A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• Combined Business and Engineering Degree
• 33 years of top management consulting (Roland Berger, UBM, Mercer/Oliver Wyman, CSMG Adventis, Arthur D. Little)
• Focus on salses & marketing as well as operational issues as well as (wireless) telecommunications and high-tech industries

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

As the CEO and one of the Co-Founders of the mobileVision Group I’m passionate about building the firm and creating a unique model how innovations in telecoms and adjacent markets can really take-off. I’m managing several major accounts myself and focus on New Business Development & Marketing.

People in the mobileVision Expert Network aren’t like those in other firms: We are hands-on, deeply involved in client work, running assignments ourselves and bringing disruptive ideas and inspiration to our clients and our team alike.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

It’s all been about helping customers to grow profitable. Over the last 30+ years I have worked for leading top management consulting firms like Oliver Wyman, Adventis and Arthur D. Little (some of them I even helped to build from scratch). Since 1995 almost exclusively in and around the telecoms sector, particularly in wireless.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

All sorts of questions ranging from: ”What is the most promising business model for this new opportunity?”, “Can you help to build a new ecosystem for this innovation?”, “How can I find the best team to get this done?” etc. The cool thing, it’s mostly all about the future and how to get it managed by bringing ideas, people and money together.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

My other great passion belongs to motor sport and historic cars – working deep in the engine compartment and getting the best out of it is fascinating. Beyond that I’m a passionate skier and fisher man. And of course enjoying the wonderful live that my hometown Munich has to offer.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

Clearly the invention of the Internet as it brought together formerly disconnected networks, people and even societies. It has boosted our standard of living significantly, however also our capacity for distraction, procrastination, extended inquiries into trivia. Innovation is the constant of our lives – most interesting questions for me: Where are good ideas come from? How do they catch on? How to turn them into reality?

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• Study of computer science at Technical University Karlsruhe
• Industry positions with i2, IBM and Daimler Benz IT
• 25 years in consulting with Coopers & Lybrand and Booz & Company, thereof 12 years Partner in Booz’ CMT practice; Technology leader Europe
• Multi year supervisory board member of MTS and Sitronics, Russia’s largest telecom and HighTech corporations
• Emphasis on Growth, New Market Entry, Innovation in TIMES markets

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

All my clients innovate strongly, yet they struggle with the dynamics, especially in growing still small new ideas within the big corporation. This is where we from mobileVision engage to boost an idea to market success. There is no better reward then seeing visions come true.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Throughout my career as an advisor, manager and board member in the TIMES sector I have seen the challenges to get innovation right, to screen for the top new products and services and to align team and organisation for a rapid and successfull design and launch. I have been engaged in the ideation, the capability set-up and the day-to-day doing to get the job done. There are many lessons learned and known failure patterns to avoid. This know how, combined with deep industry insights and a clear understanding of the perspective of senior management and stakeholders allows me to advise and lead new endeavours. So I have done for video-phones, 2G…5G solutions, IP-PBXs, telco grade platforms, mobile financial applications, IoT, Data services, aftermarket services, mobile apps, setting up corporate incubators and many more.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

Well, I typically chime in when guidance and contribution to the innovation process is needed, e.g. for diagnosing reasons for slow time-to-market or for enhancing the entire solution go-to-market approach; Executives usually approach me with questions around ensuring success, risk mitigation, people requirements, organizational roadblocks and economic impact.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

My passion beyond work centers around family, sports, international travel and music. As everybody I constantly struggle with combining all these. But you can ski in fresh powder with your kids in the Austrian Alps and wear a headset (not recommended though)….

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

Innovators like Einstein and Moore have laid the ground for what we have and what will come. The biggest innovations, however, still are to come and will enable that rare resources on our planet can be maintained and global pollution will be reduced. In today’s world my personal favorites are tablets, wearables (to improve my golf swing) and …. sports cars!

