Experience

Epic Games

• United States
• Computer Games
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Program Director

  • Feb 2022 - Present

  Building a global R&D department: strategy, organisational structure, corporate embedding, integrating a global Technology Research and Development organisation across several R&D groups in Europe and North America, including integrating groups from acquired companies.Conceptualising, building up and organising:- consistent R&D strategy and project portfolio- conceptual innovation delivery approach and R&D productization- organisational embedding and structure- Finance, HR, Legal and other support protocols and processes- resource planning, financial estimation strategy and executionManaging:• Conceptualising and managing R&D strategy and project portfolio, with respect to portfolio compilation, project pitch and review process.• Global personnel strategy, resource and headcount planning and recruiting top scientific technology talent as well as software and hardware engineers for R&D, including building up internship program.• Legal, copyright, OSS and IP activity, compliance and protocols , including research collaboration agreements.• Finance: Annual Operating Plan, forecast, planning and controlling, including productization projects.• Outreach and research collaborations, including conferences, press and media, publications. Show less

• Sr. Research Program Manager

  • Jan 2021 - Feb 2022

  Building organisational structure, applying best practices and integrating a global Technology Research and Development organisation across several groups in Europe and North America.- R&D strategy and project portfolio- conceptual innovation delivery approach- organisational embedding and structure- Finance, HR, Legal and other support protocols and processes- resource planning, financial estimation strategy and execution



Walt Disney Imagineering

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director - Business Operations, Walt Disney Imagineering, Research and Development Studio

  • Oct 2018 - Dec 2020

  Executive Director, Business Operations for Walt Disney Imagineering, Technology Research & Development.Responsible for WDI R&D wide Business Operations, Administration and Finance as part of the Executive Leadership team.Supervising 5 direct reports, 10-15 indirect reports.Maintaining strong internal business relationships partnering with Finance,HR, Legal, Facilities, managing planning, protocols and policies.Overseeing and managing:• Finance of WDI R&D: Long Term Plan, Annual Operating Plan, forecast, planning and controlling, including capital productization projects.• Conceptualising and managing WDI R&D Studio strategy and project portfolio, with respect to portfolio compilation, project pitch and review process and project investments.• Global personnel strategy, resource and headcount planning and recruiting top scientific technology talent as well as software and hardware engineers.• Legal, copyright and IP activity, compliance and protocols , including intercompany and research collaboration agreements.• Operations, facilities and global administrative policies, including procurement and contracting .• Outreach and research collaborations, including conferences, press and media.Special achievements:- reorganization of Disney Research and integration of Disney Research LA into WDI R&D with respect to strategy, project management and business operations.- development and construction of new office and lab space for 30 scientists, including conference rooms and maker spaces.- implementation of new data visualization tools and data driven forecasting for department decision making, project expenditures and headcount/positions. Show less

• Director Of Business Operations, Disney Research

  • Mar 2016 - Sep 2018

  Executive Director of Business Operations for Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Research with technology research lab locations in in the USA, UK, Shanghai and Switzerland. Responsible for global Disney Research Operations Management and Financeas part of the Executive Leadership team.Supervising 6 direct reports, 12-20 indirect reports.Maintaining strong internal business relationships partnering with Finance, HR, Legal, Facilities, and managing international coordination, policies and planing in EMEA and USA.Overseeing and managing:• Finance of Disney Research: Long Term Plan, Annual Operating Plan, forecast, planning and controlling.• Global personnel strategy, resource and headcount planning and recruiting top technology talent and scientists.• Legal, copyright and Intellectual Property activity, compliance and protocols.• Global administrative policies and processes, including procurement and contracting, Operations and facilities.• Outreach and research collaborations, including academic conferences, press and media.• Conceptualising and managing Research strategy, project portfolio and technology transfer.Special achievements:- reorganization of scientific research labs in Shanghai and Pittsburgh.- refocusing of Disney Research project portfolio, innovation strategy and business integration into WDI R&D innovation ecosystem. Show less



