Thorsten Gropp - Senior Consultant Digitalization as Interim Manager

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Augsburg, Germany

Experience

Feb 2023 - Present

2 years 6 months

Munich, Germany

Senior Consultant Digitalization as Interim Manager

State government of Bavaria

Digitalization of processes in all areas of the health department
Process optimization in the Bavarian public health service (ÖGD)
Member of the 'Health Department 2025' project

Sep 2020 - Oct 2022

2 years 2 months

Saarbrücken, Germany

CEO as Interim Manager

Möbel Martin GmbH & Co. KG

Reporting directly to the proprietors
Sales revenue responsibility of €398m in 2021
Budget responsibility of €21m in 2021
Development of the digitalization strategy
Selection and implementation of the CRM system
Development of the customer loyalty program
Development and implementation of a digital employee app
Various digitalization processes in sales and marketing
Overall marketing responsibility across all distribution channels including 8 stores
Brand launch
Restructuring and building up teams

Oct 2019 - Aug 2020

11 months

Marbella, Spain

Senior Consultant Business Development as Interim Manager

Enjoygroup Grupo Ferrer Gestión S.L.U.

Reporting directly to the proprietors of the group
Process optimization
Digitalization of processes in all business units
Development of the 'Palma Beach' brand

Mar 2018 - Jun 2019

1 year 4 months

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Marketing Director International as Interim Manager

Garant-Global s.a.r.l

Reporting directly to the Chair of the Group
Expansion of the company
Process optimization
Digitalization of processes in all national companies
Overall marketing responsibility worldwide (€50m)
Development of the Garant Home Design brand
Development of the international franchise system

Apr 2017 - Mar 2018

1 year

Augsburg, Germany

CEO as Interim Manager

MaxEnergy GmbH

Reporting directly to the proprietor of the group
Management spokesperson
Sales revenue responsibility of €135m in 2017
Budget responsibility of €25m in 2017
Restructuring and expansion of the companies
Process optimization
Overall responsibility for marketing, sales, and IT in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Digitalization processes in sales and marketing
Changing the IT landscape to Salesforce / SAP / Confluence / Jira etc.

Apr 2017 - Mar 2018

1 year

Dornbirn, Austria

CEO as Interim Manager

MaxEnergy Handels GmbH

Reporting directly to the proprietor of the group
Management spokesperson
Sales revenue responsibility of €135m in 2017
Budget responsibility of €25m in 2017
Restructuring and expansion of the companies
Process optimization
Overall responsibility for marketing, sales, and IT in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Digitalization processes in sales and marketing
Changing the IT landscape to Salesforce / SAP / Confluence / Jira etc.

Feb 2015 - Mar 2017

2 years 2 months

Augsburg, Germany

CEO as Interim Manager

Weltbild GmbH & Co. KG

Reporting directly to the Group Advisory Board
Sales revenue responsibility of €305m in 2016
Budget responsibility of €34m in 2016
Staff management of 173 employees and 1,050 store employees
Direct management of 10 direct reports
Restructuring, reorganization, digitalization, and reorientation
Overall responsibility for marketing and sales in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for the Weltbild brand through all distribution channels, including 86 stores
Selection and implementation of a CRM system
Brand management of all brands in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Management of print and POS advertising media, including a catalog with a monthly circulation of more than 7 million copies
Oversight of all websites, eCommerce activities, social media activities, and digital marketing measures
Management of TV and radio campaigns
Developing sales cooperations (€23m in 2016)
Digitalization processes in sales and marketing

May 2005 - Dec 2015

10 years 8 months

Berlin, Germany

Managing Partner

Interactivelabs GmbH & Co.KG

Digital marketing and eCommerce optimization
Social media analytics and services
Social media customer service
Observation, analysis, and optimization of social media and networks on the Internet
Development, operation, and sales of analysis and observation software for social media
Digitalization of business processes
Cross-media strategy and development
Consultancy services and project management
Customers included notable corporations such as McKinsey & Company, Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Adobe, Samsung, and Hagebau
Collaboration with agency partners such as Razorfish, TribalDDB, DIGITAS, DDB Health, UPC, KETCHUM-PLEON, and DPA

