Interim Executive · Business Transformation · Digital & AI
Interim executive for business transformation and digital & AI execution in mid-sized companies.
C-level responsibility for a fixed term, for companies that have to deliver change, not just plan it.
Create clarity
Make complex connections understandable so people can make better decisions.
- years at executive level
- 20+
- transformation mandates
- 15+
- people led
- 150+
- IT cost (Telelift, as CIO)
- −28%
- time to market (agile)
- −35%
- C-level interim
- BAFA ID 193982
- INQA coach (BMAS)
Management practice built on agile leadership, agile project management, communication and self-management. Combined with agile coaching, structured change management and transformation work that reaches the shop floor.
Also bookable through providers: freelancermap · freelance.de · Randstad Professionals · Malt
„Complex problems are not solved by more activity. They are solved by clarity, structure and decisions someone is willing to make.“
Digital twin
Questions about mandates, methods and availability.
CV and certificates
All documents as PDF.
Executive summary
Reduce complexity. Deliver an effect.
Complexity does not appear overnight, it grows quietly. The company gets bigger, daily business gets more complicated, and at some point everything is harder even though it still runs. That is where I start.
I reduce complexity inside organisations: settle the direction, put structure into processes, carry change through to a measurable result. As an interim manager at C-level I work along my CORE+ framework. Over 20 years I have carried more than 15 transformation mandates in mid-sized companies.
My principle: think more clearly rather than work more. Anyone who only works in the business instead of on it stays busy without moving forward. Instead of long concept papers I deliver structure that holds up in daily business. The effect shows in quarters, not years.
- years at executive level
- 20+years at executive level
- transformation mandates
- 15+transformation mandates
- people led
- 150+people led
- board member & owner
- 13 yboard member & owner
AI leadership
AI not only certified. Built.
30 AI certificates cover the method. The proof runs on this page: a self-built digital twin answers questions about the profile and past mandates and assesses the fit for job descriptions.
AI certificates
including Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, LinkedIn. Full list under skills.
The digital twin on this site
A RAG-based assistant with a knowledge base covering track record, certificates and working style. It reads pasted job descriptions and returns a fit assessment.
herrlichAI
An own AI platform for consulting work: content pipeline, CRM integration and automated workflows, all in productive use.
AI inside a mandate
Microsoft Dynamics 365 with AI features in the ERP rollout, Power BI for data-backed steering, process automation along the CORE+ framework.
The method
Complexity becomes leverage.
Complexity is not shrunk — it is structured, focused and translated into impact.
Twelve topics — from strategy and data to AI — settle into three levers: focus, system and leverage. Complexity does not disappear; it becomes usable.
Complexity
Strategy, data, technology, people — everything is connected, nothing is prioritised.
Signal
Patterns emerge: what belongs together finds together, the unimportant recedes.
Structure
Twelve topics become three levers — named, ordered, addressable.
Leverage
Focus, system and levers interlock and work towards one shared goal.
Complexity does not disappear. It becomes usable.
Complexity does not disappear. It becomes usable.
What clients say
48 reviews, 100 % would recommend.
Overall score 4.95 of 5
Overall score across all reviews
Category scores
- 4.95Quality
- 4.95Benefit
- 4.91Services
- 4.95Delivery
- 4.99Advice
- 4.99Client service
- 4.92Value for money
Top strengths
Verified reviews on ProvenExpert.
As of: 19/07/2026
Client quotes
„As a business transformation consultant, Steffen Herr stands out for how precisely he analyses complex IT and process landscapes and finds where lasting improvement is possible. He combines deep technical understanding with a strategic view of the business processes.“
Florian V.
Initial advisory · 15/12/2025
„I felt understood and well informed at every point. Mr Herr was always reachable, including outside the agreed times, available for questions, and quick and straightforward when it came to putting things into practice.“
Carola L.
Advisory mandate · 29/07/2025
„What I want to highlight is his open and honest communication. […] Mr Herr had a talent for asking exactly the right questions and giving constructive feedback that always moved me a step forward.“
B.
Startup coaching · 26/02/2026
„He saw very quickly what the strengths and weaknesses of the business idea were and which topics we had to work on. […] He went far beyond what I expected from the coaching.“
Jonas H.
Founder coaching · 04/11/2024
„What I particularly liked was that Mr Herr always looked for a solution and was very committed. Value for money was excellent and the client service was friendly, reliable and genuinely good throughout.“
Vitali H.
Business project · 03/03/2026
„On every point and every topic, Mr Herr is worth recommending. I have rarely met a consultant this competent. I will definitely work with him again and recommend him at any time.“
Daniel S.
