Richard H.
Interim Manager AI Strategy and Business Development
Experience
Mar 2025 - Jul 2025
5 monthsStuttgart, Germany
Interim Manager AI Strategy and Business Development
Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH
- Supported the AI startup MachOptima during its spin-off phase in industrial process optimization.
- Built up business development and acquired initial pilot customers.
- Developed and implemented an acquisition strategy for pilot projects.
- Evaluated and refined the service offering for industrial clients.
- Managed key accounts and supported customer meetings.
- Designed the strategic roadmap.
- Established sales processes and CRM structures.
- Secured placements with the first pilot customers.
- Built a structured sales architecture and oversaw multiple customer projects.
- Sharpened the value proposition and strengthened the founder team's internal strategy and sales understanding sustainably.
Aug 2023 - Jul 2024
1 yearBöblingen, Germany
ProductOwner Industrial Metaverse and Digital Twins
Mercedes-Benz AG
- Advanced the IT ecosystem for the Industrial Metaverse.
- Provided strategic advice to R&D, IT, and Market Operations on metaverse technologies.
- Promoted cross-functional collaboration and identified innovative business models.
- Supported contract negotiations with a metaverse provider.
- Facilitated and aligned multiple teams to refine shared goals.
- Evaluated metaverse technologies and digital twins.
- Developed strategic recommendations and pragmatic solutions for the corporate environment.
- Supported complex contract negotiations from technical, economic, and legal perspectives.
- Conducted workshops for strategic realignment and goal prioritization.
- Achieved double-digit million savings in negotiations.
- Laid the foundation for the current Industrial Metaverse roadmap.
- Identified synergies and optimization opportunities by analyzing over 20 global stakeholders.
- Significantly improved cross-department collaboration and developed multiple teams into active enablers.
- Drove sustainable changes in strategy and execution through expertise, clarity, and persuasion.
Nov 2022 - Jul 2023
9 monthsMunich, Germany
Interim CTO
Felix Forward GmbH
- Took over technical leadership to rescue a stalled software development.
- Ensured completion and successful launch of the platform.
- Restructured IT infrastructure and development processes.
- Revamped IT governance and realigned the development strategy.
- Optimized software development processes, including replacing the development team.
- Stabilized IT infrastructure for sustainable operations.
- Delivered the platform on time and successfully rolled it out.
- Increased efficiency and quality by restructuring IT governance and development.
- Provided a technically stable and future-proof platform according to industry standards.
Jan 2022 - Dec 2022
1 yearZürich, Switzerland
Industrial Metaverse Strategy Inhouse Consultant
Bruker Switzerland AG
- Evaluated and implemented AR technologies like Microsoft HoloLens to optimize internal processes.
- Developed new business models through strategic consulting to top management.
- Conducted in-depth technology evaluations and selected suitable hardware and software.
- Performed cost analyses and risk assessments.
- Developed an IT integration concept and strategic recommendations for management.
- Identified new business models and established a continuous innovation process.
- Reduced investment risks and accelerated technology adoption.
- Unlocked potential for additional revenue streams through new digital business models.
- Successfully embedded the strategic innovation process in the company.
Aug 2019 - Aug 2020
1 year 1 monthMunich, Germany
Head of Product & Business Model Innovation
ImmoPresenter 3D GmbH
- Developed a PropTech product to automate real estate sales using virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
- Designed a novel business model.
- Led product development and software strategy.
- Conducted research on business model innovation based on theoretical approaches.
- Managed product innovation and evaluated market opportunities.
- Demonstrated the potential of VR and AI in the real estate market.
- Validated, scientifically documented, and published the results.
Feb 2009 - Present
16 years 11 monthsManaging Director
BMI Expert GmbH
- Management of innovative digital projects as (Interim) Manager
- Evaluation, implementation, and rollout of new digital technologies
- Development of innovative business models for companies and startups
- Support for founders (startup coaching)
- Execution of software development projects from concept to delivery, including fixed-price contracts
- Prototype development and feasibility studies
- Strategic technology consulting, IT integration, cost and risk analyses
- Recommendations for top management
- Establishment of continuous innovation processes
- Detailed references, project examples, and specific results available upon request
Mar 2002 - Jul 2005
3 years 5 monthsMunich, Germany
Team Leader, Project Manager, Engineer
AGFA-Gevaert AG / AgfaPhoto GmbH
- Development and quality assurance of digital imaging systems and server-based order processing solutions
- Leading a team to optimize testing and payment infrastructures
- Project management for hardware-based payment solutions
- Managing test engineers to ensure the quality of server clusters
- Driving innovative software initiatives
- Successful implementation and quality assurance of high-availability solutions in digital imaging
- Increased efficiency through optimized testing processes and improved project management
- Successful delivery of innovation projects under tight deadlines
Summary
- Innovation expert and technology strategist. Over 20 years of experience in evaluating, implementing, and launching new digital technologies.
- Focus on digital future technologies. Capture, analyze, and assess new innovations in a technology-agnostic way. Provide deep expertise in AI, AR, VR, Industrial Metaverse, 3D printing, and business model innovation.
- Mediator between technology and business. Translate digital innovations into strategic goals and viable business models. Help overcome organizational and structural barriers and develop flexible strategies.
- Leading and managing innovation projects. Experienced in guiding own teams and coordinating external partners. Lead through motivation, clear vision, and strong decision-making.
- Responsible for investment decisions. Avoid bad investments and create competitive advantages through evidence-based analysis and strategic foresight—especially in uncertain, dynamic environments. Bring leadership experience from consulting, corporate, and entrepreneurial roles—with clear decision-making and execution skills.
I measurably increase the success rate of digital innovation projects, reduce investment risks, and accelerate the adoption of new technologies. I combine deep technical expertise with strategic foresight and strong execution. I lead teams through change, ensure decision-making under uncertainty, and translate complex technologies into tangible business results. My goal: to achieve lasting impact—technologically, economically, and organizationally.
Successful innovation requires bold yet methodical experimentation.
Languages
German
NativeEnglish
AdvancedEducation
Sep 2014 - Oct 2020
Waterford Institute of Technology
Doctor of Business Administration · Business Administration · Waterford, Ireland
Feb 2003 - Dec 2005
Munich University of Applied Sciences
Master of Science · Systems Engineering · Munich, Germany
Sep 1997 - May 2001
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Bachelor of Science, major in Computer Engineering, second degree: Computer Science · Electrical Engineering · Madison, United States
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