Welcome on the DDIM-Website of Kai Künstler
Kai Künstler
Leadership on Demand. Impact with Foresight.
Interim Executive focused on MedTech. I combine operational excellence with uncompromising customer centricity – driving transformation, post-merger integration, and sustainable growth with measurable impact.
Specialist groups
Contact data
CCC Interim Leadership, Hamburg
- Telefon Mobile
- +4915115766241
Social networks
Personal data
- Date of birth
- 01.06.1969 (Age:57)
Short profile
Intro
Extensive leadership result- responsibility at executive and C-level in international MedTech companies.
My value proposition: Leadership on Demand. Impact with Foresight – pragmatic, effective, and reliable.
My value proposition: Leadership on Demand. Impact with Foresight – pragmatic, effective, and reliable.
Experience overview
Over 25 years of leadership experience in the MedTech, Medical Devices, and Life Sciences industry, including Johnson & Johnson, Smiths Medical, Sana Kliniken AG, and most recently as General Manager DACH at CMR Surgical.
Broad spectrum of line and mandate responsibility: market entries, post-merger integrations, restructurings, carve-outs, commercial acceleration, and large-scale transformation projects.
Proven success in international corporations, hidden champions, and start-ups. Consistently delivering sustainable impact through clear leadership, customer centricity, and building high-performing teams.
Broad spectrum of line and mandate responsibility: market entries, post-merger integrations, restructurings, carve-outs, commercial acceleration, and large-scale transformation projects.
Proven success in international corporations, hidden champions, and start-ups. Consistently delivering sustainable impact through clear leadership, customer centricity, and building high-performing teams.
Tasks
- Management
- Change Management
- Post Merger Integration
- Turnaround
- Business Development
- Customer Centric Leadership
- Commercial Acceleration
- Carve-out & Skalierung
Functions
- Management / General Management / Board
- Sales
- Organization
- Marketing
- Operations
- Commercial Excellence / Acceleration
- Post-Merger & Carve-out Leadership
- Customer Centric Transformation
Role in the company
- 1st Level / Executive Board / Management
- 2nd Level / Division Management / Department Management
- 3rd and 4th Level
- Supervisory Board / Advisory Board / Board of Directors
- Consultant, Advisor
- General Manager DACH (MedTech)
- Interim Executive Mandate Lead
- Transformation & Change Leader
Industry experience
- Medical Technology
- Healthcare
- Gesundheitswesen
- Start-ups & Hidden Champions (MedTech)
- MedTech Innovationen inkl. Robotik
- Life Sciences (Pharma, Biotech, Diagnostics)
Type of company
- Medium-sized Enterprise
- Start-up
- Corporation / Group
- Owner-managed / Family Business
- Hidden Champion (MedTech)
- Private Equity / Investoren-getrieben
- Internationale Tochtergesellschaften
Regions (Regions where you have proven experience)
- Europe (EU)
- Austria
- Germany
- Switzerland
- EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa)
- Internationale Mandate (DACH & Europa)
- Global MedTech Markets
Languages
- German (Mother tongue)
- English (Business fluent)
- Spanish (B1)
Special certificates and awards
Auswahl an Executive Development Programmen
- SMP Management Program, St. Gallen – strategische Führung, Organisationsverhalten, Mitarbeiter-Management
- Management Fundamentals II inkl. Ninth House Self-Study – bereichsübergreifendes Management, strategisches Denken, Entscheidungsfindung
- Sales Management Development Program I – Aufbau & Skalierung leistungsstarker Vertriebsteams
- Finance for Non-Finance Executives – strategisches Finanzmanagement, P&L-Verantwortung, Zusammenarbeit mit CFOs
- Leadership & Performance Standards – Führungsexzellenz, Verantwortungsrahmen, performanceorientierte Kultur
- International Healthcare Business Integrity – Compliance, Governance, ethische Führung
- MD&D EMEA Orientation for Future Leaders – Talentförderung im MedTech-Bereich
- Projektmanager IPMA
Special skills
- General Management & C-Level und Business Unit Leadership
- Business Transformation & Change Management
- Post-Merger-Integration & Carve-outs
- Turnaround & Performance Improvement
- Commercial Acceleration & Go-to-Market
- Teamaufbau & High-Performance Leadership
- Customer Centric Leadership
- MedTech Innovationen inkl. Robotik
- EMEA-Regionserfahrung & International Expansion
- Projektmanager
IM projects (self employed)
08/2025 - Today Duration: 16 months
Interim Leader