Advisory mandate · 16/06/2025
Quotes translated from German; the originals are on the ProvenExpert profile.
All reviews on the ProvenExpert profile.
Services
Five areas of expertise. One goal.
Five areas of expertise, one goal: make your company fit for what comes next.
Business Transformation Expert
ADKAR, Kotter's eight steps, Lewin and systemic approaches. Steffen Herr carries complex transformations from stakeholder analysis through to new ways of working that stick.
- ADKAR model & Prosci change management
- Kotter's eight steps for large transformations
- Stakeholder mapping and dealing with resistance
- Change communication at every level
- Cultural change and digital adoption
- Digital strategy · new work · AI integration
Agile leadershipChange managementAgile project managementDigitalisationData & Process Expert
A process map, standards and metrics as the ground every change stands on. Process management, quality management and data protection and security specialist (Chamber of Commerce), plus Lean consultant and Six Sigma White Belt.
- Process management specialist (Chamber of Commerce)
- Quality management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), 2026
- Data protection and security specialist (Chamber of Commerce), 2026
- Lean consultant (Lean Prinzip) and Six Sigma White Belt
Process managementQuality managementLean managementDigital Transformation & AI Expert
Digitalisation and AI introduced along the way work actually runs, not beside it. As interim CIO at Telelift GmbH he built IT strategy and governance and led the Microsoft Dynamics 365 rollout.
- IT strategy and digitalisation roadmap (interim CIO, Telelift GmbH)
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP rollout
- Choosing AI use cases and embedding them in daily work
- Automated workflows in sales and communication
DigitalisationIT strategyAI adoptionDigital Sales Expert
Growth strategy and go-to-market work for B2B mid-market companies. Customer journey architecture, pipeline design and sales scaling steered on data.
- Business Development Manager (certificate)
- Digital Sales Expert (German Chamber of Commerce)
- Growth strategy & market expansion
- Sales pipeline and CRM architecture
CommunicationSelling and negotiationContent marketingOrganization & Leadership Expert
Change only holds when people can carry it. Executive coaching, certified mediation (BlauRaum Institut) and INQA coach, eligible under the German BMAS funding guideline. Building psychological safety and trust that holds.
- 60+ executive coachings (managing directors, board members)
- Clarifying roles, responsibilities and collaboration
- New work and modern working models in mid-sized companies
- Certified mediator (BlauRaum Institut)
Agile leadershipNew workOrganisational development
Role matrix
Which mandates does this profile fit?
Five possible mandate roles, each with the matching expertise and the evidence behind it.
| Role / mandate | Typical situation | Relevant expertise | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim CIO / digital lead | The IT landscape, the systems and digitalisation need direction and an owner. | Digital Transformation & AI, Data & Process | Interim CIO at Telelift GmbH, Microsoft Dynamics 365 rollout, IT strategy and governance, herrlichAI as his own AI platform |
| Transformation lead | Change has been decided, but structure and delivery power are missing. | Business Transformation, Organization & Leadership | Transformation mandates in mid-sized companies, CORE+ framework, change management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), 13 years on the board |
| Data & process consultant | How work runs, how quality is held and what decisions rest on all need to get clearer. | Data & Process | Process management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), quality management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), data protection and security specialist (Chamber of Commerce), Lean consultant, Six Sigma White Belt, reporting with Power BI |
| Digital sales / CRM lead | Sales, pipeline and digital channels need a system instead of single moves. | Digital Sales | Digital Sales Expert (Chamber of Commerce), Business Development Manager, CRM and pipeline build-up, customer journey management (Chamber of Commerce) |
| Organization & leadership lead | Teams, roles and leadership have to be able to carry the change. | Organization & Leadership | Executive coaching, certified mediator (BlauRaum Institut), INQA coach under the BMAS guideline, agile leadership specialist (Chamber of Commerce) |
Interim CIO / digital lead
- Typical situation
- The IT landscape, the systems and digitalisation need direction and an owner.
- Relevant expertise
- Digital Transformation & AI, Data & Process
- Evidence
- Interim CIO at Telelift GmbH, Microsoft Dynamics 365 rollout, IT strategy and governance, herrlichAI as his own AI platform
Transformation lead
- Typical situation
- Change has been decided, but structure and delivery power are missing.
- Relevant expertise
- Business Transformation, Organization & Leadership
- Evidence
- Transformation mandates in mid-sized companies, CORE+ framework, change management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), 13 years on the board
Data & process consultant
- Typical situation
- How work runs, how quality is held and what decisions rest on all need to get clearer.
