year. Reduce operational inefficiencies by 30%.

Enhance customer satisfaction scores by 15%. Implement a new inventory management system to reduce excess stock by 25%.

Achieved a 12% increase in profit margins through a combination of pricing strategy adjustments and cost management measures.

Conducted a thorough operational audit, identifying key inefficiencies and implementing process improvements that resulted in a 35% reduction in operational bottlenecks. Launched a customer feedback loop and training program for staff, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores within 3 months.

Successfully implemented a modern inventory management system, reducing excess stock by 30% and improving turnover rates.

Jan 2021 - May 2022
5 months
Munich, Germany

Interim Operations Manager

Waterland Private Equity AG

Reduce inventory holding costs by 20% Increase production efficiency by 25%.

Implement new ERP system to improve operational efficiency. Improve internal talent development and retention.

Redesigned supply chain processes, reducing inventory holding costs by 25% and improving cash flow by $2.5M annually.

Led a lean manufacturing initiative that increased production efficiency by 30% and reduced waste by 40%. Successfully implemented system, resulting in a 20% improvement in overall operational efficiency and data accuracy.

Mentored the existing management team, leading to a 35% increase in internal promotions and reducing turnover by 20%.

Feb 2021 - May 2021
4 months
London, United Kingdom

IT-Security-Spezialist - Deloitte Consulting

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc.

Implement and maintain robust cybersecurity measures across the organization's digital infrastructure, aiming to reduce security incidents by 30% within the first year.

Enhanced the company's cloud security posture, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations for all cloud-based applications and services.

Developed and deployed an automated vulnerability scanning and patching system, which reduced high-risk vulnerabilities and decreased the average time to patch critical vulnerabilities from 15 days to 3 days.

Implemented an AI-driven threat detection system that reduced the average time to detect security breaches from 24 hours to 2 hours, significantly minimizing potential data exposure risks.

Sep 2020 - Jan 2021
5 months
Germany

Lead Project Manager - Deloitte Consulting

Mercedes-Benz AG

Optimized logistics network to achieve a 20% deduction in transportation costs to comprehensively analyze and redesign the logistics network to identify inefficiencies

Streamline transportation routes, and consolidate shipments, thereby aiming for a significant reduction in transportation expenses while maintaining service levels and delivery timelines.

Achieved a 20% decrease in transportation expenses through strategic route optimization and carrier consolidation, the company successfully reduced transportation costs by 20%, which significantly contributed to improved profitability and operational efficiency.

Improved on-time delivery performance by 25%: Enhanced visibility and responsiveness in the supply chain led to a remarkable 25% improvement in on-time delivery performance, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Jan 2020 - Jul 2020
7 months
Wolfsburg, Germany

Technical Project Lead - Deloitte Consulting

Volkswagen AG

Implement cost reduction program and oversee a comprehensive cost-saving initiative across the supply chain and manufacturing processes, aiming for a sustainable increase in earnings of around €10 billion by 2024.

Optimize supplier negotiations with key suppliers to secure long-term contracts with favorable pricing, targeting an average of 10% savings on raw materials.

Supplier cost reduction successfully negotiated with suppliers to achieve an average of 10% savings on raw materials, contributing significantly to overall cost reduction efforts.

Quality Improvement -> Utilized Six Sigma methodologies to reduce defects, resulting in a measurable improvement in product quality and customer satisfaction.

Efficiency Gains -> implemented lean manufacturing principles, leading to a 15% reduction in production waste and a 20% improvement in overall manufacturing efficiency.

Apr 2019 - Dec 2020
9 months
Frankfurt, Germany

Tech Implementation Manager - Deloitte Consulting

Deutsche Bank AG

Reduce non-essential expenses by 25%. Improve financial decision-making speed and accuracy.

Reduce facilities costs by 10%. Establish a shared services center to reduce finance department costs by 25%.

Implemented zero-based budgeting, identifying and eliminating 28% of non-essential expenses, saving $1.2M annually. Created a new financial reporting system that improved decision-making speed by 50% and accuracy by 35%.

Led a successful renegotiation of office lease terms, resulting in a 15% reduction in facilities costs, exceeding the target.

  • Successfully implemented shared services, reducing finance department costs by 30% and improving process standardisation.
Mar 2019 - Jun 2019
4 months
Munich, Germany

Lead - Product Manager - Deloitte Consulting

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Optimize Production Changeover to Implement single-minute exchange of Die (SMED) techniques across production lines to reduce setup times by 50%, aiming to increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Enhance equipment reliability to develop and implement a comprehensive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program to improve machine uptime and reduce unplanned downtime by 30%.

SMED Implementation successfully implemented SMED techniques across three major production lines, reducing average changeover times from 45 minutes to 12 minutes, a 73% improvement.

Realized a 23% increase in overall production output without major capital expenditure, primarily through process optimization and improved equipment reliability.

The combined impact of SMED and TPM initiatives resulted in annual cost savings of approximately €5.2 million through reduced waste, improved efficiency, and decreased maintenance costs.

Oct 2018 - Apr 2019
7 months
Munich, Germany

Strategy Manager - Deloitte Consulting

IBM Deutschland GmbH

Streamline reporting processes and implement a standardized reporting system that reduces report generation time by 30% and improves data accuracy by 25%.

Optimize stakeholder engagement and increased stakeholder satisfaction scores by 25% through improved meeting organization and facilitation techniques.

