Hugo Plüss - CIO / CDO

Q: Where is Hugo based?

Hugo is based in Schwyz, Switzerland .

Q: What languages does Hugo speak?

Hugo speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Italian (Advanced), French (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Hugo have?

Hugo has at least 47 years of experience. During this time, Hugo has worked in at least 18 different roles and for 11 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 7 months . Note that Hugo may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Hugo's latest experience?

Hugo's most recent position is Supervisory Board Member at 4PL Central Station EE .

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

In recent years, Hugo has worked for 4PL Central Station EE , Digital Leadership Xellence , Duvenbeck Logisticsl , and Imperial Logistics International .

Q: Which industries is Hugo most experienced in?

Hugo is most experienced in industries like Information Technology (IT) , Transportation and Logistics , and Pharmaceutical . Hugo also has some experience in Manufacturing , Professional Services , and Biotechnology .

Q: Which business areas is Hugo most experienced in?

Hugo is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology (IT) , Operations , and Project Management . Hugo also has some experience in Strategy and Planning , Product Development , and Finance .

Q: Which industries has Hugo worked in recently?

Hugo has recently worked in industries like Transportation and Logistics , Information Technology (IT) , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Hugo worked in recently?

Hugo has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology (IT) , Strategy and Planning , and Finance .

Recommended expert

Schwyz, Switzerland

Experience

Jan 2023 - Present

3 years 3 months

Switzerland

Supervisory Board Member

4PL Central Station EE

Provide independent oversight and advice to the executive board on corporate strategy
Advise on the effectiveness of digital transformation initiatives, financial performance, and the management of business and enterprise risks

Jan 2023 - Present

3 years 3 months

Switzerland

CEO and Founder

Digital Leadership Xellence

Partner with clients to lead and accelerate digital transformations that drive growth and innovation
Provide services and solutions tailored to client needs, either as ad-interim or fractional CIO, CDO, or CTO or on a consulting basis

Jan 2023 - Present

3 years 3 months

Germany

Consulting/Interim CIO/CDO/Exec Board Member

Duvenbeck Logisticsl

Leading the IT organization by setting a clear technology vision and providing strategic leadership to design and implement enterprise-wide initiatives that accelerate the company’s digital and AI transformation
Defined and implemented an end-to-end IT operating model, standardized business solutions and infrastructure that align with business objectives, enhance business development, improve cost efficiency, and elevate service quality.

Jan 2019 - Dec 2022

4 years

Switzerland

CIO/CDO/Exec Board Member

Imperial Logistics International

Provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing technology initiatives while driving the company’s digital transformation
Direct the planning and implementation of enterprise IT systems to improve business development, cost effectiveness and service quality

Jan 2012 - Dec 2019

8 years

Switzerland

EVP Global IT Infrastructure

Ceva Logistics

Established strategic roadmaps in support of business strategies
Introduced a global high performance organization by implementing an operating model which scales and supports business agility
Implemented enterprise wide hardware/software agreements covering personal productivity requirements, established new global PC provider, implemented social networking platform, deployed enterprise conferencing and VoIP solution to all employees
Established global data centers in the Netherlands and US, consolidated regional Asia Pacific, LATAM, Europe and US data centers, achieved ISO 27001 certification, implemented internal cloud solution, completed introduction of global network providers, rolled out SD-WAN solution, improved infrastructure services availability to 99.97%
Transitioned outsource contract to a managed service solution, insourced 200+ people into shared service centers in Manila and Mexico City
Established infrastructure solutions supporting major implementations of customer distribution centers for major customers including Microsoft, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon
Realized yearly savings of over 10% of EBITDA by implementing global operating model, mobile phone policies, renegotiating global data network contracts, implementing global conferencing/VoIP solution, establishing global software asset management process and smart sourcing

Jan 2010 - Dec 2011

2 years

Switzerland

Global Head Account, Service & Project Management

Roche

Led global account, service & project management organization optimizing the business value of IT by partnering with global application development organizations
Provided portfolio management of entire IT infrastructure services portfolio (CHF 450M) and delivery management of all IT infrastructure initiatives
Performed Global Key Account Manager role representing IT infrastructure services to the Pharma CIO
Managed a budget of CHF 50M+ and an organization of 170 people
Established global customer engagement structure including customer interfaces and governance
Developed a three-year roadmap to become a service based IT infrastructure organization covering service delivery, organization, processes and governance
Introduced service portfolio management process including request for new service, service catalogue and SLA/OLAs
Managed implementation of business platform services (ERP, CRM, HR, Research platforms) and workplace services (Collaboration, Office SW, iPads)
Implemented Service Demand Planning and Service Improvement Governance Board