- Relevant expertise
- Data & Process
- Evidence
- Process management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), quality management specialist (Chamber of Commerce), data protection and security specialist (Chamber of Commerce), Lean consultant, Six Sigma White Belt, reporting with Power BI
Digital sales / CRM lead
- Typical situation
- Sales, pipeline and digital channels need a system instead of single moves.
- Relevant expertise
- Digital Sales
- Evidence
- Digital Sales Expert (Chamber of Commerce), Business Development Manager, CRM and pipeline build-up, customer journey management (Chamber of Commerce)
Organization & leadership lead
- Typical situation
- Teams, roles and leadership have to be able to carry the change.
- Relevant expertise
- Organization & Leadership
- Evidence
- Executive coaching, certified mediator (BlauRaum Institut), INQA coach under the BMAS guideline, agile leadership specialist (Chamber of Commerce)
Where a role only fits in part, that belongs on the table in the first call. The assistant on this page also takes a full job description and gives a fit assessment.
For recruiters & companies
Availability, working model and terms: settled up front.
Availability: 3–5 days a week
Onsite, hybrid or remote. Mandate enquiries answered within 24 hours.
Common questions before the mandate is defined
Documents
- CV (English)PDF · 365 KB
- core+ Brochure (English)PDF · 4.6 MB
- CV (German)PDF · 367 KB
- core+ brochure (German)PDF · 4.6 MB
Bookable through providers
Specialisations
- Organizational Transformation & Governance
- Interim & Transition Management
- Business & Digital Transformation
- Strategy-to-Execution
- Leadership & Change Management
- Process Optimization & Lean Management
- Program & Operational Management
- AI Strategy & Adoption
- IT Crisis Management & Project Rescue
Track record
20+ years of executive experience.
Reorientation · 2020–2022
Transformation & interim · 2022–ongoing
Selected projects and references
Filter by focus
A mandate to fill? An answer within 24 hours.
Availability, terms and fit settled up front. Directly, without detours.
Skills
Skills & 111 credentials.
20 years of practice in business transformation, change management and interim management, backed by 111 credentials. Method where it helps, pragmatism where it counts.
Areas of expertise
- 95 %Business transformation
- 92 %Change management
- 92 %Interim management
- 90 %Agile & Scrum
- 89 %Leadership & coaching
- 88 %Digital transformation
- 87 %Strategy & OKR
- 85 %Lean management
Skill profile
- Business transformation95 %
- Change management92 %
- Interim management92 %
- Agile & Scrum90 %
- Leadership & coaching89 %
- Digital transformation88 %
- Strategy & OKR87 %
- Lean management85 %
- Business transformation 95 %
- Change management 92 %
- Interim management 92 %
- Agile & Scrum 90 %
- Leadership & coaching 89 %
- Digital transformation 88 %
- Strategy & OKR 87 %
- Lean management 85 %
Credentials by category
Verified badges
Professional Scrum Master IScrum.org
Professional Scrum Master IIScrum.org
Professional Scrum with Kanban IScrum.org
Professional Scrum Master, AI EssentialsScrum.org
Six Sigma White BeltC.S.S.C.
Business Transformation ExpertIHK
New Work ExpertIHK
Digital Sales ExpertIHK
Data & Process ExpertIHK
Digital Transformation & AI ExpertIHK
Business transformation & leadership
Interim management & C-level ad interim
Six types of mandate, onboarding in six steps, contract models, sectors and outcome figures on a page of their own.
Each category opens the full list of its credentials.
Details on any single credential? Ask the digital twin.
About
Clarity. Structure. Focus. Impact.
I reduce complexity inside organisations. I settle the direction, put structure into processes and carry change through to a measurable result. Advisory work, coaching and hands-on delivery run together, not in sequence.
I lead as an interim manager at C-level and work along my working logic CORE+: first simplify, then amplify what works, and only then transform. Over 20 years I have carried more than 15 transformation mandates in mid-sized companies.
My topics run from strategy and OKR through change leadership to organisational development. Instead of long concept papers I deliver structure that holds up in daily business, from board reporting down to the line.
On the operational side I rely on lean management and slim digital processes: CRM rollouts, data-backed workflows, continuous improvement. The effect shows in quarters, not years.
“I lead decisively, in a structured way, and I am measured on results. I take operational responsibility as CIO, COO or board member for a fixed term and deliver in quarters rather than years. My style: clarity before consensus, structure as an accelerator, delivery before activity.”
Haltung
I accept complexity, but I do not accept it as an excuse for a lack of clarity. That conviction did not come from theory. It came from years at the intersection of business, technology and people. Again and again I saw that complexity is not the real problem. The real problem is missing clarity. That is where my work starts.
