Tobias Künkler - Chief Data & Transformation Officer

Q: Where is Tobias based?

Tobias is based in Zürich, Switzerland and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Tobias speak?

Tobias speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Tobias have?

Tobias has at least 17 years of experience. During this time, Tobias has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 7 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 11 months . Note that Tobias may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Tobias's latest experience?

Tobias's most recent position is CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles at Hyght .

Q: What companies has Tobias worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Tobias has worked for Hyght , Novo Nordisk , Microsoft , Ipsen Pharma , and Accenture .

Q: Which industries is Tobias most experienced in?

Tobias is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Pharmaceutical , and Manufacturing . Tobias also has some experience in Healthcare and Information Technology (IT) .

Q: Which business areas is Tobias most experienced in?

Tobias is most experienced in business areas like Business Intelligence , Strategy and Planning , and Information Technology (IT) . Tobias also has some experience in Project Management , Finance , and Sales .

Q: Which industries has Tobias worked in recently?

Tobias has recently worked in industries like Pharmaceutical , Professional Services , and Healthcare .

Q: Which business areas has Tobias worked in recently?

Tobias has recently worked in business areas like Strategy and Planning , Information Technology (IT) , and Business Intelligence .

Recommended expert

Zürich, Switzerland

Experience

Mar 2023 - Present

3 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Hybrid

CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles

Hyght

Lead interim roles as Chief Data Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, orchestrating the design and execution of digital, data, and AI transformations within private equity and enterprise organizations
Design and implement data and digital strategies that align with organizational goals, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation across business units
Develop and implement target operating models (TOMs) to establish and restructure data, AI, and IT organizations, enhancing their alignment with business objectives
Define and operationalize enterprise data and AI governance frameworks that ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and promote best practices across the organization
Spearhead transformations for private equity–backed companies, ensuring operational practices align with strategic objectives to foster sustainable growth and deliver value creation
Formulate and execute comprehensive Value Creation Plans (VCPs) that identify growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiencies, and develop revenue enhancement strategies

Mar 2023 - Present

3 years

Copenhagen, Denmark

Hybrid

Head of Data Governance ad interim

Novo Nordisk

Facilitate the interim manager role as Head of Data Governance to lead the enterprise strategy and implementation
Establish and recruit a Global Data & AI Governance organization to anchor Data & AI Governance in key lines of business across the enterprise to support strategic objectives
Refine and operationalize the enterprise data governance and AI governance framework from pilot to scale
Drive the design of an enterprise data marketplace which caters to individual line of business needs and makes data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable)
Define and operationalize an AI governance framework in research and early development

Feb 2022 - Feb 2023

1 year 1 month

Zürich, Switzerland

Hybrid

Principal Digital Advisor & Commercial Lead Healthcare & Life Sciences EMEA

Microsoft

Led the Healthcare & Life Sciences strategy consulting portfolio in EMEA, defining the commercial strategy and monitoring engagements to ensure commercial success
Defined digital, data and IT strategies, from vision design to use case identification, solution design, and business case calculations for both private equity and enterprise clients
Directed business development activities and drove sales for large transformation deals with private equity–backed companies and enterprises, securing significant contracts
Drove change management activities with senior leadership (up to C-level) on enterprise level
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop tailored innovative AI-driven solutions
Established best practices for cloud adoption and AI integration within healthcare organizations, ensuring scalability and long-term sustainability of digital transformations

Jan 2021 - Dec 2021

1 year

Paris, France

Hybrid

VP Chief Data Officer (CDO) ad interim

Ipsen Pharma

Took over the interim manager role as Chief Data Officer for a global life sciences and pharma company, directly reporting to the CIO to detail and execute data and AI strategy
Established, defined, and led the “Data Value Office” function (ca. 20 FTEs) and implemented an enterprise operating model for data, AI, and analytics
Drove change management activities with senior leadership (up to C-level) on enterprise level
Developed and implemented an enterprise data governance framework for IDMP regulations and Customer 360° view, and facilitated key committees on enterprise level
Developed business cases for enterprise master data management (MDM) and data catalog

Mar 2020 - Dec 2020

10 months

Copenhagen, Denmark

Hybrid

VP Head of Data Office (CDO type) ad interim

Novo Nordisk

Took over the interim manager role as Head of Data for one of the largest life sciences and pharma companies, directly reporting to the CIO to detail and execute the initial data strategy
Established and defined the “Data Office” function, onboarded the permanent resource, and detailed the future organizational structure and roadmap
Drove change management activities with senior leadership on enterprise level
Defined a global data governance framework
Initiated the establishment of enterprise master data management and data catalog capabilities

Feb 2020 - Jan 2022

2 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Hybrid

AI Operating Model Lead DACH & Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer roles