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• CSO of web.de, CEO United Internet Media, CMO 1&1 Internet AG
• Executive positions at SPEA Software AG, Silicon Graphics, DMS
• Board member of the Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW e.V.) for over 8 years, most recently as president until 2015
• 25 years of management & leadership experience
• Study of Economics and Engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• Focus on FMCG, Telecoms and Technology

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

I am passionate in combining marketing and technology into compelling offers, it especially thrills me to invent new businesses or support starting ideas and make sure that exciting propositions get into the market

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Throughout my career I have been in Marketing positions for technological frontrunners (such as CMO 1&1), setting and translating Strategy into Propositions and creating marketing and sales campaigns before and after launch which have real impact. Under my supervision we developed and introduced the first targeting system worldwide in Karlsruhe that even today still counts among the best systems on the market. I am specially focussing on monetization strategies of digital products/services. I support new ventures:recently Exarings’s Waipu.tv where I helped to start, finance and build-up the unique model of an entertainment platform with its own exclusive fibre backbone.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

Most people arrive with questions and support needs for acceleration of their idea and new businesses. I add my competencies, know-how, network and access into the European TIMES industry

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

Ideally I can combine being with my family and enjoying sports like skiing and golf. In quiet times I enjoy very much managing the inventory of my red wine cellar (especially the clearance part).

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

Obviously the arrival of smart phones and apps have changed everything. Needless to say, IP-video and VR excite me a lot and we will see tons of new businesses and applications on the basis of this

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• MBA in Business Administration
• 20 years of experience in top management consulting (Arthur D. Little), M&A advisory and Operations (T-Mobile)
• Focused on strategy and commercial/growth operations, infrastructure economics, transactions and deal-making in telecommunications & other high-tech sectors
• Advised dozens of leading global Telecoms and Private Equity funds throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Americas
• Emphasis on Growth, New Market Entry, Innovation in TIMES markets

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

A lot of organizations put great strategies together but they don’t follow through. Executives are bombarded with best-selling ideas and best practices for achieving competitive advantage, but many of these ideas and practices contradict each other. Bringing in my experience in strategy, commercial and network operations and venture building, I contribute within our group to help our clients seize and execute their opportunities.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

20 years of experience in managing complex projects and building businesses in multicultural environments across Western and Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Americas. Development of numerous corporate and business line strategies and commercial operations in both B2C and B2B environments, M&A and pre- and post-transaction advisory in multi-billion telecom deals. Launched and supported multiple startups across industries (tech, media, retail and consumer goods, manufacturing, hospitality), topics ranging from business model and value proposition development to go-to-market, organization, CVM, digitalization, partnering, rebranding and many other.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

The questions I typically get are around the business model, valuation and monetisation: “How do I best get my product/idea to the market?”, “What is the right cost/price for this asset/venture?”, “Will the venture be successful?”, “Which are the right partners I need to engage with?”, “Can you help to structure the ecosystem around this?”.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

I am a passionate sportsman, always struggling to find enough time to pursue all my sports interests, from my first love basketball to surfing, snowboarding, sailing and many other. Beyond that I am a foodie, greatly enjoying the creativity and passion in handmaking.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

If I would need to pick one, it is the internet and the global collaboration, collective intelligence it enabled. Process of innovation is what intrigues me, creation of space for ideas to occur and be refined, carrying out of new combinations, juggling and nurturing different ideas, and the moment when an idea whose time has come manifests into existence.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• MBA and Doctor of Law, Harvard University; Telecom Engineering U.C. Berkeley
• 35 years experience as an attorney and banker in New York (Skadden Arps, LF Rothschild), and consultant and CEO in Silicon Valley (Arthur D. Little and several startups)
• Focus on strategy, financings and deal-making in mobile, telecom, Internet and other high-tech sectors

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

I provide a banker’s perspective and the nuts-and-bolts of Corporate Venturing to MobileVision. These days innovation is crucial to remaining competitive, yet it often takes place outside of large corporations in startups around the world. It is important for mobileVision’s clients to participate in Funding & Transactions to gain access to important innovations, and I bring that capability. Consulting and banking thoughtfully combined is a powerful tool for creating value.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

My wife and I enjoy travel, and we have been to most parts of the world. Many of our trips involve scuba diving. When not traveling, I enjoy going to the gym, which is physically demanding, but mentally relaxing. The relaxation allows good ideas to percolate.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

