Matthias Bullmahn - Interim Change Manager

Solingen, Germany

Experience

Jun 2025 - Oct 2025

5 months

Germany

Interim Change Manager

Automobile Manufacturer (OEM)

Agile transformation of the entire board area for battery development using SAFe.
Setup of 5 Agile Release Trains and an agile portfolio.
Preparation of the shift from a functional to a process-driven organization.
Scope of 400+ people in Germany, Europe and China.
Application of tailored SAFe methods.
Stakeholder management as well as consulting, training and coaching of leaders (product management, release train engineers, system architects).
Building of the portfolio with an initial volume of approx. €150 million up to over €1 billion.
Training of junior colleagues from a Big Four consulting firm.
Introduction of PI plannings, quality metrics and team training.

Jan 2025 - Jun 2025

6 months

Germany

Interim Change Manager

State Police Authority

Agile transformation of a police software and infrastructure department in the state, and partially for other states.
Management of development, operations, support and incident management (level 1-3).
Further development of Scrum and Kanban methods.
Execution of change communication and one-on-one coaching of the department head and specialist coordinators.
Training and coaching of product owners.
Introduction of a SAFe PI planning and a survey on the state of agile development.
Consulting on the implementation of the IT campus and the new pillar structure in an agile context.
Conducting stakeholder management for over 50 people.

Aug 2024 - Dec 2024

5 months

Germany

Agile Coach

Federal Authority

SAP S/4HANA greenfield implementation in the Agile Release Train P2P, SRM / MM module as part of a SAFe solution train.
Support of a team and the leadership in further developing agile methods.
Stakeholder consulting and execution of leadership coaching.
Responsible for change communication and individual coaching of team members.
Scope of 500+ people in Germany using tailored SAFe.

Feb 2024 - Present

2 years

Germany

Lecturer

FHDW

Teaching in the subject of Professional Negotiation.

Dec 2023 - Jun 2024

7 months

Czech Republic

Interim Head of Requirements Management and Transformation Manager

State Ministry

Rollout of a uniform, cloud-based solution to replace existing software for public health offices across the state.
Support of teams and leadership in further developing the SAFe agile method.
Stakeholder consulting and delivery of leadership coaching.
Responsible for change communication and individual coaching of team members.
Conducting process analyses and defining artifacts for MVP 1.
Scope of 60+ people in Germany and Prague.

May 2023 - Dec 2023

8 months

Romania

Agile Leadership Coach

Steel Company

Global rollout of AI-based pricing and new pricing software and processes in SAP S/4 HANA.
Supported teams and leadership in further developing agile methods Scrum and SAFe.
Advised stakeholders and designed and conducted agile trainings and workshops.
Responsible for change communication and leadership coaching.
Scope of 200+ people in Germany and Romania.

Apr 2023 - Present

2 years 10 months

Germany

Lecturer

DIPLOMA

Created and delivered the Digital Leadership module for the Digital Management and Digital Value Creation certification.
Prepared the adoption of the Digital Leadership module in the master's program.
Conducted workshops on leadership and professional negotiation.

Apr 2023 - Aug 2023

5 months

Executive Coach

Automotive Manufacturer (OEM)

Implemented SAFe for 1,500+ people and for 10,000+ people at the corporate level.
Coached 15 executives.
Outcome: Strategic decision by the executive board to phase in SAFe for an initial 500+ people based on the presented strategy.

Nov 2022 - Present

3 years 3 months

Germany

Interim Restructuring Manager

Window and Door Manufacturing – Self-Administered Insolvency

Acted as a sparring partner to strengthen management in self-administration – improved decision speed and leadership confidence.
Managed site closures and staff reductions – executed with minimal conflict and secured cost structures sustainably.
Initiated end-to-end process analysis – identified inefficiencies and launched immediate measures to secure liquidity.
Conducted critical employee discussions – increased motivation, clarity, and performance focus during the restructuring phase.
Quantified and prioritized investment backlog – created a solid decision-making basis for creditors and management.
Built and prioritized a strategic portfolio – directed capital towards value-adding initiatives and created transparency for stakeholders.
Enhanced management's negotiation strength – empowered purchasing, HR, and the managing board to secure significant terms improvements and persuaded existing suppliers to make concessions.
Kicked off transformation to a value stream-oriented organization – reduced lead times and increased operational transparency.
Coached new leaders on the job – strengthened leadership skills and avoided management mistakes during the crisis.

