Team Leader "EU for Municipalities" Programme in North Macedonia

• Jul 2021 - Present

Technical Assistance accompanying the implementation of the "EU for Municipalities" grant scheme (€5m) in selected municipalities in the Republic of North Macedonia, capacity building for local authorities, EU partnership events, capitalisation and dissemination of best practices, support to further decentralisation.

Team Leader at Prep Actions for Municipal Support Programme in North-Macedonia

• Aug 2019 - Jul 2021

Investment Advisor

• Mar 2017 - Present

Terra Marascae is an agricultural project having cultivated almost 100 ha of previously unused land in the karst region of the Omiš hinterlands near the village of Katuni. The project has been planned and is managed by Dalmaconsult, a Croatian consulting company specialising on agricultural and food industry projects. Initial funding has been collected via a crowdfunding model. In the meanwhile, more than 1 M€ have been invested, and the Marasca cherry trees start to bring fruit. The next expansion phase is in preparation and will include food processing capacity.

Visiting Lecturer

• Mar 2019 - Aug 2019

Lecturer on investment process management at the newly founded Business Angels Academy hosted by VERN. Lecturer on investment process management at the newly founded Business Angels Academy hosted by VERN.

Senior Expert for Organisational Development

• Dec 2017 - Jun 2018

Organisational analysis and concept for re-organisation, staffing requirements, digitalisation of internal processes. BLE is an agency of 1,300 employees under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The team of experts was provided by Sopra Steria under their framework contract. Organisational analysis and concept for re-organisation, staffing requirements, digitalisation of internal processes. BLE is an agency of 1,300 employees under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The team of experts was provided by Sopra Steria under their framework contract.

Fund Manager, Head of Investment Management and Technical Assistance Services

• Mar 2015 - Feb 2017

The MIDF is a Luxembourg based SICAV-SIF, initiated by EBRD and KfW, and suppported by the German, Austrian and Swiss government. The Fund invests into municipal infrastructure in the Western balkan countries (AL, BiH, CG, Kosovo, MK, SRB) and operates through participating commercial banks. The day-to-day management of the assets and operations of MIDF is delegated to a professional Investment Manager. The Investment Manager is a consortium of Frankfurt School for Financial Services (FSFS) and Eptisa Servicios de Ingeniera S.L. (Eptisa). The Investment Manager selects the participating banks, diligently reviews the loan investments proposed by the Participating Banks, monitors the portfolio performance, and ensures compliance with MIDF’s relevant procurement rules and environmental procedures. The Investment Manager also manages the Technical Assistance to Particpating Banks and to Ultimate Borrowers. The Fund focusses on smaller investments between EUR 100k and EUR 5m in size. Update as of October 2016: 10 MEUR disbursed to 41 Underlying Operations in the transport, energy, environment, social, and economic sector. 35 MEUR committed to 6 commercial banks for Underlying Finance of Municipalities on the Balkan. More than 200 projects processed in the pipeline with a total investment volume of 300 MEUR.

Senior Expert for Municipal Own Source Revenues

• Aug 2014 - Aug 2015

EU funded project "Support for the Ministry of Finance" EU funded project "Support for the Ministry of Finance"

Senior Expert for Private Sector Development

• Jun 2014 - Mar 2015

EU funded project on Strategic Economic Development and Private Sector Development EU funded project on Strategic Economic Development and Private Sector Development

Senior Municipal Finance Expert

• Aug 2013 - Feb 2015

The tasks as Municipal Investment advisor within the framework of the MIDF (Municipal Investment Development Fund) included advise on assessment procedures for municipal budgets and credibility, municipal finance and investment planning in the Balkan countries, pipelining of projects, involvement of local banks and their role in municipal borrowing, tender preparation and evaluation. The tasks as Municipal Investment advisor within the framework of the MIDF (Municipal Investment Development Fund) included advise on assessment procedures for municipal budgets and credibility, municipal finance and investment planning in the Balkan countries, pipelining of projects, involvement of local banks and their role in municipal borrowing, tender preparation and evaluation.