Conviction
I believe complex problems are not solved by more activity but by clarity, structure and focus on the decisive levers. Only then does impact follow. What drives me is putting organisations and people in a position to take responsibility, find their bearings and use what they are capable of.
Sprachen
- German · Native speaker
- English · Full professional proficiency
Values & convictions
- Clarity before activityUnderstand first, then act. A precise diagnosis is where any effective change begins, not treating symptoms.
- Structure as reliefClear structures, roles and decision rules make an organisation able to act. Not a bureaucratic instrument, a lever for speed.
- People at the centreLasting transformation happens with people, not against them. Psychological safety and trust are strategic resources.
- Measurable effectEvery intervention is measured by results, not by activity. Impact shows whether it works.
- Method that holdsStrategy-to-execution, lean, OKR and change frameworks from 20 years of practice. Applied to the situation, never dogmatically.
Denkweise
Thinking out of the box
Spotting solution spaces others miss and working deliberately outside the established pattern.
Analytical thinking
Working through complex material in a structured way, recognising patterns and drawing conclusions that hold.
Problem solving
Addressing causes instead of symptoms. Building answers that last and transfer to the next case.
Creativity
Connecting concepts that look unrelated into a new approach, in advisory work as much as in delivery.
CORE+ framework, our own method
Most growing companies are short of three things: clarity, structure and focus. More work does not fix that, clearer thinking does. The modular CORE+ system is a self-developed method for end-to-end company transformation, from diagnosis to delivery at scale in mid-sized companies. It starts with the why: people do not buy products, they buy convictions.
Personality & working style
ENTJ, the Commander
Type description
A natural leader with a strategic mind: seeing the whole picture, identifying long-term goals and building efficient plans to reach them. Creating order out of chaos and turning abstract ideas into concrete results.
16personalities profile
Five axes, each with an explanation
Introverted
Observant
Feeling
Prospecting
Turbulent
How I work: clear, focused, effective
- Clear leadershipFull of energy where responsibility is clear and goals are defined. Leading is the natural setting.
- Pace under pressureIn settings with constant decisions and real problems, he hits his stride.
- Constructive competitionCompetition as a motivator to keep delivering at the top of the range.
- Freedom to decideBest work comes with autonomous decisions and without unnecessary supervision. Trust in his own judgement.
- Goal orientationClear, measurable goals as the basis. They keep the focus and the motivation over long stretches.
- Practical efficiencyAt home in a setting where efficiency and clear processes come first.
How I work
Depending on the context and the task I work as a consultant, coach, agile coach, project lead or project manager, often in complex IT and transformation programmes, or as an interim manager.
CORE+ stays the systemic frame throughout. The role adjusts to the effect that is needed.
Strengths
Clarity in communication
Getting ideas across directly and with effect. The team stays focused on the goal.
Priorities & resources
Spotting priorities quickly, putting resources where they count, delivering measurable results.
Decisions that hold
Making important decisions quickly and confidently. Avoiding drift, holding the course.
Long view
Keeping long-term consequences in sight, spotting opportunities and obstacles early.
What I work on
Delegating
Handing over responsibility does not come easily. Working against that is part of the working style.
Patience with routine
Repetitive detail work tests the patience. Structure and automation help.
The emotional side
A focus on measurable results needs a deliberate eye on what the team needs.
„Clarity in thinking. Precision in execution.“
Strategic advice, organisational development and leadership work, paired with a digital mindset. Part of the core+ framework: clear analysis, targeted development, delivery that works in mid-sized companies.
- Management advice, strategy design and change leadership; goal systems such as OKR and the balanced scorecard
- Operational excellence: lean management, quality management and QMS, continuous improvement, process optimisation, digital workflows that scale
- Modern technology, CRM systems and data-driven processes: less complexity, more efficiency
- Business development, innovation, digital marketing and communication
Contact
A first call, free and without obligation.
Strategy session
Book the first call
Mandate enquiries answered within 24 hours. First call usually within 48 hours. Discovery starts one to two weeks after the mandate is agreed.
74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen
Working model
3–5 days a week, onsite, hybrid or remote.
- How soon are you available?
- Availability depends on the project and is agreed individually. Mandate enquiries answered within 24 hours. First call usually within 48 hours. Discovery starts one to two weeks after the mandate is agreed.
- Onsite, hybrid or remote?
- All three work. CIO and COO mandates usually need two to three onsite days a week. Coaching and advisory run mostly hybrid or remote.
- Day rate and terms?
- Market day rates for C-level interim mandates. The range depends on scope, sector, region and how full the year already is. Terms are agreed individually when the mandate is defined.
Also bookable through providers:
Last updated: 04/10/2026