Dr Stefan Neuwirth
Independent Consultant
Experience
Jan 2025 - Present
1 year 1 monthIndependent 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 monthsHead 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 monthsHead 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 monthsChief 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 monthsHead 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 monthsPartner 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 yearsOrganizational 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
NativeEnglish
AdvancedEducation
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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