Managing Partner

• Jan 1996 - Feb 2015

I have founded this company together with my friend and colleague Eric Fermaud. We are focussing on international business development projects, investment, M&A; also taking over Interim Management positions (CEO level). Xeops is a network of management consultants in EU, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Consultants, lawyers, and auditors are working together in mid-size and bigger projects, the majority of services delivered abroad. I have founded this company together with my friend and colleague Eric Fermaud. We are focussing on international business development projects, investment, M&A; also taking over Interim Management positions (CEO level). Xeops is a network of management consultants in EU, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Consultants, lawyers, and auditors are working together in mid-size and bigger projects, the majority of services delivered abroad.

Senior Expert for Programme Coordination

• Feb 2014 - Jun 2014

Health Reform Support Programme, one of the major reform policy projects in Greece supported by the EU, and under supervision by the EU Task Force Greece (TFGR). Managed by WHO, implemented by GIZ. Programme coordination between stakeholders, components, and tasks. Standard Operating Procedures. Internal reporting system and document handling. Health Reform Support Programme, one of the major reform policy projects in Greece supported by the EU, and under supervision by the EU Task Force Greece (TFGR). Managed by WHO, implemented by GIZ. Programme coordination between stakeholders, components, and tasks. Standard Operating Procedures. Internal reporting system and document handling.

Team Leader

• Jan 2011 - Jun 2013

Team Leader for the "Municipal Support Programme IPA 2007" in Serbia, an EU-funded programme of in total 23 MEUR, including 11 MEUR of the Exchange 3 grant scheme. Responsibility for Technical Assistance of 7,6 MEUR and support to the grant scheme implementation. Municipal Planning (Action and Sector Plans, Monitoring), Municipal Finance (Capital Investment Planning, Programme Budgeting, Municipal Bonds, Local Tax Administration), Administrative Efficiency (Organisational Models, Quality of Service and Process Re-Design, Human Resources Management). 104 experts with 11,326 days worked in more than 2/3 of the 168 Serbian municipalities on almost 200 local projects. Work with national level focussed on implementation and amendments to legislation framework for Local Self Government. More than 50 publications downloadable from www.skgo.org, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities. For details see www.msp-ipa2007.org. (Project activities ended in January 2013.)

Key Expert for Investment Valuation and Finance

• Jun 2010 - Jan 2011

EU funded project for the state-owned Azerbaijan Investment Company. Valuation and monitoring of investees. Financial reporting. EU funded project for the state-owned Azerbaijan Investment Company. Valuation and monitoring of investees. Financial reporting.

Key Expert for Private Sector Development, Team Leader

• May 2007 - May 2009

EU funded project "Capacity building for the SME Support Structure and Alignment of Policy and Actions to SME Charter and Acquis Communautaire (SMEPED)" • Strengthening SME policy development and implementation, and institutional capacity of the government organisations responsible for SMEs, and local and regional institutions; • Developing the Strategy and Annual National Operational Plan for the development and support of SMEs; • Advising to establish a permanent and institutionalised Public-Private Dialogue on national and regional level; • Revising institutional set-up for the Ministry and its agency, including the management and administration functions of subsidies and of the state guarantee fund.

Chief Executive Officer / Vorstand

• Nov 2004 - May 2007

We have founded this company to facilitate the growth of mid-size companies in CEE, mainly in Russia, where we know the owners, believe in there management capabilities, and consider them to be a profitable investment opportunity. Private placement of a 25M EUR participation offer was prepared and launched in 2005. Update: The fund is closed in meanwhile. But the company continues to offer investment advisory services to third party investors and funds. We have founded this company to facilitate the growth of mid-size companies in CEE, mainly in Russia, where we know the owners, believe in there management capabilities, and consider them to be a profitable investment opportunity. Private placement of a 25M EUR participation offer was prepared and launched in 2005. Update: The fund is closed in meanwhile. But the company continues to offer investment advisory services to third party investors and funds.