No doubt the smartphone because it connects me to nearly all the knowledge and all the people in the world in a device that sits in my pocket. It’s an incredible development that will reorder human lives. My favorite ancient innovation is the library. Of course it rests on other important innovations like speech and writing, but someone thought to systematically catalog knowledge and make it available to others as a foundation from which to build. It’s an innovation at the base of all other innovations.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Law, investment banking, startup CEO, and scuba diving.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

Because I’ve been trained and have experience in a variety of areas including law, consulting, banking, economics, etc., people come to me with their more complex business problems that simultaneously touch on many of those areas.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau and BA Economics from Dartmouth College
• 25+ years in management consulting with focus on technology and telecommunications; leadership positions at Booz&Co., DiamondCluster, Mercer and Oliver Wyman
• Expert in Digital Business Building, Focus on Digital Strategy and Digital Transformation
• Multi-year experience as interim manager on executive level in telecoms and technology with focus on organizational transformation

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

Digital creates enormous opportunities and challenges for our clients.

Pursuing and realizing the right digital strategy can enable our clients to transform their business and operations models, build new ecosystem platforms, open new revenue streams and create new forms of customer engagement. Clients can literally leapfrog their competition and change their competitive playing field.

On the other hand, the failure to understand and exploit digital dynamics can quickly undermine established positions and businesses.

Bringing in my experience in digital transformation, my role is to bring together the expertise and solutions within our group to help our clients seize their digital opportunities.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Throughout my 25+ years career as a management consultant and interim manager I have focused on technology and telecommunications. The pace of change has accelerated throughout this time in line with exponential growth in underlying technologies such as computing, storage and communications.

Therefore, digital has become a central issue for clients across a broad set of industries. I have had the opportunity to consult with clients in sectors such as telecoms, utilities, financial services, transportation, retail, healthcare and industry on their digital strategy and transformation.

As part of this work I have launched new digital businesses, designed and prototyped new digital services and business models, implemented new digital operations models and processes and defined holistic digital strategies with my clients.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

The starting positions of our clients regarding digital differ significantly. Some of our clients are looking to define their digital strategy, some are looking to detail and design their new digital services and business models, yet others are looking to prototype and launch their digital solutions and build their digital businesses. Some are looking to digitize their operations and process models. And others are already in a relaunch model after digital initiatives have failed to be realized or deliver the expected impact on their business.

In all these cases, we can put together the right experiences, competencies and solutions to support our clients, bringing together a rich network of consulting, management and technology experts.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

I greatly enjoy running and hiking. Running the Munich half-marathon through the “Englische Garten” or hiking through the “Münchner Hausberge” are always highlights for me.

For the mind, I am fascinated by philosophy from Buddhism to German and French existentialism.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

There is a wonderful Chinese proverb “May you live in interesting times”. We are indeed living in very interesting times! So rather, than one favorite innovation, I believe the rapid innovation that we experience around us, is exciting.

Exciting both in the opportunities that are created in terms of such as new experiences, vast information, social exchange, greater productivity, cleaner energy, better health and deeper intelligence.

But also giving rise to significant concerns and risks. Potential disruption and displacement on a societal, organizational and individual level are challenges that go hand-in-hand with the opportunities that are created.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• International Business at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien and Handelshögskolan Stockholm
• Industry positions with IBM and in the digital media and marketing field
• 10 years in consulting with Roland Berger and in boutique innovation consultancies
• 10 years in consulting with Roland Berger and in boutique innovation consultancies
• Emphasis on early-stage innovations, venturing and innovation ecosystem development

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

Corporate intrapreneurs and first-time founders alike typically perceive the first months or year of achieving product-market fit and getting a business off the ground as one of the most daunting and challenging experiences of their careers. This is where we support through hands-on guidance and interim management, usually with a robust ‘dual mandate’ by both the founders and their corporate sponsors or lead investors.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Beyond my hands-on work with dozens of innovators and founding teams across geographies and cultures, my experience on the investment side (venture capital, corporate venturing and tech M&A) often helps our clients to see opportunities clearer. With our support, they develop a new take on balancing risks and potential rewards in the technology incubation game, and establish new innovation management processes and policies. Our innovation ecosystem development expertise ranges from defining and implementing employee equity participation models at large corporations to designing and executing governmental or donor-backed entrepreneurship promotion and venture capital readiness programs in transition and post-conflict economies.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

