Klaus W. - Interim Manager: Head of Data Centers

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Kassel, Germany

Experience

Sep 2024 - May 2025

9 months

Interim Manager: Head of Data Centers

I took on the role of managing the data centers of the Berlin power grid.
My tasks included leading the data center and its staff, ensuring and further developing operations, and training a successor with a handover of responsibilities.

Jul 2023 - May 2024

11 months

Interim Manager: Head of IT

At a client, the Head of IT position had been vacant for some time.
As an interim manager, I took on leading the department, finding a successor, and onboarding them.

May 2022 - Dec 2022

8 months

Project Manager / Interim Manager

For a client in the investment sector, I took on the provider management role for over half a year.
In addition to this, I planned, executed, and successfully completed several UC projects.

Oct 2021 - Apr 2022

7 months

Project Manager

For a large IT service provider in banking, as project manager I implemented a SAM system for a major bank and led a preliminary study for another institution.

Jun 2021 - Sep 2021

4 months

Project Manager

As part of a company's restructuring, a new communication system was introduced to replace telephony and videoconferencing technology.
I was in charge of planning and implementation as project manager.
Project planning and execution for the company headquarters and locations.

Nov 2019 - Oct 2020

1 year

Project Manager

Introduced a new UC communication platform for a large mid-sized real estate company, and transitioned the production platform into regular operation after a testing phase.
Managed the projects and supported the realignment of the IT department.

Feb 2019 - Jul 2019

6 months

Project Manager

ISS

Built a fully geo-redundant Skype for Business platform for a large service company.
In addition to the main phone system, implemented several call centers on the platform, including features like IVR, etc.
Converted a data center into a geo-redundant data center network.
Moved the data center to a new location, demolished the old site, planned the new build, and designed the new platform through to completion.

Oct 2018 - Jan 2019

4 months

Consultant

Assisted an automotive supplier in the search for an IT manager and supported the company with daily IT operations as well as onboarding the new IT manager.

Nov 2017 - Jun 2018

8 months

Request Manager

BASF

For a leading chemical company, coordinated, led, and planned the global expansion and restructuring of the data network (WAN/LAN/WLAN) as part of daily operations.

Mar 2017 - Sep 2017

7 months

Project Manager

Tennet

Planned and coordinated IT-related aspects for the relocation of the corporate headquarters of a large energy service provider.
This included planning and overseeing the setup of the IT infrastructure, designing the WLAN network, and coordinating the move, including replacing workstation equipment.
Transition to O365.
Relocated the local data center to the new building.

Nov 2016 - Mar 2017

5 months

Consultant

Deutsche Post DHL

Participation in a feasibility study.
On behalf of the CEO, a feasibility study focused on IT security was created for one of the world's largest logistics providers.
The main focus was feasibility, cost/benefit, and meeting all security requirements.

May 2016 - Sep 2016

5 months

Transition manager

Deutsche Bank

For a large financial services company, a unit was to be handed over to an Indian outsourcing provider.
My role was as transition manager / project manager.

Nov 2015 - May 2016

7 months

Assessor

TÜV Rheinland

Served as an assessor in data centers and networks.

Jan 2015 - Oct 2015

10 months

Interim manager / project manager

AS Schulman

Management and responsibility for IT operations / local helpdesk.
Office move of the Germany headquarters, data center relocation, and campus network redesign.
Email and software migration to MS Office 365 and Skype for Business.
Planning and setup of the campus/WLAN network.
The original goal of the project was to move the Germany headquarters to another building.
This also included responsibility for IT services in Germany with personnel management, the email system change, and the software migration/rollout to Office 365 with Skype for Business.
In addition, the national data center was planned and executed from the old to the new building complex.

Jun 2014 - Nov 2014

6 months

Consultant / project manager

Bayer AG

Process consulting and implementation of operations processes for provisioning and managing users.
For a specific group of IT users, a new operating concept with processes had to be developed and implemented.
The role was that of consultant and project manager.

Aug 2013 - Dec 2016

3 years 5 months

Consultant / Auditor

TÜV Rheinland

Various tasks as a consultant and auditor for TÜV Rheinland.
Advised an automotive company on building a secure IT infrastructure.
Audited an outsourcing data center for an outsourcing provider.
Advised and supported a large energy service provider.
Advised on setting up an operational organization.
Supported the preparation of tenders according to EU regulations.

Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

3 months

Consultant

Computacenter

Advised a system house on setting up a service center as part of an outsourcing contract.
The customer service division of a large telecommunications company was taken over by a system house as a scope of work.
As part of the consulting assignment, concepts for the organizational structure and reporting had to be developed.
Additionally, service level agreements were coordinated with the client.

Jan 2013 - May 2013

5 months

Project Manager

Konzern Deutsche Post

Virtualization project.
A data center was to be fully virtualized on a VMware basis and prepared for a data center move.
First, in the initial phase, the hardware was procured and set up; in the second phase, the systems were then virtualized step by step and migrated to the new platform.

Jul 2011 - Jun 2012

1 year

Project Manager

BP Europe SE / Atos

Redesign of a data center.
The power supply of a data center was renovated as part of a multi-stage concept and brought up to the latest technical standards.
Several of the data center's power supplies were upgraded step by step according to a defined strategy, ensuring there were no availability restrictions.
It was a mission-critical data center that had to be rebuilt without shutdown, as downtime is business-critical and must be prevented.
Led the project team.
Negotiations with internal and external service providers.
Created and aligned the project plan.
Executed the project plan.
Responsible for the change process.
Taking SLAs into account.
The upgrades covered the entire power supply of the data centers.

Jan 2011 - Apr 2011

4 months

Project Manager

Vodafone Global

Service improvement of an international IT platform.
A service improvement plan for a large international IT platform (web, email) was developed, initiated, and executed.
Managed the subcontractors.
Ensured and tracked SLAs and OLAs.

Jun 2010 - Dec 2010

7 months

Interim Management

Business2IT alignment.
Responsible for IT operations in flight operations and maintenance for a large European airline.
Transition management.
Managing outsourcing providers.
Negotiating SLAs and monitoring their compliance.

Jun 2009 - Mar 2010

10 months

Interim Management: Head of Competence Center and Department

Fiducia

Setting up a competence center to build and run an IT platform for a large investment bank.
Building the competence center with about 40 employees.
Managing the center.
Recruitment and knowledge development.
Introducing processes.
Serving as the customer interface.
Building the IT infrastructure, gradually taking over services from another provider's data center into our own data center during live operations.
Responsibility for the budget.
Responsibility for personnel.
SLA owner.

Jan 2009 - Apr 2009

4 months

Project Manager

Telefonica

Taking over 3rd-level support operations at a large telecommunications company (DSL provider).
OLA negotiations.
Organizing 3rd-level support.
Processes.
Organizing employee training.

Nov 2008 - Jan 2009

3 months

Consultant

DB Schenker

Restructuring a service organization at a logistics company.
Assessing the current state.
Consulting and support on all issues related to restructuring a service organization.

Mar 2008 - Sep 2008

7 months

Release Manager / Consultant

Deutsche Bahn

Release management for the financial billing system of a large transport and logistics group.
Acting as release manager / transition manager.
Implementing a new financial billing system using 3-tier technology.
Creating the release plan.
Managing escalations.
Contracting and overseeing the implementation project.
Ensuring SLA compliance.

May 2007 - Oct 2007

6 months

Project Manager / Consultant

BWI-IT

Creating technical concepts, managing a roll-out for a large public-private partnership project.
Representing the CIO organization's interests during the roll-out of IT infrastructure.
Building the infrastructure from scratch.
Rolling out IT network technology and telecom network.
Connecting the infrastructure to outsourcing service providers.

Feb 2007 - Mar 2007

2 months

Consultant

Vodafone

Interface audit for an outsourcing project for a major German mobile operator.
Auditing and reviewing interfaces between the client and an outsourcing provider.
Negotiating new interfaces/access points for the service provider.
SLA negotiations.

Jun 2006 - Jan 2007

8 months

Interim Manager

T-Mobile

Managed the internet data center of a German mobile operator as Interim Manager.
Led the data center and ensured its operations.
Managed a team of about 40 employees.
Implemented processes.
Introduced the REMEDY tool.
Negotiated with suppliers.
Upgraded a new subscriber database.

Oct 2005 - Mar 2006

6 months

Interim Manager: Head of Competence Center

Land Hessen

Developed an operating concept for a new IT Competence Center for the Hessian police and led the center.
Developed the concept.
Managed the Competence Center as Interim Manager.
IT coordination for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Mar 2005 - Sep 2005

7 months

Project Manager

Project management at a large defense / national security provider.
Project management.
Management of subcontractors in the field of homeland security.
Border crossing points.
Blue Border.