CCC Interim Leadership
CCC Interim Leadership
- City / place
- Hamburg
07/2024 - 01/2026 Duration: 19 months
KI-generated Podcasts in MedTech
CCC - Knowledge Through Your Ears
CCC - Knowledge Through Your Ears
- City / place
- Hamburg
11/2014 - 02/2015 Duration: 4 months
Founder
CCC - Consulting
CCC - Consulting
- City / place
- Hamburg
Work history (permanent employment)
10/2022 - 06/2024 Duration: 21 months
General Manager
CMR Surgical
CMR Surgical
- City / place
- Hamburg
Remarks
General Manager DACH | CMR Surgical
Robotics | -€100M
Global Revenue | Start-up Phase DACH | Reported to: European GM | Team: 20 (5 Direct)
Reports) | Full P&L Responsibility - Confidential
RESULTS: Revenue +80%, Market penetration +50%, Regional costs -33% in 12 months
Established and led cross-functional commercial and service organization in DACH
Developed market entry strategy and managed complete go-to-market execution
Oversaw budgeting, hiring, onboarding, sales forecasting, and pipeline management
Built KOL engagement and account management frameworks
Established Hamburg as the Central European Hub of CMR Surgical
General Manager DACH | CMR Surgical
Robotics | -€100M
Global Revenue | Start-up Phase DACH | Reported to: European GM | Team: 20 (5 Direct)
Reports) | Full P&L Responsibility - Confidential
RESULTS: Revenue +80%, Market penetration +50%, Regional costs -33% in 12 months
Established and led cross-functional commercial and service organization in DACH
Developed market entry strategy and managed complete go-to-market execution
Oversaw budgeting, hiring, onboarding, sales forecasting, and pipeline management
Built KOL engagement and account management frameworks
Established Hamburg as the Central European Hub of CMR Surgical
06/2021 - 09/2022 Duration: 16 months
General Manager Strategic & International Procurement
Sana Kliniken AG (Sana Einkauf & Logistik GmbH)
Sana Kliniken AG (Sana Einkauf & Logistik GmbH)
- City / place
- Ismaning
Remarks
(Sana Kliniken AG)
Healthcare Provider & Group Purchasing
Organization | €3.5B Revenue (Group) | 58 Hospitals, 600+ Partners | Reported to:
Managing Director | Team: 42 (8 Direct Reports) | Purchasing Volume Responsibility: €4B
RESULTS: Procurement costs -9%, Cycle times -25%, Operational performance +15%
Managed strategic procurement and operational sourcing for 58 hospitals and 600+ partners
Coordinated and innovated supplier relationships, contracting, and compliance across the network
Designed and executed transformation projects with impact on procurement KPIs
Introduced performance and benchmarking dashboards for stakeholders
(Sana Kliniken AG)
Healthcare Provider & Group Purchasing
Organization | €3.5B Revenue (Group) | 58 Hospitals, 600+ Partners | Reported to:
Managing Director | Team: 42 (8 Direct Reports) | Purchasing Volume Responsibility: €4B
RESULTS: Procurement costs -9%, Cycle times -25%, Operational performance +15%
Managed strategic procurement and operational sourcing for 58 hospitals and 600+ partners
Coordinated and innovated supplier relationships, contracting, and compliance across the network
Designed and executed transformation projects with impact on procurement KPIs
Introduced performance and benchmarking dashboards for stakeholders
10/2020 - 05/2021 Duration: 8 months
Executive Consultant DACH (Interim Mandat)
Smiths Medical
Smiths Medical
- City / place
- Grasbrunn
Remarks
Executive Consultant DACH - Transformation & Customer Centricity
EMEA Region | Partial P&L | Reported to: VP & GM, EMEA |
Team: Cross-functional, Region-wide
RESULTS: Operational efficiency, +9% Costs -7%, Sales effectiveness +8%
Led cross-country transformation projects and customer-centric redesign
Advised commercial teams on strategy, segmentation, and messaging
Developed tools for salesforce optimization and training
Executive Consultant DACH - Transformation & Customer Centricity
EMEA Region | Partial P&L | Reported to: VP & GM, EMEA |
Team: Cross-functional, Region-wide
RESULTS: Operational efficiency, +9% Costs -7%, Sales effectiveness +8%
Led cross-country transformation projects and customer-centric redesign
Advised commercial teams on strategy, segmentation, and messaging
Developed tools for salesforce optimization and training
03/2015 - 09/2020 Duration: 67 months
Managing Director
Smiths Medical
Smiths Medical
- City / place
- Grasbrunn
Remarks
Global Medical Devices | -$1.2B Global Revenue | DACH
Market | Reported to: VP & GM, EMEA |Team: 320 (9 Direct Reports, 10 Dotted) | Full P&L
€49M+
RESULTS: Revenue +5% YoY, Key account wins +30%, Costs -10%, Employee Engagement
Score +80%.