Jan 2008 - Dec 2009

2 years

Basel, Switzerland

Global Integration Program Manager

Roche

Program managed establishment of a single global Roche-wide IT infrastructure organization reporting to two divisional CIOs
Developed a three-year roadmap within the first three months and delivered all major milestones of first year per plan achieving cost avoidance/cost savings of ~CHF 40M
Introduced new global service based organization model and integrated 1,500 employees per plan in nine months
Developed global data center strategy for Americas, EMEA and APAC; established facilities in Europe and Asia and consolidated 10 data centers (500 systems) in first year
Introduced common standards for server platforms, virtualization and storage
Established governance board structure, financial procedures, service catalogue, quality procedures, and aligned portfolio and project management processes
Introduced roadmap to standardize processes (incident, problem, change, configuration, service level management) and supporting tools (service desk platform)

Jan 2005 - Dec 2008

4 years

Basel, Switzerland

Global Head Enterprise Computing Services

Roche

Directed globalization and consolidation of enterprise computing infrastructure in 70+ countries managing CHF 200M budget and 500 people
Streamlined SAP landscape for an eight-country harmonization program by providing required infrastructure to sites and a Shared Service Center in Budapest
Built high performance organization with new global organization model for 500 people; completed reorganization in six months affecting 85% of staff; received CIO Excellence Award
Established Global Shared Service Center in Madrid (200 people) at 40% lower cost providing workplace and platform services
Harmonized processes by implementing request for service, incident, problem, change and configuration management
Designed and implemented an ITIL aligned Centre of Excellence for IT Service Management, leading rapid maturity acceleration
Introduced mid-range and low-end storage solutions, global inventory system, standardized monitoring platform, Oracle Grid solution and standard Linux platform
Established governance framework including strategic planning board, project review board, service management board, risk management board and change advisory board
Program managed implementation of a new global IT organization model including business interface management, strategic planning, portfolio management and delivery services design

Jan 2004 - Dec 2005

2 years

Basel, Switzerland

EMEA Head IT Infrastructure Services

Roche Corporation

Headed regional infrastructure services including end user, network and data center services across all EMEA sites managing CHF 40M+ budget and 100 people
Outsourced file & print services for 20,000 users reducing cost
Developed and implemented a global IT emergency process to solve business critical situations efficiently minimizing impact

Jan 2004 - Dec 2005

2 years

Basel, Switzerland

Global Head Data Center Services

Roche Corporation

Planned, engineered and operated Roche Pharma Data Centers globally managing CHF 100M+ budget and 400 people
Implemented consolidated data center model including Basel, New Jersey, Sao Paulo and Sydney by standardizing technology and streamlining operations
Established Center of Excellence for server and storage administration in Madrid providing remote support for EMEA and North America

Jan 2000 - Dec 2003

4 years

Dayton, United States

VP Global Distributed Computing Services

NCR Corporation

Led distributed computing infrastructure organization in 50+ countries including five manufacturing facilities managing $50M+ budget and 300+ people
Spearheaded transition to a functional, streamlined, cost-effective global IT services model
Delivered $3M annual savings by implementing single vendor program for desktop, laptop and server acquisitions and a web based PC ordering system
Achieved $3M savings by establishing global IT infrastructure services model with aligned organizations, processes and architecture framework
Attained 99.9% uptime of 1,200+ servers in 40 countries via centralized monitoring and a follow-the-sun support model
Reduced cost per user by 25% from $2,224 to $1,660 in three years
Boosted software distribution efficiency 50% deploying 600,000+ packages per year through automated distribution or self-service portal
Realized $6M savings through consolidation and standardization of servers reducing them from 1,200+ to 800+
Established global PMO managing delivery of 40+ technology infrastructure projects per year
Improved customer satisfaction via a web based self-service portal for technology solutions
Enhanced messaging availability through global consolidation, standardization and follow-the-sun support
Saved $1M via Six Sigma improvements to PC acquisition
Improved collaboration solutions by deploying conferencing, video, team web services, instant messaging and web-enabled messaging
Achieved $600,000 annual savings by outsourcing Global User Account Administration to India

Jan 1998 - Dec 1999

2 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Director EMEA Technology Infrastructure

NCR

Established and headed regional Technology Infrastructure organization managing US$ 7M budget and 100 people
Realized cost savings by outsourcing Help Desk and client on-site support
Directed implementation of a virtual workplace solution across the region resulting in excellent customer satisfaction
Program managed regional deployment of electronic messaging solution on time and within budget as first region following global strategy
Ensured high availability data processing environment by operating business critical application platforms
Directed establishment of a regional PMO whose model was applied by other regions

