Fabian Knarr - General Manager Global Procurement & Operations Planning

Q: Where is Fabian based?

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

Q: What languages does Fabian speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Fabian have?

Fabian has at least 13 years of experience. During this time, Fabian has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 5 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 4 months . Note that Fabian may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Fabian's latest experience?

Fabian's most recent position is General Manager Global Procurement & Operations Planning at PM-International AG .

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

In recent years, Fabian has worked for PM-International AG , Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg , and Holistic Value Consulting .

Q: Which industries is Fabian most experienced in?

Fabian is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Beauty and Cosmetics , and Food and Beverage . Fabian also has some experience in Professional Services , Education , and Fashion and Apparel .

Q: Which business areas is Fabian most experienced in?

Fabian is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing , Supply Chain Management , and Strategy and Planning . Fabian also has some experience in Operations , Research and Development (R&D) , and Project Management .

Q: Which industries has Fabian worked in recently?

Fabian has recently worked in industries like Beauty and Cosmetics , Food and Beverage , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Fabian worked in recently?

Fabian has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing , Supply Chain Management , and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Rülzheim, Germany

Experience

Jan 2024 - Present

2 years 2 months

Speyer, Germany

General Manager Global Procurement & Operations Planning

PM-International AG

Increased global supply chain efficiency by centralizing and standardizing planning and procurement processes, implementing KPIs, and introducing new technologies at the corporate level
Developed and implemented policies and governance for continental headquarters and branches regarding material flow planning and replenishment
Responsible for the global production strategy, including the further development of worldwide material flow concepts and defining the depth of value creation
Built and developed strong, innovative, and collaborative leadership teams in the global supply chain; coached, mentored, and empowered reporting leaders with a focus on operational excellence
Standardized KPIs and reporting systems by implementing new metrics, dashboards, and management information systems to ensure a unified view of company performance and support decision-making at the C-level
Identified and implemented innovative technology solutions for the company's digital transformation, particularly in ERP architecture
Initiated measures to boost global efficiency and reduce waste and product obsolescence in the global supply chain
Risk management and compliance: identified and assessed operational risks and implemented effective risk mitigation measures
Promoted synergies and improved collaboration between sales, finance, and supply chain functions through the development and global rollout of a professional sales & operations planning process
Strengthened supplier relationships and took charge of measures to continuously optimize procurement costs from a Total Cost of Ownership perspective

Mar 2023 - Present

3 years

Karlsruhe, Germany

Lecturer

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg

Oct 2022 - Jan 2024

1 year 4 months

Speyer, Germany

Director Procurement & Operations Planning

PM-International AG

Advanced the existing division by taking over global responsibility for Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) through the establishment of an integrated planning department (Operations Planning)
Enhanced existing reporting systems for the direct reporting line to the C-level (Chief Operating Officer)
Implemented the corporate strategy to develop new or optimize existing processes, both within the department and at the interface with internal and external stakeholders
Translated corporate goals into appropriate targets and guidelines for the department's leaders
Coached, mentored, and empowered reporting leaders
Led the division comprising Purchasing Operations & Master Data Management, Operations Planning, and Strategic Procurement
Ensured successful change management by smoothly integrating Production Planning into the newly created Operations Planning department
Managed the global S&OP process to ensure worldwide supply availability
Evolved the existing supplier base by designing and implementing suitable procurement strategies across all product categories
Directed ERP and business intelligence projects for the digital transformation of the global supply chain
Held commercial project responsibility for product launches or changes

Sep 2022 - Present

3 years 6 months

Founder & CEO

Holistic Value Consulting

Mar 2020 - Sep 2022

2 years 7 months

Speyer, Germany

Director Purchasing & Demand Planning

PM-International AG

Restructured the extended purchasing area, including master data management and the development of demand planning
Established meaningful reporting systems for the direct reporting line to the C-level (Chief Operating Officer)
Implemented the corporate strategy to develop new or optimize existing processes, both within the department and at the interface with internal and external stakeholders
Translated corporate goals into appropriate targets and guidelines for the department's leaders
Coached and mentored reporting leaders
Led the division consisting of the teams Strategic Purchasing & Planning, Purchasing Operations & Master Data Management, and Internal Procurement & Merchandise
Built a strong supplier base by designing and implementing suitable procurement strategies across all product categories
Directed ERP and business intelligence projects for the digital transformation of the global supply chain
Held commercial project responsibility for product launches or changes
Responsible for global medium- to long-term capacity and procurement planning