Regional Manager South

• Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

EU funded project "Management of Municipal Services in the Russian Federation" • Developing a concept for investment in utilities (heating, electricity) based on a leasing approach and implementable under the existing national legal framework. The feasibility was mainly due to assigning municipal assets to a project company and making use of them as collateral, which avoided problems with the credit rating of the local entities and their budget deficits. Project company shares could even be sold to private co-investors as a public-private partnership model. Direct involvement of IFIs in investments on municipal level in Russia were investigated but turned out as not feasible at that time due to various legal and other reasons; • Conducting investment needs analysis, selecting and prioritizing projects, creating and successfully implementing pilot projects, e.g. in energy consumption reducing technologies; • Providing individual project support on local and regional level (prioritizing, developing, structuring and implementing) delivered for projects in the sectors of energy (district heating, cogeneration), water supply, and transport (public busses).

Team Leader South

• Mar 1998 - Mar 2001

EU funded project "Municipal Management in the Russian Federation" • Supporting all sectors of municipal responsibilities by suggesting changes to the federal law and by submitting draft texts to the responsible ministry at federal level and to the parliament; • Dealing with the weak institutional capacity on local level and the insufficient provision of financial means to the municipal budgets, by increasing the efficiency of budget planning and budget use, developing cooperation structures between municipalities for combining and sharing tasks in delivery of municipal services, and creating and implementing small investment projects in the public utility sector.

Personal Advisor

• May 1993 - Oct 1998

Member of the advisory committee on economic affairs • Preparing decision-making on major economic policy issues (e.g. industry policy issues as shipyards and SME development, and related subsidy strategy, etc.); • Integrating the country into the Baltic Sea cooperation; • Investment projects, coordinating finance and funding from budget and non-budget sources, with focus on tourism and infrastructure development; • Drafting the 10-years development perspective for the country (“Initiative 2004”), and coordinating the private support for the implementation of the development plan; • Initiating, prioritizing and preparing decision on major infrastructure projects (the coastal motorway A20, sea harbors at the Baltic Sea and an international airport with logistics hub); • Reviewing and supervising feasibility studies (e.g. airport and logistics hub), cost-benefit analysis (e.g. motorway), privatisation of the regional landfill, supporting stakeholder mediation; • Leading the team for the coordination of the rehabilitation of historical objects along the touristic road “Gothics Brick Stone Monuments in the Baltics”.

Managing Director / Geschäftsführer

• Jan 1993 - Dec 1995

Business School in Dresden with specific focus on executives and management potentials of East German leading companies. Curricula: "Mini-MBA", developped and implemented in cooperation with staff from INSEAD and IMD. More than 50 succesful participants only from VEAG, now Vattenfall. Master of Public Administration developped with Ministry of Inner Affairs. Leadership as management principle. Exemplary experience with transition economy situation. Campus-type training combined with coaching in an in-house project environment.

Team Leader

• Dec 1990 - Dec 1992

Ministry of Economy funded consulting project "Development of Business Related Infrastructure" for the East Saxonian counties • Inventory of infrastructure, swot analysis for 10 counties, preparation of programming documents, use of EU funds and national/regional budget sources; • Institutional development and capacity building for the Regional Development Agency; • Draft of a regional development plan and organise the public consultation process, prioritising of infrastructure investment projects for allocation of funds; • Cross border development with Czech and Poland.

Mitglied der Geschäftsleitung / Member of the Board

• May 1982 - Dec 1990

I have joined this small but fine company after leaving the research sector. Dr. Jürgen Schulte-Hillen was the first one in Germany introducing "Technical Management Consulting" to German mid-size and top big companies. I have learned a lot from him, and ended up being Member of the Board after 5 years. I personally worked for dozens of mid-size manufacturing companies all over Germany, as well as e.g. for Thyssen, Zahnradfabrik, sibo Beton, Bertelsmann, Wang, IBM, and prepared technology studies for several ministries.