Dr Stefan Neuwirth

Independent Consultant

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Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

Experience

Jan 2025 - Present
1 year 1 month

Independent Consultant

  • Intended break
  • Lecturing at universities
  • Mentoring
  • Social engagement
  • Coaching education
  • Founding of research institute “Center For Impactful Organization Design (CIOD)”
Jan 2020 - Nov 2024
4 years 11 months

Head of Human Resources – Insights & Portfolio

Bayer

  • Managed global organizational data, HR data, reporting & analytics, employee surveys & feedback instruments, HR process optimization, digital transformation, technology platforms, compliance, portfolio & budget steering
  • Owned HR Data Foundation including data definition, authorizations, privacy and compliance
  • Collaborated with IT and external providers on HR IT system landscape optimization
  • Developed and launched business-relevant cockpits and dashboards and implemented analytical HR use cases
  • Provided HR data for annual report, sustainability report, CSRD report, annual shareholder meeting and talent review meetings
  • Owned employee listening: methodology, implementation and evaluation of global/regional/local surveys, 360-degree and leadership feedback, onboarding/exit surveys
  • Managed HR process framework, continuous optimization and process analysis tools (process mining, task mining)
  • Steered Shared Service Organization functional areas and managed project portfolio and budgets
  • Led change management team and major HR transformations including shift to “Dynamic Shared Ownership” operating model

Achievements:

  • Prepared enterprise-wide implementation of Bayer Operating Model “Dynamic Shared Ownership” for go-live 2024/2025
  • Drove HR function reorganizations, achieving 30% staff and budget reduction
  • Harmonized feedback landscape, saving €1 m and increasing comparability and flexibility
  • Established agile HR Reporting & Analytics team “Data2Insights”, reducing development time by 50%
  • Redesigned global organizational data management in SAP, saving €700 k labor cost and increasing data quality
  • Centralized HR portfolio and budget management, safeguarding outcomes despite reduced budgets
  • Launched harmonized HR cockpits used by 10,000 leaders in first year, reducing reporting and HR BP positions by ~40
  • Delivered HR Analytics use cases on Attrition Analytics and Gender Pay Equity influencing senior decisions
  • Optimized key HR processes with process mining, reducing variants by 60% and speeding by 50%
  • Streamlined HR compliance landscape, simplifying rules and reducing workload
  • Assessed SAP/SF vs Workday, recommended and initiated migration project to Workday until 2026
Sep 2016 - Dec 2019
3 years 4 months

Head of Corporate Organization

Bayer

  • Led organizational design and development for Board of Management, divisions and countries and governed group organization
  • Owned HR technology, digital & data
  • Directed Operating Model and Organization Design workstreams for CropScience/Monsanto integration (22,000 employees) and Enabling Functions restructuring (18,000 employees)
  • Redesigned Board of Management roles and responsibilities and re-scoped global Sustainability & Public Affairs community
  • Defined and implemented group-wide design concepts, principles and terminology
  • Advised senior management on organizational matters and prepared proposals for Board of Management
  • Initiated global “Agile Organization” expert community and established position evaluation (Hay grading) for 35,000 managerial positions

Achievements:

  • Integrated Monsanto into Bayer structures for Day 1 go-live, delivering savings through consolidation and span of control improvements
  • Implemented Enabling Functions restructuring in 2020 and 2022, achieving 35% cost reduction
  • Dissolved holding structure to integrated company with consistent global implementation
  • Redesigned Board size from 7 to 5 members with compliance and smooth execution
  • Launched agile community, accelerating organizational learning
  • Automated position evaluation workflow, managing 35,000 positions with two experts
Dec 2012 - Aug 2016
3 years 9 months

Chief Administration Officer / Head of Corporate Office Administration / Management Assistant to CEO

Bayer

  • Managed administrative and support functions of Bayer AG including planning & controlling, procurement, IT coordination, facility management, occupational safety & health
  • Supervised service providers and infrastructure for Board of Management (assistants, drivers, facilities)
  • Coordinated Board of Management topics in Supervisory Board and supported CEO Marijn Dekkers in mandates, events and presentations
  • Administered global processes “Signature Authorizations”, “Group Directives” and “Group Circulars”
  • Collaborated on strategic initiatives such as Covestro IPO and “New Bayer” reorganization
  • Managed ~€46 m budget and led 55 employees

Achievements:

  • Managed approval processes for M&A and divestitures including Covestro carve-out and IPO
  • Optimized budget and controlling processes, increasing flexibility and reporting speed
  • Consolidated office space, reducing demand by 20% and piloting flexible concepts
  • Reorganized corporate staff and security teams, reducing personnel by 10%
  • Streamlined Board briefings and events, handling ~150 annual events efficiently
  • Prepared Supervisory Board and Annual Shareholder Meeting agendas and materials
Sep 2009 - Nov 2012
3 years 3 months

Head of Human Resources - Strategy & Projects

Bayer

  • Shaped HR functional strategy, employer value proposition and globalization
  • Managed HR portfolio, strategic workforce planning, demography analyses and HR communications
  • Harmonized and executed group-wide employee engagement survey
  • Developed HR policies and co-led global/regional HR conferences
  • Managed budget & controlling for global HR function and led 10 experts

Achievements:

  • Defended €400 m HR budget and eliminated invoices without order
  • Consolidated 30+ surveys into one survey, saving €500 k and reducing survey load
  • Developed demographic analysis and simulation tool shaping workforce planning
  • Co-led Employer Value Proposition initiative and drove implementation
  • Organized global HR conference for 110 participants and cascading regional conferences
Jul 2003 - Aug 2009
6 years 2 months

Partner and Department Head

Bayer Inhouse Consulting

  • Founding member of Bayer Inhouse Consulting and set up consulting concept and operating model
  • Department Head for Strategy, Business Models & Organization practice, leading 20 consultants
  • Defined and executed people-related processes including recruiting, performance management and career paths
  • Established Organization, Leadership & Change practice and interim led entire consulting unit (2006-2009)

Achievements:

  • Grew team from 20 to 140 consultants worldwide and achieved full utilization
  • Acquired major clients and globalized consulting business
  • Founded German Inhouse Consulting network “dichter dran” for joint positioning and knowledge exchange
Jul 1998 - Jun 2003
5 years

Organizational Expert & Consultant

Bayer

  • Led reorganization projects, process redesign and organization governance across Bayer
  • Supported Aventis CropScience acquisition integration, holding structure transformation, chemical business unit restructurings
  • Drove globalization of IT and procurement functions and Country Group consolidations
  • Redesigned processes for SAP implementation and logistics carve-out
  • Organized expert trainings on organization design and ensured consistent structures, committees and terminology

Summary

Senior executive in cross-functional roles (line management/program management), able to ‘make things happen’ and to impact both the strategic and operational level.

Highly experienced in leading transformational settings, i.e. restructuring, reorganization, M&A integration, divestiture, digital transformation.

Skills

  • Organizational Transformation & Development, Organization Design (Enterprise-wide Or Unit-specific)
  • Hr Transformation, Hr Management, Digital & Data Analytics
  • Cao / Chief Of Staff Role
  • Project Management, Change Management, Business Consulting
  • Strong Political Acumen And Stakeholder Management Skills
  • Passionate People Leader, Coach And Mentor

Languages

German
Native
English
Advanced

Education

Technical University of Berlin

Diploma · Business Administration

Siemens AG

Vocational training as Industrial Clerk · Industrial Clerk

Technical University of Berlin

Doctorate in Business Administration, Organization Theory · Business Administration · Berlin, Germany

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