Patrick R.
COO and Head of Business Development
Experience
CEO and Founder
Crux Consulting
Crux Consulting is a young consultancy with the motto "We reshape time in your favour with AI." We help SMEs across Europe automate their processes with custom AI solutions. We reached 5-digit revenues in the first 6 months by offering tender search, process automation, automated content creation, and data enrichment and analysis. As the founder, I built the company from the ground up and now lead a team of three to scale faster.
COO and Head of Business Development
Fast Track Europe Ltd
- Implemented a new operations system to give the team clear visibility into company priorities and project tracking
- Built a framework for global expansion through partnerships, covering legal, hiring, and development
- Set up a scalable, measurable data infrastructure
- Joined as Head of Partnerships and promoted to COO after six weeks
Head of Business Operations
Vanguard Group Europe GmbH
- Led a team of seven across the Project Management Office, Financial Crimes, and the RPA automation team I built
- Transformed workflows by rolling out new tools for better planning, collaboration, and reporting
- Introduced RPA automation, freeing up the workload of 7 full-time employees in months
- Oversaw initiatives to scale offerings for customers
- Built relationships with key strategic partners
- Managed the statutory audit, halving findings year over year and keeping strong auditor relations
- Turned around a struggling team, boosting effectiveness by 200%
- Planned and laid the groundwork for strategic expansion across Continental Europe
- Led the operational wind-down during business closure, covering vendor relations, third-party contracts, and client offboarding
- Created an automation offboarding team that saved around €600,000 in months
Chief of Staff and Program Manager
Vanguard Group Europe GmbH
- Improved cross-company collaboration and automated reporting
- Served as program manager for the Vanguard Invest go-to-market in Germany, leading the local project team and managing side projects like tool implementation, GDPR compliance, and new hire onboarding
- Wrote the go-to-market strategy for Vanguard's new D2C business, setting OKRs and KPIs
- Revolutionized regular reporting to senior management on project progress, OKRs, and other key metrics with new systems
- Acted as main corporate contact for strategic partnerships and vendors
- Recruited 50 employees and drove culture at Vanguard Germany
- Mentored five colleagues in their career development
- Planted over 9,000 trees
Chief of Staff in European Distribution
Vanguard Asset Management Ltd
- Represented European Sales at the London HQ on projects across the business, such as ESG product and strategy development
- Facilitated sales leadership decision-making and took ownership of implementation
- Developed management reports for leadership and oversight
- Coordinated business planning, like European expansion, and key initiatives for the European Distribution team
- Handled critical, escalated client requests to ensure the best outcomes
Junior Wealth/Asset Manager
Quirin Privatbank AG
- Advised individual clients about their financial plan, including the management of their advisory portfolios
- Prepared investment research, portfolio analyses and financial life plans
- Specialized in ETFs and a global investment approach
- Supported senior consultants in their daily work, e.g., opening accounts, adjusting investment strategies, organizing client events
- Invented and implemented a new traineeship program
- Responsible for the branch regarding the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG)
Trainee in Project Management
Moly Cop
Summary
I'm a dynamic, results-driven senior manager who uses my deep financial services experience to drive success across organizations. As a versatile generalist, I blend strategic problem-solving with an entrepreneurial mindset, creating environments where teams thrive and deliver great results, even in tough situations. I live by the principle 'I find a way or build one', and I've turned around underperforming divisions and reenergized teams, driving major improvements. My strategic vision and hands-on approach to innovative solutions have advanced Fast Track Europe and Vanguard Europe's goals and boosted team performance overall.
Languages
Education
European College of Business and Management
M.Sc. · International Business and Management · London, United Kingdom
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm University
B.Sc. · Economics · Bonn, Germany
High School Landschulheim Kempfenhausen
High School Diploma · High School Diploma · Munich, Germany
Certifications & licenses
CFA ESG Certificate
CFA Level 1
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