While there might be a number of reasons, my favorite moments arise when clients approach me in search of an unconventional view. Whether it is a long-term investment or ‘just’ a draft press release, I enjoy challenging concepts (and myself) by looking at it through different — and sometimes entirely new — lenses. I sense that people appreciate the outcomes of such ‘thought exercises’ as much as they value my ‘hands-on’ mindset that enables me to actually ‘walk those thoughts’, including the more unconventional ones.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

Luckily, one of my passions resides on that sometimes fuzzy borderline between ‘inside and outside work’: Exploring new places and cultures. I have been fortunate enough to have had the chance to live and work on three continents and work closely with people from — and emerge myself into — a large variety of national, regional and corporate cultures. I continue to seek such opportunities as I perceive them as the quintessential source of continuous learning — about myself and others, the way we interact and ultimately about what ‘makes the world go round’. Part of this learning journey takes place at the very center of my life, as I am most passionate about observing and aiding my Russo-German daughter grow up in our home town of Vienna, Austria.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

When it comes to innovation, I truly get passionate about anything that has the potential to have a meaningful impact on sustainability. While wind turbines and even photovoltaic panels have been around for a pretty long time and even as beef substitutes are becoming fashionable on Wall Street and possibly also on Main Street, it is certain beyond any reasonable doubt that we still need so many more innovations — whether technological, commercial or regulatory in nature — to keep this planet inhabitable and ensure that it will be home to a peaceful global society worth living in.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• Business and Data Science Degree (KU Eichstätt-Ingostadt / Tongji University Shanghai)
• Top management consulting at Roland Berger with focus on corporate restructuring and digital
• Spearheaded (corporate) innovation by managing large incubation and acceleration engagements and even did it myself: successfully launched and scaled an Insurtech startup.

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

I love innovation. But as eye-opening, fascinating, brutal, smart, transformative and challenging it can be, it takes drive and experience to bring innovation to life. This is what keeps me busy at day and awake at night – and I love it.
Currently, I am deep-diving into Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies. Hit me up to know what I bring back to the shore!

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Professionally trained in strategy, venture building, building and advising corporate accelerators, Financial analysis and modelling. In charge to manage and execute innovation, I built the world’s largest Accelerator for the World Bank Group and ventured several startups (Insurtech, Education) and advised leading corporations re incubation and acceleration.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

Big corporates approach me to assess their innovation capabilities. The initiation of new digital initiatives is frequently supported with my distinct skills in corporate venturing, technology analysis, business modelling and due diligence. In the start-up scene I advise teams re USP, positioning, business models and scaling.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

On the strings (guitar, violin), off the grid (hiking), on and under water (sailing, scuba diving for 20 years). … and haute cuisine, surprisingly though given my poor home cooking skills.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

Can openers, trolley wheels and the Polymerase chain reaction. Wait, what? Why?
After the can itself, it took us 20 years to invent a can opener and trolley wheels have been invented only after we stepped on the moon. Now imagine: What obvious innovations are in plain sight in front of you?
You can find innovation everywhere at any time. So did Kary Mullis in 1983, at one night driving on the Pacific Coast Highway. He simply combined existing technologies to create something new: an easy, cheap, and reliable way to repeatedly replicate a focused segment of DNA, which got him a Nobel prize.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• Study of International Marketing Management at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• 10 years of management consulting experience with EY, Arthur D. Little and others
• Intrapreneurship positions with DHL, TUI and others
• Founded and steered several startups in the DACH region
• Emphasis on Growth, New Market Entry, Innovation in TIMES markets

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

I am an experienced management consultant and results-driven entrepreneur with track record in fast execution of online/offline business models across DACH.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

With a strong foothold in the startup scene, I add most value in innovation related projects. Not only when it comes to people and companies, but my knowledge and network are especially relevant when looking at innovation, processes, technologies, customer-centricity new ways to work.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

People usually approach me when situations are rather diffuse, out-of-the-box solutions are needed. People especially approach me when it comes to significantly changing existing ways or developing new products / markets.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

My passions center around exciting technologies, motorsports, business, politics, sailing and travelling.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?