Apr 2019 - Mar 2020

1 year

Cologne, Germany

Group Head of Global Purchasing

BIRKENSTOCK GmbH & Co. KG

Oct 2018 - Mar 2019

6 months

Neustadt, Germany

Head of Global Contract Manufacturing

BIRKENSTOCK GmbH & Co. KG

Oct 2017 - Sep 2018

1 year

Neustadt, Germany

Category Manager Global Footwear

BIRKENSTOCK GmbH & Co. KG

Sep 2016 - Sep 2017

1 year 1 month

Neustadt, Germany

Strategic Buyer

BIRKENSTOCK GmbH & Co. KG

Oct 2012 - Aug 2016

3 years 11 months

Landau, Germany

Supplier Manager Asia

Theo Klein GmbH

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 (8.5 years), Cosmetics (4 years), Food and Beverage (4 years), Professional Services (3.5 years), Education (3 years), and Fashion (2 years).

Manufacturing

Cosmetics

Food and Beverage

Professional Services

Education

Fashion

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 (12.5 years), Supply Chain Management (10 years), Operations (3.5 years), Strategy (3.5 years), Research and Development (3 years), and Project Management (2.5 years).

Procurement

Supply Chain Management

Operations

Strategy

Research and Development

Project Management

Summary

I am a dynamic leader with over a decade of experience in Supply Chain Management.
In the course of my professional career I have successfully spearheaded the establishment of integrative planning divisions and implemented strategic procurement strategies, driving worldwide supply chain efficiency.
My track record includes restructuring departments, mentoring leaders, and optimizing processes to align with organizational goals.
I am adept at S&OP implementation, change management, and fostering new leadership paradigms.
My journey has seen me thrive in various high-impact roles at global enterprises. As a university lecturer I leverage my expertise to shape the next generation of strategic thinkers.
My diverse skill set positioning me as an agile visionary poised to drive innovation and change.

Skills

Leadership
Supply Chain Management
Organizational Development

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Oct 2014 - Jun 2017

Graduate School Rhein-Neckar

Master of Business Administration · Logistics, Material, and Supply Chain Management · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany

Oct 2009 - Jun 2012

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg

Bachelor of Arts · Business Administration · Stuttgart, Germany

Profile

Created

July 2024

Last Update

June 2025

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Fabian based?

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

What languages does Fabian speak?

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

How many years of experience does Fabian have?

Fabian has at least 13 years of experience. During this time, Fabian has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 4 months. Note that Fabian may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Fabian be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Fabian would be well-suited for roles such as: General Manager Global Procurement & Operations Planning, Lecturer, Director Procurement & Operations Planning.

What is Fabian's latest experience?

Fabian's most recent position is General Manager Global Procurement & Operations Planning at PM-International AG.

What companies has Fabian worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Fabian has worked for PM-International AG, Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, and Holistic Value Consulting.

Which industries is Fabian most experienced in?

Fabian is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Beauty and Cosmetics, and Food and Beverage. Fabian also has some experience in Professional Services, Education, and Fashion and Apparel.

Which business areas is Fabian most experienced in?

Fabian is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, and Strategy and Planning. Fabian also has some experience in Operations, Research and Development (R&D), and Project Management.

Which industries has Fabian worked in recently?

Fabian has recently worked in industries like Beauty and Cosmetics, Food and Beverage, and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Fabian worked in recently?

Fabian has recently worked in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, and Strategy and Planning.

What is Fabian's education?

Fabian holds a Master in Logistics, Material, and Supply Chain Management from Graduate School Rhein-Neckar and a Bachelor in Business Administration from Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg.

What is the availability of Fabian?

Fabian is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Fabian?

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