Markus Peters - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Q: Where is Markus based?

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

Q: What languages does Markus speak?

Markus speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Spanish (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Markus have?

Markus has at least 28 years of experience. During this time, Markus has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 10 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months . Note that Markus may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Markus's latest experience?

Markus's most recent position is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at VIA optronics AG .

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

In recent years, Markus has worked for VIA optronics AG .

Q: Which industries is Markus most experienced in?

Markus is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Metals and Mining , and Banking and Finance . Markus also has some experience in Energy and Utility Services .

Q: Which business areas is Markus most experienced in?

Markus is most experienced in business areas like Finance , Accounting , Investments, and M&A & Venture Capital . Markus also has some experience in Strategy and Planning , Legal and Compliance , and Human Resources (HR) .

Q: Which industries has Markus worked in recently?

Markus has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing .

Q: Which business areas has Markus worked in recently?

Markus has recently worked in business areas like Accounting and Finance .

Recommended expert

Hanover, Germany

Experience

Jul 2021 - Jun 2024

3 years

Nuremberg, Germany

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

VIA optronics AG

Investor meetings, investor relations for NYSE listing
Expanded reporting and compliance structures, cost controlling
Post-merger integration
Implemented LucaNet
Financing negotiations with banks
Global responsibility for 25 employees in six countries
Positive net cash position and decreasing NWC (-40%) with rising revenues
Significant reduction in cash outflow
Initiated profitability and restructuring projects, introduced capex guidelines
Built hedging line, implemented ABS program, extended bank financing

Jul 2017 - Nov 2020

3 years 5 months

Garbsen, Germany

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG

Led the supervisory board cooperatively, close communication with the management board, chaired the Annual General Meeting
Prepared and led supervisory board meetings
Streamlined leadership structures, including reappointment of the management board
Focused on return on capital and growth
Capital market communication, talks with banks and turnaround advisors
Filled supervisory board vacancies
Increased market capitalization by €400M
Redesigned the compensation system with a focus on value-oriented management, high approval at the AGM
Successful restructuring and refinancing
Capital increase through new shares

Jul 2017 - Jun 2020

3 years

Hanover, Germany

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Investment Officer

German Technology AG (Bantleon Group)

Managed investments and analyzed targets
Value-enhancing support and divestment of holdings (LPKF)
Created deal flow for tech start-ups, (pre-)IPOs and small caps
Sourced investors
Stock picking for tech investment funds
Successful exit at LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Increased market capitalization by €400M

May 2013 - Jun 2017

4 years 2 months

Winterthur, Switzerland

CFO, Managing Director

DMG MORI ECOLINE Holding AG

Accounting, controlling & reporting, cash and NWC management, FX management, compliance
Built structures and processes, risk management for the holding and subsidiaries
Managed holdings in China, Poland, DACH region and Russia (greenfield)
Expanded control and management systems
Introduced compliance program as compliance officer
Implemented currency hedging
Secured results through accurate product costing
Led cost and efficiency programs, unified ERP systems
Direct and indirect responsibility for 45 employees in five countries
Successful greenfield plant setup in Russia under budget by ~10% through FX hedging and strict investment controlling
Significant earnings contributions through cash management linked to time deposits in a high interest environment
Set up a tax-optimized holding in Switzerland
Company-wide fixed cost reduction of 10% at a manufacturing site in China
Restructured financing in China
Closed a plant in China after merging with MORI CO., LTD

Oct 2011 - Apr 2013

1 year 7 months

Duisburg, Germany

Established Treasury/Finance Function for INOXUM Group

INOXUM GmbH (formerly thyssenkrupp Stainless) / Outokumpu Holding Germany GmbH

Established an independent treasury function: cash pooling, in-house banking
Implemented new treasury systems including treasury management software (ITS)
FX hedging and currency management
Implemented treasury policies
Built and maintained banking relationships, implemented a borrowing base facility
Successfully set up and structured the treasury function at the time of the carve-out
Created a hedging book over €1B

Apr 2011 - Sep 2011

6 months

Werdohl, Germany

Vice President Compliance & Risk Management

thyssenkrupp VDM GmbH

Risk controlling, export control, compliance, transfer price management
Organized data room for the equity carve-out
Led compliance audits and compliance training
Risk inventory
Responsible for transfer price management
Successful compliance audit by external auditor
Completed the data room for the carve-out on time

Jun 2007 - Mar 2011

3 years 10 months

Florham Park, United States

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Member of the Board

thyssenkrupp VDM USA, Inc.

Accounting, controlling & reporting, taxes, treasury, supply chain, IT, HR, tax, risk & legal, compliance
Implemented cost reduction measures and synergy projects
Improved return on capital, expanded sales control, introduced value-oriented management
Led critical customer negotiations
Calculated offer prices
Introduced rolling sales and production planning to reduce inventory
Negotiated with raw material traders and mines
Managed environmental legacy projects to avoid financial burdens
Risk & Compliance Officer: defended against claims and fraudulent acts
Managed 17 employees at two sites
Successfully merged two operating US entities and migrated ERP system
Profitable during the 2007–2011 financial crisis, positive EBT for the VDM Group in 2009/10
Improved cash flow and optimized NWC through active receivables management and inventory reduction
Introduced raw material purchasing based on rolling sales and production plans
Reorganized scrap management, up to 20% profit contribution
Balanced metal cost fluctuations through hedging (50% of spend)
No defaults on receivables despite the economic crisis