Oct 2022 - Apr 2023

7 months

Ukraine

Interim Transformation Manager

Information Technology, Hidden Champion

Introduced Lean Portfolio Management and advanced agile transformation with SAFe approaches.
Advised and coached the CEO and portfolio manager.
Analyzed the business unit regarding the introduction of a product-focused organization.
Supported the lean portfolio manager in advancing the agile transformation.
Executed change communication and conducted training and coaching for all employees.
Scope of 200+ people in Germany and Ukraine.

Jul 2022 - Present

3 years 7 months

Germany

Trainer

Various Clients

Design and delivery of organizational training in Agile, SAFe, and leadership.
Delivery of training on sales psychology and negotiation techniques.
Conducting workshops and presentations at international and national agile conferences.

Jul 2022 - Dec 2025

3 years 6 months

Germany

Senior Leadership Trainer

Accenture

Trained over 1,500 people.
Delivered SAFe training for leaders, including Leading SAFe, SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE), SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner, SAFe Scrum Master, and SAFe for Architects.
Designed and delivered agile and 'Agile 4/SAP' trainings.

Jan 2022 - Dec 2025

4 years

Germany

Trainer

Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Designed and delivered the first IHK-certified training course for Agile Transformation Coach.

Oct 2021 - Jun 2022

9 months

Germany

Interim Transformation Manager

Automotive Group

Worked in the R&D area on a data platform for future car generations.
Advised and coached TMK/OMK and program management.
Analyzed agile ways of working and assessed the introduction of SAFe for projects with over 80 people.
Trained and coached leadership and teams on adopting agile working methods.
Supported the tendering of projects according to SAFe methodology.
Scope of 110+ people in Germany with a budget of 200 million euros.

Jul 2021 - Oct 2021

4 months

Germany

Interim Transformation Manager

CATENA-X

Built a European data exchange platform for the automotive industry.
Set up an Agile Release Train for over 100 people for the first PI Planning.
Trained and coached key roles such as RTE, PM, SA, SE and PO.
Supported product management in creating the backlog and vision.
Collaborated with product owners on backlog prioritization.
Project scope of 500+ people in Germany with 5 Agile Release Trains and a budget of over 250 million euros.

Mar 2021 - Jun 2021

4 months

Interim Transformation Manager

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Corporation

Global SAP S/4 HANA Greenfield implementation with a budget of over 1 billion dollars.
Advising and coaching the program manager, vendor manager, and PMO leads.
Creating an MVP for the agile playbook and defining the agile ways of working.
Developing the training curriculum and conducting stakeholder management.
Strategic consulting for the tender to four global consulting firms and managing the vendor selection process.
Developing the change communication strategy and the solution roadmap.

Feb 2021 - Jun 2021

5 months

Germany

Interim Transformation Manager

Municipal Utilities

Reviewing all supplier contracts and translating them into process descriptions, job profiles, and value profiles.
Creating a decision template for insourcing vs. outsourcing.
Preparing documentation for a Europe-wide tender.
Developing a change concept including change communication.
Scope of over 100 people in Germany.

Jan 2021 - Present

5 years 1 month

Germany

Interim Manager / Founder

skAGIL

Specializing in tailored solutions at the heart of change and transformation processes.
Helping companies navigate the complexities of the digital transformation journey with precision and expertise.
Focusing on people and collaboration alongside successful transformation.
Conducting leadership development and building customized agile academies and training programs.

May 2020 - Aug 2020

4 months

Germany

Lean-Agile Coach / Workstream Lead

Special Machinery and Plant Engineering

Consolidating over 60 SAP systems into a single S/4 HANA system.
Advising the CIO/CFO and program management on developing the implementation strategy.
Supporting the creation of team and program backlogs.
Selecting and implementing an agile project management tool.
Preparing the big room planning and configuring stakeholder-specific trainings.
Conducting change communication and defining the KPIs.
Scope of over 200 people globally with a budget of 200 million euros.

Jan 2020 - Apr 2020

4 months

Germany

Lean-Agile Coach

Automotive OEM

Global SAP finance and controlling template for all brands.
Advising the client's program management and Accenture senior management on agile strategy.
Scope of over 400 people globally with a budget of 150 million euros.