Apr 2004 - Dec 2004

9 months

Project Manager

o2

Project management for implementing a new APN strategy for a large German mobile network operator.
Planning the strategy implementation.
Transition management.
Leading the project team of about 30 people.
Escalation management.
Negotiations with suppliers.
Planning and tracking project milestones.
Planning and coordinating resource requirements.
Reporting and documentation.
Moving server infrastructure as part of the project.
Acceptance of the solution.
Handover of the systems to operations.

Jan 2004 - Apr 2004

4 months

Project Manager

o2

Project management for a project at a large German telecommunications provider.
Software upgrade at all German switching centers.
Leading the project team.
Negotiations with suppliers.
Planning and tracking project milestones.
Planning and coordinating resource requirements.
Reporting and documentation.
Acceptance of the solution.
Handover to operations.

Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

1 year

Project Manager

Vodafone

Project management of a type approval project for a large German telecommunications operator (mobile).
Acceptance of new transport network components before their rollout into operations.
Leading the project team of about 20 people.
Defining and tracking the project plan.
Planning and defining resources.
Defining test requirements.
Communication and coordination with the manufacturer.
Reporting and documentation.
Completion and handover of results to the client.

Jan 2003 - Mar 2003

3 months

Consultant

Advising on restructuring the IT service area for an insurance company.

Jan 2000 - Dec 2002

3 years

Hamburg, Germany

Head of Operations (Division Head)

EinsteinET AG

Built the Hamburg data center and managed operations for EINSTEINet Data Center and the company's own telephony/data network as a service and outsourcing provider, the web farm, the Windows 2000 / Citrix cluster, and the customer care organization from scratch.
Staff building / hiring and personnel management (approx. 130 employees).
Established shift operations.
Business process modeling for the above-mentioned area.
Set up the call center / customer care area using the Remedy tool.
Contract negotiations with customers and suppliers.
Contributed to drafting framework agreements for ASP / outsourcing services.
Reporting to investors / the supervisory board.
Responsible for license management with software vendors under the ASP licensing model.
Responsible for operations as an outsourcing provider.

Jan 1998 - Dec 2000

3 years

Head of IT / Operations / Infrastructure; Head of System Operations and Networks

OBI Baumärkte / Gesellschaft für Datenverarbeitung mbH

Managed the IT of the OBI Group (approx. 70 employees).
Led outsourcing partners / negotiated with partners.
Introduced an AS/400 environment into operations.
Migrated SAP R/3 systems from AIX to NT with ORACLE DB.
Built a SAP R/3 system for Eastern Europe / Asia as part of an insourcing project, including the operational setup.
Modeled business processes for the support / operations area.
Created SLAs and implemented them in operations (internal).
Successfully transitioned the group's infrastructure for Y2K.
Relocated the data center as part of the Y2K project.
Responsible for a budget of approx. 30 million DM.
Moved data center infrastructure as part of an insourcing project.
Set up a data warehouse system on NCR Terradata and moved the newly developed software into production.
Responsible for the OBI Group's international transport network.
Managed department personnel.
Oversaw 1st / 2nd / 3rd level support in a client/server environment.
Created and managed service level agreements (external SLAs).
Rolled out new IT workstations as part of the Y2K project.
Developed a concept for insourcing a merchandise management system and transitioned the software into operations, including requirements documentation.

Jan 1996 - Dec 1999

4 years

Kelsterbach, Germany

Head of International Field Service (Lufthansa Systems GmbH); Technical Director Frankfurt (Lufthansa Systems Network / POB

Lufthansa AG

Managed a team of 50 employees, both technically and disciplinarily.
Led Lufthansa's international IT service as department head.
Responsible for a budget of 12 million DM.
Global rollout project for Lufthansa CARGO as part of an outsourcing project.
Rolled out client/server infrastructure for Lufthansa Italy.
Managed a team of 30 employees, both technically and disciplinarily.
Established the branch and led it as profit center manager and technical director.
Outsourcing project: negotiated the outsourcing contract / set up operations for a large server farm for Commerzbank AG.
Transitioned the server farm into production.
Developed a recovery plan for a client's operations unit within the savings banks organization.

Worked on several fixed-term contracts

IBM Deutschland GmbH

Supported mid-sized clients using AS/400 and AIX systems.

Summary

in-house at IBM Germany GmbH under several fixed-term contracts, supporting mid-market clients with AS/400 and AIX systems. Many years working as a manager in large enterprises, self-employed, consulting in networks and midrange data technology as well as telecommunications, project management and planning. Additionally serving as an expert in communications engineering / IT