Managerprofile: Markus Nicolaus

Markus Nicolaus

I drive profitable growth that lasts!

Benefit from my track record of leading large transformation programs, driving swift execution, creating tangible results, and building high-performing teams in an international environment.

from now
Interim Manager since: 09/2014
Update: 12.02.2025

Contact data

BrightVest GmbH, Icking

Seeleiten 14a
D-82057 Icking

rq.gfrigutveo@fhnybpvaz
http://www.brightvest.de

Telefon Mobile: +491786426528

Social networks

Short profile

Experience overview

Markus Nicalaus is a highly experienced interim executive and senior advisor with over 25 years of expertise in leading successful business transformations, operational excellence initiatives, and strategic realignments. His extensive background covers M&A, post-merger integrations, carve-outs, restructuring, turnaround, performance improvement, cost-down programs, growth and internationalization across various industries. Markus is renowned for building strong, collaborative relationships with clients, employees, and stakeholders, driving lasting change in international environments, as Chief Transformation Officer, CEO/ MD, CRO, COO, CSO and Project Officer.

Expertise: Transformation (incl. integration, carve-out), turnaround (incl. performance improvement), growth (incl. international expansion)

Industry focus: Consumer goods, manufacturing (incl. high-tech), healthcare (incl. medical devices), and industrial/ professional services

Tasks

Management
Yield Increase
Turnaround
Post Merger Integration
Internationalization

Transformation
Carve-out
Merger & Acquisition

Functions

Management / General Management / Board
Sales
Marketing
Operations

Role in the company

1st Level / Executive Board / Management
2nd Level / Division Management / Department Management
Program Manager
Projekt Manager (Leitung)
Consultant, Advisor

Industry experience

Plant Engineering
Automotive, Supplier
Electrical Engineering / Electronics
FMCG
Mechanical Engineering

Konsumgüter
Textil / Bekleidung
Hightech

Type of company

Medium-sized Enterprise
Owner-managed / Family Business
Corporation / Group
Start-up

Regions (Regions where you have proven experience)

Asia
Europe (EU)
Europe (not EU)
North America

Languages

German (Mother tongue)
English (Business fluent)
French (Conversational)
Russian (Good)

IM projects (self employed)

01/2024 - 12/2024 Duration: 12 months

Chief Transformation Officer/ Member of the Management Board - Leading the business transformation of a German healthcare company
Private-Equity-Portfoliounternehmen im Gesundheitssektor mit 650 Millionen Euro Umsatz und 1.000

Company description

Private equity portfolio company in the healthcare sector with € 650 million in sales and 1,000 employees

Company turnover in Mio $: 650 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 1000

City / place: Deutschland

Initial situation at the client

• History of continuous strong growth over 20 years – organic and from acquisitions
• Severe impact on revenues and profitability from recent regulatory changes
• Expecting more unfavorable regulatory conditions in German healthcare system
• Increased competitive pressure in medical care center business

Area of responsibility (sales and employees)
Chief Transformation Officer/ Member of the Management Board, leading the business transformation of the company with 650 m EUR and 1.000 employees

Mission

• Fostered profitable growth, higher efficiency and cost awareness
• Implemented a performance improvement program for value creation
• Oversaw production site closure and concept design development for a new site
• Introduced professional inventory and liquidity management
• Supported the definition of the new commercial strategy and sales set-up
• Secured buy-in and support of the company’s employees for the transformation
• Supported the development of the Group's new corporate strategy until 2030

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Chief Transformation Officer – Carve-out & Business Transformation
European cleanroom solutions provider business - PE-backed portfolio company

Company description

Providing services and solutions to companies operating cleanrooms, e.g. pharmaceutical, biotech, semiconductor industry

Company turnover in Mio $: 200 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 1500

City / place: Duisburg

Initial situation at the client

Led the carve-out and business transformation of the cleanroom solutions business from the parent company in eight European countries, implemented new legal and organizational structure, insourced group activities, defined to-be transitional services from group

-

Chief Transformation Officer – Post-Merger Integration and Business Transformation
European electronic manufacturing service company – PE-backed portfolio company

Company description

Mid-sized, international group providing electronic manufacturing services to the automotive, industrial and medical industry

Company turnover in Mio $: 150 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 700

City / place: Landau

Initial situation at the client

Led the post-merger integration and business transformation of two electronic manufacturing services companies with sites in four European countries, introduced new processes, organizational structure, transferred production, and realized integration synergies

-

Chief Operating Officer – Carve-out, Business Transformation, Post-Merger Integration
Global sports merchandising company – subsidiary of a DAX-Listed company

Company description

Global sports merchandising company focused on working with Formula One and leading international football clubs

Company turnover in Mio $: 200 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 600

City / place: London

Initial situation at the client

Led the carve-out, transformation, and post-merger integration of the global sports merchandising business with the body- and legwear business of one of the Group's international subsidiaries.

