About Dr. Michael Thiemann
C-Suite Executive, Digital Transformation Leader, and EU AI Governance Expert
17 years of experience delivering regulatory compliance, organizational transformation, and project rescue for global banks, private equity firms, and growth-stage companies.
Career Overview: From Banking to Transformation
Dr. Thiemann brings two decades of hands-on leadership experience across corporate banking, asset management, and strategic consulting. His career spans crisis management, regulatory compliance, and large-scale transformation programs—with a consistent track record of zero regulatory findings across SIFI audits and 100% project rescue success in complex, at-risk initiatives.
As a PhD economist, Dr. Thiemann combines deep academic rigor with pragmatic business execution. His research on market dynamics and systemic risk informs his approach to digital transformation, AI ethics, and organizational resilience—critical capabilities as financial institutions and enterprises navigate rapid regulatory change (DORA, CRR III, EU AI Act).
Core Areas of Expertise
Digital Transformation & AI Governance
Led enterprise-wide AI integration, DORA compliance implementations, and EU AI Act readiness programs for regulated financial institutions. Designed AI ethics playbooks that reduced model-risk incidents by 40%.
Fractional C-Suite Leadership
Serves as interim CFO, COO, and CEO for start-ups and PE portfolio firms. Delivered 20% revenue growth in 90 days, extended cash runway by 18+ months, and repositioned organizations for successful exits.
Project Rescue & PMO Leadership
100% success rate salvaging critical, at-risk programs. Average cash leakage recovered: €7.2M per project. Returned derailed initiatives to go-live status within 90 days.
Regulatory Compliance & Board Governance
Expert in NDOD, DORA, CRR III, MaRisk, SIFI requirements, and resolution planning. Guided banks through regulatory audits with zero findings. Non-executive director experience.
AI Agent Development & Automation
Designed and deployed AI agents for customer support, lead generation, and process automation. Implemented WhatsApp and Telegram bots for financial services, achieving 28% conversion uplift.
Stakeholder Management & Change Leadership
Secured stakeholder alignment in 5 days for multi-billion-euro transformation programs. Negotiated with regulators, boards, and 1000+ FTE teams.
Professional Background
Founder & Partner, Strategy-Lab
2008 – PresentElite transformation consultancy for C-suite advisory, project/program management, and digital transformation.
Delivered €20 billion+ transformation portfolio with ≤5% budget variance across banking, fintech, and private equity. Achievements include a €120M EBITDA turnaround for a 12-country EU bank (10 months), 100% project rescue success rate, and zero regulatory findings across SIFI audits. Designed AI governance playbooks now adopted by multiple financial institutions.
Chief Investment Officer, Collineo Asset Management
2005 – 2008Managed €16 billion structured asset portfolio with institutional-grade risk controls. Implemented IFRS-compliant risk cost frameworks, built scalable multi-country governance, and led cross-functional investment teams delivering strategic asset allocation outcomes.
Deputy Managing Director, WGZ-Bank Ireland plc
1999 – 2005Built business model transformation and operational infrastructure for international banking subsidiary. Established governance, control frameworks, and regulatory compliance from ground up. Managed cross-border coordination and strategic planning during rapid growth phase.
Education & Certifications
- Dr. rer. pol. (PhD Economics), Leipzig University — Dissertation: Chaos in Capital Markets (2003)
- MBA in Business Taxation & Corporate Finance, University of Münster (1991)
- Certified Cooperative Bank Manager, ADG Academy of German Cooperatives (2000)
- AI in Business, Academy of Artificial Intelligence (2024–2025)
- Agile Coach & Scrum Master Certifications, LinkedIn Learning (2020–2023)
Services & Engagement Models
Dr. Thiemann offers flexible engagement formats tailored to organizational stage and challenge type:
- Fractional C-Suite Leadership — 90-day sprints as interim CFO, COO, or CEO
- Strategic & Transformation Consulting — 4-week diagnostics through retainer arrangements
- Project Rescue & PMO Leadership — Diagnostic through turn-around sprints
- Non-Executive Director / Board Advisor — Strategic oversight and risk/audit chair roles
- AI Agent Design & Implementation — Custom AI automation for lead generation, support, and optimization
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Dr. Thiemann's approach to digital transformation unique?
Dr. Thiemann combines academic rigor (PhD in economics) with 17 years of hands-on operator experience. Rather than theory-first, he designs transformation roadmaps grounded in financial constraints, regulatory realities, and organizational change dynamics. His focus on AI governance reflects emerging regulatory requirements (DORA, EU AI Act) rather than technology-first trends.
Why should we hire a fractional C-suite executive instead of waiting for a full-time hire?
Start-ups and PE-backed firms typically cannot afford 6-month hiring timelines when cash runway is measured in months or critical transformation windows are open. Fractional engagement provides immediate, heavyweight leadership—handling cash forecasting, investor relations, operational restructuring—while your permanent search proceeds.
How does RAID-Sprint™ differ from standard project management?
RAID-Sprint™ combines rapid diagnostic rigor (RAID logs) with agile execution sprints. Built for rescue missions: identify root causes in 10 days, lock a 90-day roadmap with executive sign-off within 5 days, then execute with weekly KPI visibility.
What is Dr. Thiemann's experience with EU AI governance?
Dr. Thiemann has guided financial institutions through DORA, CRR III, and EU AI Act readiness. He has designed AI governance playbooks addressing model risk, bias management, and regulatory reporting—outcomes adopted across multiple organizations.
How do you structure fees and engagement scope?
Fees scale with engagement type: day-rate (€1,250–€2,000), diagnostic sprints (€14k–€18k over 4–10 days), 90-day transformation sprints (€45k–€60k), or retainer arrangements. All engagements include strategy documentation, knowledge transfer, and team shadowing.
Ready to Transform Your Organization?
Schedule a 45-minute discovery call to explore how Strategy-Lab can accelerate your digital transformation, extend runway, or rescue a critical initiative.
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