Directed P&L, sales, marketing, and service operations for the DACH region
Led restructuring, talent development, and organizational redesign
Oversaw strategic account planning and engagement with GPOs
Drove budgeting, forecasting, cost optimization, and employee engagement initiatives
Global Medical Devices | -$1.2B Global Revenue | DACH
Market | Reported to: VP & GM, EMEA |Team: 320 (9 Direct Reports, 10 Dotted) | Full P&L
€49M+
RESULTS: Revenue +5% YoY, Key account wins +30%, Costs -10%, Employee Engagement
Score +80%.
Directed P&L, sales, marketing, and service operations for the DACH region
Led restructuring, talent development, and organizational redesign
Oversaw strategic account planning and engagement with GPOs
Drove budgeting, forecasting, cost optimization, and employee engagement initiatives
07/2013 - 10/2014 Duration: 16 months
Business Unit Director
Johnson & Johnson, Mentor
Johnson & Johnson, Mentor
- City / place
- Hallbergmoos
Remarks
Business Unit Director DACH | Mentor (Johnson & Johnson)
Global Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery | -€1B Global Revenue | DACH Market | Reported to: EMEA Business Unit Director | Team: 29 (5 Direct Reports) | Full P&L €31M
RESULTS: Revenue +6.8%, Gross profit +4%, Contract renewals +20%, Efficiency +15%
Directed P&L, marketing, sales, operations and logistics
Developed territory planning and sales team performance programs
Oversaw ERP and warehouse migration in alignment with global standards
Business Unit Director DACH | Mentor (Johnson & Johnson)
Global Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery | -€1B Global Revenue | DACH Market | Reported to: EMEA Business Unit Director | Team: 29 (5 Direct Reports) | Full P&L €31M
RESULTS: Revenue +6.8%, Gross profit +4%, Contract renewals +20%, Efficiency +15%
Directed P&L, marketing, sales, operations and logistics
Developed territory planning and sales team performance programs
Oversaw ERP and warehouse migration in alignment with global standards
01/1992 - 01/2013 Duration: 253 months
Marketing, Sales & Commercial Strategy (diverse nationale wie internale Rollen)
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
- City / place
- Norderstedt
Remarks
Johnson & Johnson - various leadership roles in Sales, Marketing & Commercial Strategy
National Sales Director - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Led €155M business with 53 FTEs; achieved sustainable sales growth in highly competitive surgical markets
Director CRM - Johnson & Johnson, Medical Devices & Diagnostics Germany
Built and led a 17-member cross-BU team, driving strategic customer segmentation and market access initiatives
European Marketing Director & Business Manager - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Managed €365M portfolio across EMEA; led regional go-to-market strategies and lifecycle management
Senior Commercial Account Manager - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Directed €67M in strategic accounts; aligned hospital partnerships with value-based care models
Additional early roles in marketing and field sales - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Held positions from Marketing Manager to Sales Rep, managing portfolios up to
€23M and leading hybrid teams in Germany
Johnson & Johnson - various leadership roles in Sales, Marketing & Commercial Strategy
National Sales Director - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Led €155M business with 53 FTEs; achieved sustainable sales growth in highly competitive surgical markets
Director CRM - Johnson & Johnson, Medical Devices & Diagnostics Germany
Built and led a 17-member cross-BU team, driving strategic customer segmentation and market access initiatives
European Marketing Director & Business Manager - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Managed €365M portfolio across EMEA; led regional go-to-market strategies and lifecycle management
Senior Commercial Account Manager - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Directed €67M in strategic accounts; aligned hospital partnerships with value-based care models
Additional early roles in marketing and field sales - ETHICON, Medical Devices
Held positions from Marketing Manager to Sales Rep, managing portfolios up to
€23M and leading hybrid teams in Germany
Education
08/1989
- 08/1992
Betriebswirtschaft, WAH
Wirstschafts-Akademie Hamburg
Wirstschafts-Akademie Hamburg
08/1989
- 08/1991
Industriekaufmann
IHK
IHK
Documents and files
266.63 KB
CV
441.92 KB