Aug 2019 - Nov 2019

4 months

Germany

Interim Transformation Manager

Statutory Health Insurance

Introduced agile working methods as part of the company-wide AOK 2022 transformation.
Prepared and supported the execution and follow-up of the first two Big Room Planning sessions.
Scope of over 100 people in Magdeburg.

Jul 2019 - Jul 2019

1 month

Proposal Lead

European Aviation Company

Applied to deliver agile training.
Prepared, coordinated, and delivered the on-site sales presentation.
Result: 2nd place due to cost; feedback said it was the best presentation within the time limit.

Jun 2019 - Dec 2019

7 months

United States

Lean-Agile Coach, SAFe Coach

Electrical and Energy Engineering

Global Salesforce rollout for the customer journey.
Implemented SAFe, including two PI planning workshops.
Served as RTE for two PIs and handed over to the client's counterpart.
Trained and coached at all levels, including the executive board.
Coached product management on backlog creation, roadmap development, and prioritization.
Carried out change communication.
Scope of over 180 people across 14 global offices with a budget of €100 million.

May 2019 - May 2019

1 month

United Kingdom

Program Management Coach

Mobile and Telecommunications

SAP S/4HANA transformation with a budget of £150 million.
Provided strategic advice to the CFO and Accenture program leadership on implementing SAFe.
Scope of over 300 people in the UK.

Jan 2019 - May 2019

5 months

Austria

Senior Team Coach

Insurance

Consolidation of all SAP systems with a budget of €2 billion.
Conducted CIO coaching and increased visibility of work blockers.
Optimized workflow and carried out change communication.
Introduced the Agility Health Radar company-wide to measure the success of the agile transformation for over 50 teams.
Scope of over 150 people in Austria.

Mar 2018 - Dec 2018

10 months

Latvia

SAFe Portfolio Coach

Insurance and Financial Services

SAP HANA native development program with a budget of €200 million.
Introduced SAFe with 2 Agile Release Trains.
Coordinated portfolio-level activities to prioritize epics based on outcomes.
Coached epic owners and optimized flow while reducing impediments.
Built a LACE (Lean-Agile Center of Excellence) team and led 4 agile coaches.
Conducted change communication.
Covered 250+ people globally.

Dec 2017 - Mar 2018

4 months

Germany

Lean-Agile Coach

Conglomerate

Consolidated six SAP BI systems with a budget of €20 million.
Prepared for the agile project launch and trained all project staff.
Delivered on-site training and coaching in India.
Supported backlog creation and defined and implemented metrics.
Prepared and facilitated PI planning and supported change communication.
Covered 80+ people globally.

Nov 2017 - Jan 2021

3 years 3 months

Germany

Senior SAP Lean-Agile Coach / Consultant / Trainer

Accenture

Founding member and part of the leadership team for the SAP Delivery Excellence domain, responsible for recruiting and sales.
Designed and launched the world’s first SAP Agile Academy for employees at manager level.
Trained participants into lean-agile experts in boot camps and co-developed the financial concept.
Developed a training academy for the open market and ICAgile-certified trainings.
Advanced the SAP Agile talent accelerator Jump Start to increase the maturity of newcomers.
Coached and led 8 colleagues as a career counselor using OKRs.
Ran a coaching experiment to improve agile leadership skills.
Advised senior managers and program leads up to the executive level at Accenture and for clients.
Responsible for change communication within the department and across the global organization.

Jan 2017 - Oct 2017

10 months

Germany

Senior Consultant, Salesforce

entero AG

Jul 2014 - Dec 2016

2 years 6 months

Germany

SAP Consultant

Accenture GmbH

Worked as an SAP consultant in Finance/Controlling (FI/CO), ABAP and Logistics (SD/MM) modules.

Mar 2013 - Jun 2014

1 year 4 months

Germany

SAP CRM Consultant

ITML GmbH

Consulting in the Finance / Controlling (FI/CO), ABAP and Logistics (SD/MM) modules.

Jan 2012 - Jul 2012

7 months

Germany

Account Manager, Executive Search

division one

Oct 2010 - Dec 2011

1 year 3 months

Germany

Sales Associate for freelance SAP experts

K2 Partnering Solutions

Apr 2006 - Sep 2009

3 years 6 months

United Kingdom

Freelance Tour Guide

TUI Wolters

Locations included the Lofoten and the Channel Islands.