I actually have a favorite innovator: Dan Gurney. Widely cited as the inventor of the famous “champagne shower” on a winner’s podium, he also invented an aerodynamical device named the gurney flap found on most high-powered road cars. He was also the first man to wear a full face helmet in Formula 1, founded a successful race car company and remains the only American ever to have won a F1 race in a car of his own design. A true innovator.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• MSc degree in Computer Science and undergraduate degree in Math, from the University of Science & Technology (AGH)/ Krakow (Poland).
• Over 30 years of diverse technology and business development experience in Payments, Lottery, Gaming, & Telecom Value Chain, Technology, Standards, and Regulations.
• Corporate roles, entrepreneurial efforts and consulting engagements.

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

I bring a North American perspective to the mobileVision team. I contribute my expertise in the area of mobile financial services from the functional, technical, and business perspectives. I lead efforts in strategic planning and in strategy implementation. I have a pragmatic approach to innovation, and incorporate fact based decision making into clients’ products and projects. I am also called on to support commercialization efforts and business development activities.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

Helping companies design and build large scale, high speed and secure transactional systems in gaming, payments, and telecom industries. I focused on innovation and R&D into new services, functions, products; on Product Management/Strategy; and Business Development and Due Diligence for the purpose of M&A, partnerships, and strategic procurement.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

I am passionate about the future of mobile transactional services – market needs, underlying technologies, and business models. I monitor worldwide market developments in these areas, do my own research, and propose elements of innovation in high impact topics. Hence I am often asked to validate clients’ strategies or recommend alternatives. I focus on analyzing factors that drive adoption of products and services, and contribute my findings to increase projects’ probability of success.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

Travel and cultures. I was fortunate to have travelled to or lived in many countries on all continents. This strengthened my business expertise, enriched my personal life, and brought a lot of pleasure to my family. I have relatives, friends and business associates all over the world, and make every effort to maintain strong relationships with them.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?
I am fascinated with all the innovations that have “shrunk” the world. This includes all communications technologies (wire line, radio, and satellite) and all the services that were layered over them (starting with voice, fax, TV… all the way to the Internet and massive impact social media).
Same with the means of transportation on land, water and air. Without a wide-body Boeing 747 we would not be where we are today.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BACKGROUND

• Combined Engineering and Business Degree/ Technical University of Karlsruhe
• Several years in consumer business and top management consulting (Procter & Gamble and Arthur D. Little)
• Operational Experience as COO, CEO, and area VP (EMEA) for start-ups and international IT corporation
• Serial Entrepreneur in wireless/payment (Paybox, addressM, 4-ventures, Accells)

MY PLACE IN THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK

Being a serial entrepreneur in the mobile, payment and identity space for 15 years, , I am covering all relevant aspects of business model creation and implementation, based on a series of proven, hand-on workshops formats. To be efficient, we are putting a lot of focus on executing on the right critical success factors in context of the venture’s lifecycle stage – in particular how to go-to-market and sell.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I ADD TO THE MOBILEVISION EXPERT NETWORK?

My career has been focused on IT-enabled innovation projects. Since 1999, I am working as a serial entrepreneur, most notably co-founding m-payment startup paybox which was acquired by Sybase /SAP in 2008, and co-founding and leading as CEO accells, an Israel-based cyber security company.

WHY DO PEOPLE APPROACH ME?

People want my advice in setting up and running a venture: turning an idea into a mockup, a mockup into a prototype, a prototype into a product, a product into a business, and business into profits.

WHAT IS MY PASSION OUTSIDE WORK?

Spending quality time with my family and travelling. With passion but limited skill, I love doing sports – tennis, cat sailing, running and biking –, and working with new media: web, video, visual programming.

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE INNOVATION?
With Internet connectivity evolving from flaky 56k modems to wireless broadband, our world has just started to become mobile. This will not stop because people are mobile, and mobile will determine business strategies.