Klaas Hermans
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Budapest, Hungary
Toptal member since August 22, 2022
Klaas is a customer-centric IT delivery lead with 17+ years of experience in business and technology. He has worked with leading global enterprises such as IP Soft Amelia, Philips, NN, and Nike Inc., delivering products and services, accelerating revenue growth, and driving efficiency improvements. Klaas also has a proven track record in motivating teams to exceed their goals, using Agile delivery methodologies, design-thinking practices, and data-driven insights.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile Coaching
- Agile Program Management
- Digital Product Management
- Portfolio Management
- Product Management
- Program Management
- Project Management
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Work Experience
Head of Digital Product Marketing
CCL Olympic
- Joined the team as the Interim Head of Digital Product Management.
- Collaborated with managing directors, marketing, sales, and customer success to develop digital product positioning and messaging, resulting in a 50% increase in qualified leads.
- Designed metrics and KPIs to measure client growth and expansion via digital product marketing and solution selling.
- Spearheaded the execution of two digital programs, driving incremental sales up YoY.
IT Program Manager
The Kraft Heinz Company
- Joined the team as an interim program manager, spearheading ESG traceability, digitalizing the supply chain traceability from farm to fork, and ensuring compliance with EUDR in the short term and CSRD, FSMA, and other regulations in the long run.
- Drove the RFI and RFP and traceability solution implementation planning.
- Streamlined the integration of complex traceability systems with existing supply chain infrastructures, reducing expected reporting time by 20%.
- Developed and executed comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies, including workshops and training programs.
- Designed the target operating model for the newly introduced capabilities.
Group Product Manager
Filestage
- Led three agile teams in charge of the monetization of creative approval workflows, API integrations, data and analytics, and automation (IPA and AI) for a German online proofing SaaS startup.
- Spearheaded an end-to-end program to increase CLV by 33%, reduced operational costs by 30%, and improved creative workflow throughput time by 15% by implementing a new AI-based solution.
- Generated 12% of the total company MRR in the first three months of establishment by delivering the API integrations delivery model, creating a reliable, diagnosable, reusable, secure, and cost-effective strategy, and turning it into a profit center.
Principal Product Manager
Hearsay Systems
- Led product teams accountable for increasing CSAT by 11% and performance by 27%, for a US communication PaaS scale-up.
- Masterminded the restructuring of the strategic direction for the sites and insights products.
- Slashed time-to-market by 35% and improved user experience (UX) by 29%.
Customer Program Lead
Ericsson
- Spearheaded the end-to-end agile project implementation of the Ericsson Security Manager (ESM) at a leading US telecom company for a Swedish multinational company.
- Reduced implementation costs by 16% and implementation duration of ESM by 20% by devising the ESM delivery playbook.
- Delivered a 3-year client contract of multi-million value.
Program Lead
Nike
- Spearheaded the EMEA CDA program, creating a premium, consistent, and seamless UX aligned with a simplified consumer construct and unifying investments in an end-to-end technology foundation to accelerate digital transformation.
- Completed the development to launch a cutting-edge SaaS solution in 23 countries, reducing the annual OPEX by 150,000 and improving the employee experience by 10% in the first six months of launch.
- Managed the implementation in two countries of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) solutions, reducing NIKE's CO2 footprint by 75,000kg annually and improving the commuting experience by 7%.
- Led the EMEA delivery of the ServiceNow case management MVP, generating a savings realization of 100,000 annually. I also created the product delivery framework post MVP.
- Managed the end-to-end delivery of the disruptive flexible time off program, providing a competitive benefit for recruiting talent, with a 95% CSAT after the first year and indicated as the key distinguishing benefits appreciated by 75% of new hires.
Cognitive Delivery Lead
IPSoft
- Landed a multi-year, multi-million contract for the company.
- Led a successful project implementation and set up the center of excellence.
- Realized an overall 10% revenue growth in orders and 15% cost savings for the client.
Senior IT Business Consultant
Cognizant
- Developed end-to-end quality assurance across 10+ delivery teams, working on JavaScript, .Net, and SharePoint technology, for a large insurance company in Belgium. Improved the overall test plan coverage and defect detection effectiveness by 25%.
- Consulted for the delivery of a digital roadmap for an international corporate bank in the Netherlands.
- Spearheaded the customer-facing documents harmonization for Northern America healthcare services at a leading health technology company in the Netherlands.