The Walt Disney Company Switzerland, Disney Research Zurich

• Operations Sr. Manager, Disney Research Zurich

  • Sep 2014 - Feb 2016

  Senior Manager, Business Operations for Disney Research Zurich, lab for scientific technology research. Responsible for R&D Operations management, Finance and Organisation as part of the Leadership team.Supervising 4 direct reports, including IT admin.Maintaining strong internal business relationships partnering with EMEA and US Finance, Legal and HR departments in Munich, London and Los Angeles.Overseeing and managing :• Finance of Disney Research Zurich: Long Term Plan, Annual Operating Plan, forecast, planning, controlling and reporting, including EU funded projects and intercompany recharges.• Full judgment and decision-making authority with respect to budgeted expense.• Personnel strategy, resource and headcount planning.• Legal, copyright and contract activity, compliance and protocols, including intellectual property, intercompany service agreements and complex scientific research collaborations with academia (ETH Zurich).• Administrative policies and processes, including procurement and contracting, and Operations, and facilities.• Handling of highly confidential financial, HR and business information.s.Special achievements:- managing financial and legal preparations and successfully executing construction of new major lab space and offices (18'000 sq ft) across two years.- conceptualizing and implementing a global research projects and publications database.- setting up and integrating a research lab outpost in Edinburgh (UK) with respect to financial structure, recharge scheme, legal and Intellectual Property framework. Show less

• Operations Manager, Disney Research Zurich

  • Dec 2009 - Aug 2014

  Manager, Business Operations for Disney Research Zurich, lab for scientific technology research. Responsible for building and implementing organizational structures to facilitate growth at Disney Research Zurich with respect to Business Operations and Management, Finance and Administration. Part of the local Leadership team of an expanding start-up. Supervising 3 direct reports, including IT administration. Building up and maintaining strong internal business relationships partnering with EMEA and US departments in Munich, London and Los Angeles. Overseeing and managing:Special achievements:- setting up and implementing all administrative, finance, legal policies and structure to facilitate the growth of the lab from 12 to 80 FTE.- successful integration of the Zurich lab into the organizational and policy framework of Disney EMEA and Walt Disney Imagineering in the US. Show less



University of Zurich

• Switzerland
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research And Teaching Assistant

  • Feb 2005 - Dec 2009

  Research and Teaching Assistant at the Chair for Quantitative Business and Personnel Economics. - supporting chair management: coordinating and leading the 15 other assistants, responsible for internal chair organization. - study program coordination for Study Program 'Management and Economics' at the department level. - several research projects on quantitative data analysis using STATA and SPSS, econometric modeling. - teaching classes in quantitative data analysis using STATA. Special tasks and projects: - part of a department wide task force to optimize the Business and Economics study program - design and structuring of new 'Management and Economics' BA- and MA-programs at the department level. - conference organization for the IAB research group meeting (approx. 250 participants) - part of the Leopoldiona academy research group "Aging in Germany", including research, project management, conference organization and co-editing of the book "Altern, Arbeit und Betrieb". - conceptualization and deployment of a lecture series on quantitative data analysis with STATA. Show less



Diehl Defence

• Germany
• Defense & Space
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Intern, project controls

  • Jul 2003 - Sep 2003

  Internship in the sub-systems group. Project controlling and pricing for precision-guided mortar munitions. Internship in the sub-systems group. Project controlling and pricing for precision-guided mortar munitions.



Südzucker

• Germany
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Intern, procurement

  • Mar 2001 - Apr 2001

  Internship in the procurement department, corporate headquarters. Order processing for production material in SAP/R3. Internship in the procurement department, corporate headquarters. Order processing for production material in SAP/R3.



Bundeswehr

• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Squadron Commander

  • Jul 1997 - Aug 1999

  Captain of the reserves. Tank commander and squadron leader at 2./Tank Reconnaissance Battalion 3 Lüneburg. Platoon leader and officer training. - March - August 1999: NATO and SFOR deployment as tank commander in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. - staff leadership and responsible for equipment as recon tank platoon leader. - mission and training planning, coordination and execution. Captain of the reserves. Tank commander and squadron leader at 2./Tank Reconnaissance Battalion 3 Lüneburg. Platoon leader and officer training. - March - August 1999: NATO and SFOR deployment as tank commander in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. - staff leadership and responsible for equipment as recon tank platoon leader. - mission and training planning, coordination and execution.