Other Projects

General Manager & Commercial Manager, Tourism

Djoser Travel has offered long-distance travel through direct sales since 1993 – a mix of group, study and individual trips. Mid-sized group tour operator with revenue of approximately €10–20 million.

• As General Manager (2011–2021), full responsibility for company development, product development, marketing (online/offline), finance, IT, HR and sales, with staff responsibility for 20–25 employees
• Migrated the entire local IT and telecommunications infrastructure to the group's cloud system (4 months) – reduced support costs and significantly increased employee satisfaction
• As coordinator and mediator (de facto managing director), successfully accompanied an M&A company sale (8 months)
• Shifted the predominantly offline marketing strategy to a balanced offline/online mix including Google Ads, social media and affiliate marketing – significant increase in website traffic and customer inquiries while reducing total costs
• Digitized the previously mail-based, cross-departmental customer communication
• International purchasing of tourism services from more than 60 agencies worldwide including price calculation and currency-risk hedging (notably US dollar) – achieved above-average prices with additional currency gains
• Adapted and further developed the proprietary booking/CRM software (originally developed in the Netherlands) for the German market, including an interface to the Datev accounting system (budget approx. €400k)

IT Specialist · IT Manager/Consultant · Director Operations and Development

Messe Frankfurt is the largest German trade fair company, with a global network of 28 subsidiaries and five branch offices, over 1,500 employees and approximately €738 million in revenue (2019).

• IT Specialist in the Publishing Services department (2004–2005): legally compliant redesign of the e-Fair mass-mail system per European and US regulations, technical concept development of an online portal including business plan, server design and a server relocation
• IT Manager/Consultant for Product and System Development (2007–2009): technical oversight of all exhibitor and visitor-service IT projects, development of new IT products (navigation system, mobile ticketing), sub-project lead for global visitor data management
• Director Operations and Development at Productpilot GmbH, a 100% Messe Frankfurt subsidiary (2005–2007): built and technically developed the B2B portal productpilot.com including business model and budget responsibility, international rollout including Greater China
• Developed a digital hall-navigation system based on WLAN triangulation (instead of GPS, which cannot resolve differences in floor height), built in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute

Managing Director · Technical Manager/Authorized Signatory · Network Administrator

Internet service provider.

• As Managing Director (2000–2002), responsible for company strategy, contract negotiations, product development and marketing decisions, with staff responsibility for 15 employees and a budget of approx. €4 million p.a.
• As Technical Manager/Authorized Signatory (1997–2000), built network structures (WAN/LAN, Wireless LAN, Cisco/Ascend/Bintec routers) and security structures (intrusion detection, firewalls), with staff responsibility for 10 employees and a budget of approx. €2 million p.a.
• Built and networked the first IP-based Cisco telephone installation in Europe, authorized by Cisco Europe
• Developed and planned B2B/B2C shop solutions, and led project management for IP and telephony accounting software (in cooperation with Deutsche Telekom and Telesens AG)
• Full responsibility for the in-house data centre including hardware/software procurement

External Consultant

IT systems integrator.

• Presented on networks and network security in workshops
• Supported management in building a new sales structure for the company