Jan 1996 - Dec 1997

2 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Chief Information Officer

NCR Switzerland

Directed development, integration, implementation and support for IT solutions addressing needs of 1,500 internal customers managing $7M budget and 35 people
Enhanced business process automation by replacing legacy solutions with Oracle and Progress based systems including HR, Sales & Marketing, Oracle Financials, Logistics and Customer Services
Increased incident resolution rate by implementing a help desk solution for 1st and 2nd level support
Obtained ISO 9000 certification for IT services
Established and managed NCR Switzerland Internet Solution including services, engagement processes and products
Boosted employee satisfaction by 40% within three months

Jan 1995 - Dec 1995

1 year

Dayton, United States

Senior Technology Consultant

NCR Corporation

Established and managed team coordinating infrastructure solutions planning and design between worldwide subsidiaries and headquarters
Created consulting package and engaged with European and Asia Pacific IS organizations on infrastructure solutions
Designed network solutions based on TCP/IP, DNS and routers and workgroup solutions on Windows NT including email
Developed and implemented global infrastructure standard management process empowering standardized evaluations, release changes and product retirements

Jan 1990 - Dec 1994

5 years

Zürich, Switzerland

IT Manager

NCR Switzerland

Established and managed team for standardization, development, deployment and support of the IT workgroup environment
Managed development of Windows applications: financial management system, product marketing database, employee information system, pen-based customer survey solution, messaging GUI
Designed and implemented a country-wide TCP/IP network and a network and systems management solution
Supervised systems administration for UNIX, Novell and StarGROUP LAN Manager servers

Jan 1989 - Dec 1989

1 year

Dayton, United States

Programmer Analyst

NCR Corporation

Jan 1986 - Dec 1988

3 years

Zürich, Switzerland

System Integrator

NCR Switzerland

Jan 1979 - Dec 1985

7 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Electronics Engineer

Zellweger Uster AG

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 Information Technology (21 years), Transportation (14 years), Pharmaceutical (8 years), Manufacturing (7 years), Professional Services (3 years), and Biotechnology (2 years).

Information Technology

Transportation

Pharmaceutical

Manufacturing

Professional Services

Biotechnology

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 Information Technology (40 years), Operations (16 years), Project Management (13 years), Strategy (7 years), Product Development (7 years), and Finance (3 years).

Information Technology

Operations

Project Management

Strategy

Product Development

Finance

Summary

Influential IT executive with over 30 years of global leadership experience and a proven track record of delivering large-scale digital transformations that drive business growth, operational performance, and profitability.

Strategic, innovative, and results-driven leader with deep expertise in the global delivery of high-impact programs that generate measurable business outcomes. Widely respected in complex, highly matrixed environments; a people-centric, culturally sensitive, multilingual leader with extensive international experience.

Demonstrated success in building and leading global high-performance organizations, supporting up to 80,000 internal customers across more than 100 countries. Extensive experience in smart sourcing and in establishing and managing profitable strategic partnerships with global technology vendors. Proven leader of organizations with 500+ employees and accountability for annual budgets exceeding CHF 200 million.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Italian

Advanced

French

Elementary

Education

Oct 1975 - Jun 1979

Zellweger AG

Professional Degree in Electronics Engineering · Electronics Engineering · Uster, Switzerland

Certifications & licenses

ISO 27001

ISO 9000

Profile

Created

January 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Hugo based?

Hugo is based in Schwyz, Switzerland.

What languages does Hugo speak?

Hugo speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Italian (Advanced), French (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Hugo have?

Hugo has at least 47 years of experience. During this time, Hugo has worked in at least 18 different roles and for 11 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 7 months. Note that Hugo may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Hugo be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Hugo would be well-suited for roles such as: Supervisory Board Member, CEO and Founder, Consulting/Interim CIO/CDO/Exec Board Member.

What is Hugo's latest experience?

Hugo's most recent position is Supervisory Board Member at 4PL Central Station EE.

What companies has Hugo worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Hugo has worked for 4PL Central Station EE, Digital Leadership Xellence, Duvenbeck Logisticsl, and Imperial Logistics International.

Which industries is Hugo most experienced in?

Hugo is most experienced in industries like Information Technology (IT), Transportation and Logistics, and Pharmaceutical. Hugo also has some experience in Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Biotechnology.

Which business areas is Hugo most experienced in?

Hugo is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology (IT), Operations, and Project Management. Hugo also has some experience in Strategy and Planning, Product Development, and Finance.

Which industries has Hugo worked in recently?

Hugo has recently worked in industries like Transportation and Logistics, Information Technology (IT), and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Hugo worked in recently?

Hugo has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology (IT), Strategy and Planning, and Finance.

What is Hugo's education?

Hugo holds a Bachelor in Electronics Engineering from Zellweger AG.

Does Hugo have any certificates?

Hugo has 2 certificates. These include: ISO 27001 and ISO 9000.

What is the availability of Hugo?

Hugo is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Hugo?

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