Oct 2004 - Apr 2005

7 months

Augsburg, Germany

Head of New Media Division

Weltbild Verlags GmbH

Operative and strategic management of all online portals in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Member of the management team
Positioning and further development of the Weltbild.de shopping platform to become a leading internet portal in Germany
Efficiency enhancement for internal processes
Consistent development of the online platforms in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Oct 2001 - Sep 2004

3 years

Essen, Germany

CEO of Karstadt.de

Karstadt Warenhaus AG

Operative and strategic management of Karstadt.de and Karstadtsport.de portals
Expansion to 109 employees and annual sales revenue of around €145m in 2003
Reporting to holding CEO Peter Gerard and Chair Ralf Pohl
Development and positioning of shopping and information platforms to become leading internet portals
Integration of the eBusiness unit into holding structures
Establishing synergies with mail-order subsidiaries Quelle and Neckermann
Consolidation of IT and corporate structures
Development of strategies for FIFA World Cup 2006 marketing
Contribution to migration of Karstadt-Club to Happy Digits loyalty program
Development of strategic cooperations with major media and retail trade partners

Jun 2000 - Sep 2001

1 year 4 months

Hamburg, Germany

COO of Winegate Internet AG & CEO of Winegate New Media GmbH

Hawesko Holding AG

Responsible for all marketing and operative activities
Reporting to CFO and CEO
Directed a team of 25 employees at Winegate Internet AG and 7 employees at Winegate New Media GmbH
Managed B2B and B2C Sales Managers
Expanded website into profitable distribution channels in Germany and abroad
Developed eBusiness strategies for the holding
Initiated cooperation networks including major partnerships with Gruner & Jahr, Axel Springer Verlag, and Süddeutsche Zeitung
Integrated the Lufthansa Miles & More loyalty program into operations

Sep 1999 - May 2000

9 months

Hamburg, Germany

Head of eCommerce Division

Hawesko Holding AG

Development of the Winegate brand and its spin-off into Winegate Internet AG
Creation of Winegate New Media GmbH as an in-house agency for internet competency
Relaunch and platform development for brands such as Jacques’ Wein-Depot, CWD, and The Winecompany
Group integration of brands like Wein Wolf and Chateaux Classic for international reach

Jul 1997 - Aug 1999

2 years 2 months

New Media Project Manager and Marketing Consultant

Aengevelt Immobilien KG

Worked in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Moscow, and Shanghai
Developed customer support programs and analytics tools
Designed Internet and Intranet services
Created service CD-ROMs
Unified branch operations via CI, product interfaces, and offerings
Optimized workflows for greater efficiency

Jun 1996 - Jun 1997

1 year 1 month

Junior Marketing Manager

Aengevelt Immobilien KG

Work in Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Moscow
Focused on the interface between marketing, IT, and organization
Developed a realty database for online integration
Created the homepage for Aengevelt Group
Introduced new marketing and communication concepts
Managed a marketing budget of DM4m and an Internet budget of DM1m

Mar 1994 - May 1996

2 years 3 months

Trainee

Aengevelt Immobilien KG

Realty marketing of office and private realty
Trade fair planning and organization
Designing advertising and print media
Planning and opening new sites in Magdeburg, Frankfurt, and Bonn
Training staff and managers
Setting up in-house Intranet

Oct 1989 - Mar 1995

5 years 6 months

Degree in Industrial Engineering

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Majored in Marketing, Finance, Information Management, and Automotive Engineering

Apr 1989 - Sep 1989

6 months

Internship in Mechanical Engineering

Jan 1988 - Mar 1989

1 year 3 months

Hamburg, Germany

Basic Military Service

German Army

Jul 1987 - Dec 1987

6 months

Chicago, United States

High School Studies

Aug 1978 - Jun 1987

8 years 11 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

High School Diploma

Comenius Gymnasium

Summary

Many years of management experience as CEO/Chair eCommerce / digital business, digitalization, B2C and B2B marketing, general management, responsibility for sales revenues of up to €500m.