Nov 2003 - Mar 2004

5 months

Germany

Service Staff

Diskotheken Klapsmühle/Neuschwanstein

Jan 2003 - Oct 2003

10 months

Germany

Sales Representative, Inventory Management Software

KDT Internet GmbH

Oct 2002 - Dec 2002

3 months

Germany

Systems Technician

D-Consult

Apr 2002 - Sep 2002

6 months

Germany

Interim IT Manager

DATEV e.G.

Responsible for 2 DATEV locations and 5 training centers.

Jul 2001 - Feb 2002

8 months

Germany

Sales Representative, Inventory Management Software

Haussmann & Wynen DV GmbH

Summary

Matthias Bullmahn is a hands-on interim manager with a clear signature: driving transformations to the finish – even when things get tough. He combines many years of leadership experience in international corporations with strong operational roots, from the shop floor to the executive board.

He started his career as an SAP consultant and since then has supported global S/4HANA programs, digital transformations and complex portfolio and organizational developments with budgets ranging from €30 million to over €1 billion. As a founding member of a global delivery unit at Accenture, he was responsible for recruiting, training and operational management in large-scale programs.

Matthias stands out for his pragmatic approach, high speed to impact and consistent focus on results. He builds stakeholder commitment, creates transparency, stabilizes leadership teams and enables organizations to implement effectively – especially in challenging situations such as restructurings or self-administered insolvencies.

Whether in the public sector or industry, in corporations or medium-sized companies: Matthias Bullmahn delivers quick stabilization, clear decision bases and sustainable transformation results. Interim providers value him as a reliable fit for roles such as transformation manager, change lead, program governance or restructuring.

Skills

Interim Management
Restructuring (Including Self-administered Insolvency)
Business Process Development
Digitalization
C-level Consulting
Change And Transformation Management
Organizational Development
Stakeholder Management
Portfolio Management
Sales Psychology
Professional Negotiation Management
Lean Agile Portfolio Management
Lean Methods
Global Sap Rollouts
Sap S/4hana
Co-initiator And Trainer "Agile Transformation Coach" Ihk Dortmund
Incident Management

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Sep 2005 - Feb 2010

Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven

Diploma in Business Administration (FH) · Business Studies · Wilhelmshaven, Germany · 2.3

Aug 1997 - Jul 2000

Datev e.G.

IT Systems Management Specialist (IHK) · Vocational training as IT Systems Management Specialist · Nuremberg, Germany

Certifications & licenses

Crisis Communication

Scotland Yard

Storytelling Coach

Stories that Sell

Self-Control in Negotiations

TÜV Rheinland Certified 'Expert in Sales Psychology'

TÜV Rheinland

Business Storytelling

FBI Crisis Negotiation and Influence

Certificate of Excellence in Business Negotiations I - IV, CEBN®

CEBN®

Training from the Back of the Room Practitioner

Sales Psychology

Matthias Niggehoff

emTrace® Coach, Level 2

Dirk W. Eilert

Advanced Negotiaton Skills

Scotwork

Advanced Seminar 'Zurich Resource Model'

INeKO Cologne

ERP with SAP S/4HANA, TS410

Hogan Assessment Consultant Certification

SAP FI – General Ledger & Financial Closing with SAP S/4HANA

Systemic Coach and Change Manager

INeKO Cologne

emTrace® Coach, Level 1

Dirk W. Eilert

ICAgile Authorized Instructor, SAP Delivery Agility Fundamentals

ICAgile

ICAgile Certified Professional

ICAgile

ICAgile Certified Professional - Agile Coaching

ICAgile

ICAgile Certified Professional - Agile Team Facilitation

ICAgile

ICAgile Certified Professional - Agility in the Enterprise

ICAgile

ICAgile Certified Professional – Coaching Agile Transitions

ICAgile

Agility Health Facilitator

Certified Agile Requirements Specialist

Certified Kanban Management Professional

Certified SAFe® 6 Program Consultant (SPC)

Certified SAFe® 6 Release Train Engineer (RTE)

Lean Sigma Six, Yellow Belt

PRINCE2 Foundation

Scrum Master, PSM 1

Scrum.org

Salesforce ADM 201

Certified SAP ABAP Developer

Alfa Institute

ITIL

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