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Chief Operation Officer – Carve-out, Realignment, Business Transformation
Intenational brand merchandising and retail supprt company – subsidiary of a DAX-Listed company

Company description

International brand merchandising and retail support company focused on working with global leading corporate brands and retailers

Company turnover in Mio $: 50 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 250

City / place: Gothenburg

Initial situation at the client

Defined strategic realignment, growth and turnaround plan for the subsidiary after its carve-out from the global corporate group, and advised the managing directors on the swift and successful implementation.

-

Chief Operating Officer – M&A, Company sale, Carve-out
International outdoor fashion and sneaker company – subsidiary of a DAX-listed company

Company description

Traditional international outdoor fashion and sneaker company with a focus on designing, sourcing, marketing, distributing and selling products

Company turnover in Mio $: 25 Mio USD
Number of employees in company: 200

City / place: Gothenburg

Initial situation at the client

Coordinated and supervised the sale of the international outdoor fashion and sneaker company to a US-investor and prepared the subsequent carve-out of the subsidiary from the corporate group.

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More projects will be entered - good overview provided in my profile (download section)
Various companies - from start-up, mid-sized family run companies, to large multinationals

Company description

Various companies - from start-up, mid-sized family run companies, to large multinationals

City / place: Munich

Initial situation at the client

Industries
• Consumer goods and retail, high quality products, durables
• Capital goods, high-tech, manufacturing
• Industrial and professional services

Expertise
• Transformation, post-merger integration, carve-out, mergers and acquisitions
• Restructuring, turnaround, realignment, performance improvement
• Growth, international expansion, strategic leadership

Functions: MD / CEO, COO, CSO, Chief Transformation Officer, Project Officer, Senior Advisor

Work history (permanent employment)

10/2022 - Today Duration: 30 months

Managing Director
BirghtVest GmbH

Executive Interim Management | Advisory Services | Top Management Consulting

City / place: Munich

09/2014 - Today Duration: 127 months

Interim Executive | Consultant | Senior Advisor
Independent

City / place: Munich

02/2012 - 07/2014 Duration: 30 months

Managing Director Europe
Rodenstock GmbH

Consumer goods and retail company

City / place: Munich

07/2004 - 12/2011 Duration: 90 months

Last postion – Vice President Strategy, Marketing & Communications
Siemens AG

Capital goods and high-tech company

City / place: München

05/2000 - 06/2004 Duration: 50 months

Last position Director, Member of the Executive Leadership Circle
Sapient Deutschland GmbH

Business and digital transformation consulting

City / place: Düsseldorf

07/1998 - 04/2004 Duration: 70 months

Associate
A.T. Kearney Deutschland GmbH

Top management consulting

City / place: Frankfurt (Main)

03/1994 - 09/1995 Duration: 19 months

Last postion – Cash Manager
Dow Chemicals

Chemical company

City / place: Sophia Antipolis

Remarks
Cash Manager, Dow France S.A., Sophia Antipolis, Frankreich
Assistant Credit Manager - Dow Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt (Main)

08/1990 - 06/1992 Duration: 23 months

Trainee/ apprentice private and commercial banking
Deutsche Bank AG

Bank/ financial institution

City / place: Essen

07/1988 - 06/1990 Duration: 24 months

1st Lieutenant, Interrogation Officer Russian
German Armed Forces

Frontnachrichten Lehrkompanie 300

City / place: Diez an der Lahn

Education

10/1995 - 12/1997

Studies of International Business Management and Administration
Goethe-University, Frankfurt (Main)

10/1992 - 03/1995

Bachelor's degree studies in Business Management and Economics
Ruhr Universität Bochum

Notes / specifics
Vordiplom Wirtschaftswissenschaften

07/1974 - 06/1988

Schooling in Essen, Germany and Oakdale, MN, USA
Helmholz-Gymansium, Essen & Tartan High School, Oakdale

Notes / specifics
Spent one year as foreign exchange student and senior at a high school in the USA from 1984 - 1985, received high school diploma