BERND C. WAGNER
Tel: (617) 842-4190
Email: bernd.wagner@alum.mit.edu
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-c-w/
Experienced Operating Executive
Results-oriented thought leader – Proven track record of solving complex problems – Demonstrated success in strategy, product development, and operations.
Inspired leader known for driving alignment and organizational effectiveness in fast-paced, global business contexts – Areas of excellence include:
EXECUTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Consistently delivered results: increasing revenue, strengthening margins, streamlining processes, bolstering organizational capabilities, growing profits.
Profitability & P&L Management – Promoted into P&L leadership role and tasked to turn around floundering startup venture: tripled sales margin in 1 year by executing new pricing policy, eliminating channel conflicts, and guiding business development team towards high-margin market segments.
Team Leadership & Business Strategy – Asked by CEO and CFO to create & execute business plan to accelerate the growth of business: cut product development by 9 months and enabled 10x sales increase ($5M/year to $50M/year) over 3 years by aligning sales, marketing, business development, engineering, and manufacturing teams on single, cash-flow focused strategy. Drafted prospectus and readied business unit for sale.
Product Planning & Sales Growth – Refined and implemented product line strategy and crafted new sales process: resulted in doubling of addressable market and 2 key accounts from $60M to $120M each annually.
Change Management & Process Improvement – Selected by division president to lead strategic organizational change project: defined and implemented new decision-making & governance process, increasing new product introduction rate by over 30% in 18 months.
EXPERIENCE
Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA (2015–present)
Director, Business Operations–Bose Ride Division
Increased standard margin by over 12 percentage points. Quadrupled inventory turns. Tripled volume of lowest-cost delivery channel. Prepared business for M&A/spin-off.
Bose Corporation, Stow, MA (2014–2015)
Cross-customer Portfolio Manager–Automotive Systems Division
Redesigned sales process to grow annual sales by 33% ($750M to $1B). Launched implementation of global SaaS EAS forecasting tool, saving $500K annually.
Bose Corporation, Stow, MA (2006–2014)
Manager, Business Planning–Automotive Systems Division
Reduced cost of sales forecasting by 25%. Formalized product portfolio decision-making and initiated project-based R&D budgeting, increasing new product introductions from 6 to 8 per year. Introduced new KPIs doubling EBIT (>10%) in 3 years. Spearheaded market segmentation resulting in new product lines, doubling addressable market.
Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA (2004–2005)
Business Initiative Manager–Automotive Systems Division
Created and implemented global forecasting database reducing labor costs by 50% and enabled real-time reporting. Certified 5 business processes to ISO/TS 16949 requirements.
Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA (2003–2004)
Product Marketing Manager–Home Entertainment Division
Created 5-year roadmap to grow multi-room Lifestyle speaker sales to $250M-$400M/year.
IBM Corporation, Cambridge, MA (2002)
Marketing Project Manager (MBA Intern)–Lotus Development Division
DaimlerChrysler AG, Sindelfingen, Germany (2001)
Senior Project Engineer–Mercedes-Benz A-/C-Class
Supervised design CLK BR209 glazing. Oversaw engineering of roof rack systems for all in-production Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Coordinated research on new car window materials.
DaimlerChrysler AG, Sindelfingen, Germany (1999–2000)
Senior Design Engineer–Mercedes-Benz A-/C-Class
Renegotiated master schedule and cut development time by 30% (from 54 to 38 months) for A-class BR169.
Daimler-Benz AG, Sindelfingen, Germany (1998)
Project Manager–Mercedes-Benz A-Class (BR168)
Assisted engineering teams exceeded 10% product cost reduction target.
Daimler-Benz AG, Untertürkheim, Germany (1997–1998)
Associate–International Management Associate Program
Project assignments with: Heavy Truck Validation, Gaggenau, Germany; Plant Finance & Controlling, Jakarta, Indonesia; Fuel Cell Strategic Planning, Kirchheim, Germany.
Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Karlsruhe, Germany (1992–1993)
Graduate Research Assistant–wbk Institute of Production Science
West German Armed Forces, 10th Armored Division, Esslingen, Germany (1987–1988)
Medic – Private First Class–Medical BATTALION
EDUCATION
MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, MA (2001–2003)
Master of Business Administration
Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Karlsruhe, Germany (1989–1996)
Diplom-Ingenieur (B.S. & M.S.) in MEchanical Engineering
Thesis work, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, Paris, France (1995–1996)
Degree year abroad, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (1993–1994)
CERTIFICATION
Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA / Air Academy, Associates, Colorado Springs, CO (2012)
Lean Six Sigma Green belt
LANGUAGE
Bilingual proficiency in German and English
Limited working proficiency in French