Implemented a new automated reporting system, reducing report generation time by 35% and improving data accuracy by 28%.

Standardized reporting templates across departments, leading to a 40% reduction in time spent on report formatting and interpretation. Developed a centralized digital tracking system, resulting in a 30% improvement in project completion rates.

Reduced missed deadlines by 50% through automated reminders and real-time progress visibility.

May 2018 - Oct 2018
6 months
Stuttgart, Germany

Strategy Manager - Deloitte Consulting

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Achieve 100% On-Time Delivery-time to ensure that every product is delivered to customers on or before the promised date, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and building trust in our reliability as a supplier.

Reduce defects by 50% annually and implement rigorous quality control measures and continuous monitoring systems to systematically identify and eliminate defects in the production process, aiming for a substantial reduction in defect rates over the next year.

Successfully negotiated multi-year contracts with strategic suppliers.

Locked in competitive pricing, protecting against market fluctuations.

Strengthened supplier relationships and improved collaboration.

Reduced supply chain risks and enhanced reliability. Achieved cost savings through bulk purchasing and committed volumes.

Apr 2018 - Dec 2022
4 years 9 months
Germany

Strategy Manager/ Restructuring & Optimization

Deloitte GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Throughout my career at leading German automotive manufacturers including Morgan Stanley, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Deutsche Bank, BMW, IBM and Porsche. I have consistently demonstrated my ability to implement innovative strategies that optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. My expertise spans various critical areas of automotive manufacturing and supply chain management.

I demonstrated at my time at MS my expertise in optimizing digital infrastructure and enhancing IT security, which directly aligns with the goals of Morgan Stanley's Digital Infrastructure Improvement project. I led a comprehensive redesign of processes, leveraging advanced data analytics and cybersecurity measures to achieve a significant 20% reduction in transportation costs.

During my time at Mercedes, I showcased my ability to redesign supply chain processes, achieving a remarkable 20% decrease in transportation expenses. I also explored the use of alternative materials, demonstrating my forward-thinking approach to cost reduction and sustainability.

At Volkswagen, I further honed my negotiation skills, securing an average of 10% savings on raw materials. My implementation of Six Sigma methodologies improved product quality, while lean manufacturing principles continued to drive efficiency improvements.

I gained experience that directly aligns with Deutsche Bank's digital transformation goals. I successfully led the implementation of advanced technology solutions aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving client experiences, which are key focus areas for Deutsche Bank.

My experience at BMW rounded out my skill set with the implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques like SMED, which significantly reduced downtime. I also applied total productive maintenance to enhance manufacturing quality and integrity.

During my time at IBM as a Strategy Manager, I focused on streamlining reporting processes and enhancing stakeholder engagement. Here's a summary of my key achievements and experiences.

  • I implemented a standardized reporting system that reduced report generation time by 30% and improved data accuracy by 25%.

At Porsche, I successfully applied lean manufacturing principles, resulting in a significant 15% reduction in production costs. My negotiation skills led to favorable long-term contracts with suppliers, ensuring cost stability.

Oct 2014 - Dec 2017
3 years 3 months
Munich, Germany

Senior Product Engineer/ R&D

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Charging Infrastructure:

  • Led analysis of charging infrastructure errors and conducted comprehensive risk assessments for BMW's e-mobility research and development initiatives - collaborated closely with suppliers, external partners, and internal development teams to optimize charging solutions for BMW's electric vehicle lineup.

Smart Transport Robots (STR):

  • Contributed to the development of smart transport robots (STR) for autonomous material transportation, focusing on secure communication protocols and robust navigation algorithms - implemented advanced cybersecurity measures for logistics robots, ensuring data integrity and protection against potential cyber threats.

Digital Transformation/- Logistics Robots:

  • Assisted in the development of AI-enabled logistics robots, incorporating deep neural networks for perception, segmentation, and human pose estimation. - supported BMW's efforts in digital transformation, contributing to the company's "Project AI" initiative for data analytics and machine learning applications in the automotive industry.

IT-Security/- Virtual Logistics Planning:

  • Engaged in pilot projects testing the versatility and security of Smart Transport Robots in non-automotive sectors, demonstrating the potential for broader industrial applications - participated in virtual logistics planning using high-performance computing and AI, employing 3D scans and simulations to optimize layout changes within production halls.

Summary

As a seasoned Chief Digital Officer with a strong focus on IT security, I bring a wealth of experience in driving digital transformation and optimizing operations across various industries. My expertise lies in AI/ML integration, digital strategy, and restructuring, with proven success in enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. At N26 Bank, I led the development of AI-powered systems that significantly reduced fraud and increased user engagement. My tenure at Microsoft saw the successful migration to Azure, cutting IT costs by 25% and boosting application performance by 40%. In the aviation sector, I implemented revenue strategies at Lufthansa, achieving a 7.5% revenue increase. My leadership at Triton and EQT Partners resulted in substantial operational improvements and profit margin growth. With a robust background in consulting for major firms like Deloitte, I have consistently delivered results in cost reduction, process optimization, and strategic planning. My educational foundation includes an Executive MBA from the Technical University of Munich, complemented by a leadership credential from Harvard Business School.

Languages

English
Advanced
German
Advanced

Education

Oct 2017 - Mar 2019

Technical University of Munich

Executive MBA · Business & IT Engineering · Munich, Germany

Sep 2014 - Mar 2017

University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor · Business Management · Munich, Germany

Certifications & licenses

Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)

Harvard Business School