Oct 2003 - May 2007

3 years 8 months

Werdohl, Germany

Head of Central Controlling, Authorized Officer

thyssenkrupp VDM GmbH

Operational and strategic controlling
Corporate planning and investment evaluations, product costing
Restructuring and cost reduction projects
Risk and equity controlling, M&A projects
Led five employees
Implemented SAP-based sales controlling and value management
Investment projects in the US within budget
Successfully applied for grants for energy-intensive operations

Jan 2001 - Oct 2003

2 years 10 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Head of Strategic Controlling

thyssenkrupp Materials AG

Group-wide corporate planning and strategic controlling
Risk controlling
Contact for thyssenkrupp AG
Special tasks for the executive board
Led five employees
Introduced value-oriented management
Expanded working capital and equity controlling with weaknesses analysis

Jan 1999 - Dec 2000

2 years

Essen, Germany

Senior Manager Strategic Projects/Corporate Development

RWE AG

M&A and development of strategic group projects
Evaluation of market entry strategies
Analysis, evaluation and recommendations for M&A projects to the executive board
Sharpened multi-utility strategy, developed e-commerce projects
Founded a corporate venture capital fund (€50 million)
Market survey on the multi-utility strategy

Apr 1996 - Dec 1998

2 years 9 months

Essen, Germany

Project Lead M&A for Central and Eastern Europe

RWE Energie AG

Management of M&A projects and interdisciplinary teams
Identification and analysis of acquisition targets, preparation of bid documents
Preparation of decision papers for the Executive Board
Negotiations with cooperation and contract partners
Management of international engagements
Selection and development of junior talent
Successful market entry in the Czech Republic with two companies
Multiple leadership of the full M&A process
Expansion of cooperation and investment options in Bulgaria

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 (17.5 years), Metals and Mining (5.5 years), Banking and Finance (3 years), Energy (2.5 years), and Utilities (2 years).

Manufacturing

Metals and Mining

Banking and Finance

Energy

Utilities

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 Finance (23 years), Accounting (14.5 years), Strategy (11 years), Investments and M&A (11 years), Legal (4.5 years), and Human Resources (3.5 years).

Finance

Accounting

Strategy

Investments and M&A

Legal

Human Resources

Summary

Internationally experienced CFO with broad industry background and strong intercultural management skills in growth markets as well as in special situations, e.g., restructuring, carve-out or reorganization of listed companies.

25+ years of professional experience, including about 20 years in leadership roles as Group CFO, Senior Vice President or Chairman of the Supervisory Board during restructuring
Group CFO responsible for triple-digit millions
Proven direct capital market experience in listed companies
Leadership responsibility: up to 45 employees worldwide

Key achievements

Stopped cash bleeding and reduced NWC by up to 40% in one year
Acquisition of a stake, restructuring and very profitable exit after only three years while keeping the stock listing (plus €400M market cap)
Designed compensation systems with high approval from the Annual General Meeting
Internationalization via plant construction in Eastern Europe with about 10% under budget
Company-wide fixed cost reduction of 10% in China
Built treasury function in a carve-out situation, established a hedging book over €1B
Profitable even in crisis (2008-2011), ensured positive results for the whole group (€1.4B revenue) through process optimization and value and NWC management
Structured a corporate venture capital fund for the energy sector
International market entry via M&A

Skills

B2b Industry Expertise: Mechanical Engineering, Automotive, High Tech, Metal And Materials Industry, Energy Sector
Matrix Organization, Corporate Environment, Mid-sized Companies And Family Businesses
International Management Experience: Four Years In The Usa, Three Years In Switzerland, One Year In Austria
Special Situations/360° View, E.g., Restructuring, Carve-out, Turnaround Management
Degree In Business Administration/finance In Germany And The Usa
Cfo, Finance Board Member, Supervisory Board In Listed Companies (Deutsche Börse, Nyse)
Change & Turnaround Management, Restructuring And Special Situations, As Well As M&a
Continuous Improvement Of Cost Structures, Processes, It And Information Systems
Growth, Internationalization, Strong Structuring And Process Skills, Value Management/shareholder Value Focus, Working Capital Management
Additional Leadership Responsibility For Supply Chain, Hr, It, Investor Relations, M&a, Strategy, Legal & Risk

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Spanish

Elementary

Education

Oct 1992 - Jun 1997

Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel

PhD · Business Administration, Finance · Kiel, Germany

Aug 1990 - May 1992

Pennsylvania State University

Master of Science in Business Administration, Finance · Business Administration, Finance · State College, United States

Oct 1987 - Jun 1990

Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel

Business Administration · Kiel, Germany

...and 2 more

Profile

Created

February 2025

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Frequently asked questions

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

Where is Markus based?

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

What languages does Markus speak?

Markus speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Spanish (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Markus have?

Markus has at least 28 years of experience. During this time, Markus has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months. Note that Markus may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Markus be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Markus would be well-suited for roles such as: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Investment Officer.

What is Markus's latest experience?

Markus's most recent position is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at VIA optronics AG.

What companies has Markus worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Markus has worked for VIA optronics AG.

Which industries is Markus most experienced in?

Markus is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, and Banking and Finance. Markus also has some experience in Energy and Utility Services.

Which business areas is Markus most experienced in?

Markus is most experienced in business areas like Finance, Accounting, Investments, and M&A & Venture Capital. Markus also has some experience in Strategy and Planning, Legal and Compliance, and Human Resources (HR).

Which industries has Markus worked in recently?

Markus has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing.

Which business areas has Markus worked in recently?

Markus has recently worked in business areas like Accounting and Finance.

What is Markus's education?

Markus holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, Finance from Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and a Master in Business Administration, Finance from Pennsylvania State University.

What is the availability of Markus?

Markus is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Markus?

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