Accenture

Led the AI Operating Model capability in the DACH region, overseeing the Analytics Strategy team in Switzerland, operations, and recruitment efforts to build a high-performing unit
Drove large-scale sales activities, leading the identification, proposal development, and presentation processes, resulting in significant revenue growth and new client relationships
Facilitated interim roles as Chief Data Officer (CDO) to detail and execute data and analytics transformations aligned to business strategies
Championed change management initiatives with senior leadership (up to C-level), driving enterprise-level transformations

Oct 2016 - Dec 2019

3 years 3 months

Munich, Germany

Hybrid

Customer Analytics Practice Co-Lead & Visual Analytics Practice Co-Lead

Accenture

Established and co-led the Customer Analytics Practice in the DACH region, successfully building a team of 10 professionals and co-led the Visual Analytics Practice of 25 people
Led global cross-functional project teams of up to 20 members, fostering collaboration and alignment to ensure project delivery met or exceeded client expectations
Delivered a range of analytics and customer data strategy projects for clients in diverse sectors, driving significant value through tailored insights and actionable recommendations
Supported several large-scale business development activities, leading to successful sales

Oct 2013 - Sep 2016

3 years

Munich, Germany

Hybrid

Corporate Performance Management Consultant

SDG Consulting

Played a pivotal role as the first employee in Munich, establishing and scaling the strategic location to a team of 10 professionals while driving growth
Led cross-functional project teams within complex matrix organizations, ensuring successful collaboration and alignment across various stakeholders to achieve project objectives
Designed, developed, and implemented integrated planning processes and solutions tailored to the unique needs of diverse clients, enhancing operational efficiency and performance management

Aug 2008 - Aug 2013

5 years 1 month

Munich, Germany

Hybrid

Inside Sales Controller & SAP BW Key User

Zumtobel

Led all sales controlling activities for the Southern German region, providing strategic insights that drove sales performance and informed decision-making
Served as the key user for SAP BW, training users and maximizing system adoption to enhance data reporting and analytics capabilities across the sales team
Established robust reporting and forecasting frameworks to support business development initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and market demands

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Professional Services (11 years), Pharmaceutical (6 years), Manufacturing (5 years), Healthcare (1 year), and Information Technology (1 year).

Professional Services

Pharmaceutical

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Information Technology

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Business Intelligence (16 years), Strategy (12 years), Information Technology (11 years), Project Management (8 years), Finance (5 years), and Sales (4 years).

Business Intelligence

Strategy

Information Technology

Project Management

Finance

Sales

Summary

For the past 19 years, I have gained extensive experience in the Data, AI & Analytics field, both as an industry professional and as an IT & Management consultant. I specialize in value creation within private equity environments while also working with enterprises to drive transformational change, enhance operational efficiencies, and foster innovation.

In my interim roles as Chief Data & Transformation Officer, I have played a key role in helping organizations, both in PE and enterprise settings, achieve their strategic objectives and develop new digital business models. My recent projects have focused on designing and implementing digital & data strategies, enterprise data & AI governance frameworks, and target operating models that establish a reliable data foundation and facilitate the implementation of scalable digital use cases.

I possess a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving change management initiatives at all levels, including engagement with C-level executives and board members, to ensure measurable impact, alignment with organizational goals, and continuous improvement.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Aug 2022 - Oct 2023

Quantic School of Business & Technology

Executive Master of Business Administration · Business Administration · United States

Mar 2012 - Mar 2016

FOM – University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor of Arts · Business Administration · Munich, Germany

Aug 2008 - Jul 2011

HANSE-Berufskolleg des Kreises Lippe

Industrial Clerk (IHK) · Lemgo, Germany

Profile

Created

January 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Tobias based?

Tobias is based in Zürich, Switzerland and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Tobias speak?

Tobias speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Tobias have?

Tobias has at least 17 years of experience. During this time, Tobias has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 7 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 11 months. Note that Tobias may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Tobias be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Tobias would be well-suited for roles such as: CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles, Head of Data Governance ad interim, Principal Digital Advisor & Commercial Lead Healthcare & Life Sciences EMEA.

What is Tobias's latest experience?

Tobias's most recent position is CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles at Hyght.

What companies has Tobias worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Tobias has worked for Hyght, Novo Nordisk, Microsoft, Ipsen Pharma, and Accenture.

Which industries is Tobias most experienced in?

Tobias is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Pharmaceutical, and Manufacturing. Tobias also has some experience in Healthcare and Information Technology (IT).

Which business areas is Tobias most experienced in?

Tobias is most experienced in business areas like Business Intelligence, Strategy and Planning, and Information Technology (IT). Tobias also has some experience in Project Management, Finance, and Sales.

Which industries has Tobias worked in recently?

Tobias has recently worked in industries like Pharmaceutical, Professional Services, and Healthcare.

Which business areas has Tobias worked in recently?

Tobias has recently worked in business areas like Strategy and Planning, Information Technology (IT), and Business Intelligence.

What is Tobias's education?

Tobias holds a Master in Business Administration from Quantic School of Business & Technology and a Bachelor in Business Administration from FOM – University of Applied Sciences.

What is the availability of Tobias?

Tobias is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Tobias?

Tobias's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.