IT Solutions Project Portfolio Lead
ABN AMRO Bank
- Led a team of 12 direct reports, handling the IT solutions project portfolio execution and financial controlling, with a total change budget of over 325 million.
- Developed and launched Agile processes, training, and metrics for the cross-domain Agile project portfolio. Trained six business units, 15 IT teams, and one senior management team.
- Introduced the Agile portfolio funding framework in a matrix organization, decreasing overspending by 15%, increasing time-to-market by 10%, and generating an additional 250,000 cost savings in overhead.
IT Project Portfolio Lead
NN
- Managed the project portfolio standards used by over 200 project professionals, reducing the reporting time spent on change by 80%, external rates by around 20%, contract duration by about 10%, and generating a total savings of 4+ million.
- Co-launched the CMMI model for life insurance in the Czech Republic, Japan, and Poland, creating a pipeline of strategic optimization initiatives.
- Spearheaded multiple IT project portfolios with a total budget of 40+ million.
- Managed the PMO team with four direct reports, implementing PeopleSoft 9.1 and Solvency II Finance and Reporting work stream across eight countries with a budget of 80+ million.
- Set up and managed the PMO team with two direct reports, handling the delivery of the shared service center in Cluj with a total scope of eight CRE countries and a budget of 20+ million.
Financial Advisor
ING Group
- Took responsibility for providing clients with financial services advice.
- Met and exceeded yearly sales targets and reached the top-3 regional sales representatives in 2008.
- Co-founded and integrated the board members of the ING Young Lions, South Netherlands Chapter in 2007.
Project History
Consumer Direct Accelaration EMEA
Owned roadmap, prioritization, and alignments with Nike EMEA vice president and general manager leadership.
Cognitive Agent Delivery
Landed a multi-year, multi-million contract due to successful project implementation, the center of excellence set up, overall 10% revenue growth in orders, and 15% cost savings for the client.
Mobility Evolution Car Fleet Management Transition
Completed the development to launch a cutting-edge SaaS solution in 23 countries, reducing annual OPEX by 150,000 and improving the employee experience by 10% in the first six months of launch.
Mobility Evolution Pool Car App
Led the process of developing and launching the Pool Car app, which was downloaded by 70% of the eligible population in the first week after launch and reduced the TCO of the Pool Car fleet by 25% in the first year.
HR Agile Transformation Pilot
Led an Agile transformation pilot that helped teams accomplish 80% of the set sprint goals and improve performance by 30% throughout the journey.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management
Fontys University of Applied Sciences - Eindhoven, Netherlands
Bachelor's Degree in Music Management
Fontys University of Applied Sciences - Tilburg, Netherlands
Certifications
Continuous Delivery and Devops
Coursera
Digital Product Management: Modern Fundamentals
Coursera
SAFe Agilist
Scaled Agile Academy
Cloud Computing Essentials
EXIN
MoP Foundation Certification
Axelos
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
P3O Foundation Certification
APMG International
PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification
APMG International
Skills
Tools
Jira, Asana, Confluence, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Slack, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, Zapier, Microsoft Project, Google Analytics, Figma
Paradigms
DevOps, Scrum, Agile, Agile Project Management, Agile Product Management, Requirements Analysis, Waterfall Delivery, Agile Leadership, B2B, Change Management, Kanban, Iterative Delivery, Design Thinking, Organizational Change Management (OCM)
Industry Expertise
Life Insurance, Software, Digital Agencies
Other
Portfolio Management, Project Management, Program Management, Scrum Master, Digital Project Management, Gantt Chart, Project Timelines, Process Improvement Project Management, Communication, Scope Management, Deliverability, Digital Product Management, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Agile Coaching, Product Management, Stakeholder Management, Client Delivery Management, IT Project Management, Project Management Office (PMO), Web Project Management, Web Applications, User Experience (UX), Project Planning, Implementation, Software Implementation, System Implementation, Scaling, Workflow, Workflow Tools, Schedule Optimization, Business Analysis, Project Scheduling, Requirements & Specifications, Process Improvement, Project Scoping, Budget Modeling, Cost Estimation, Estimation & Planning, Discovery Workshops, Business Requirements, Enterprise Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Frameworks, PMO Development, Coaching, Mentorship & Coaching, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Process Design, Operational Workflow, Estimations, Budgeting, Digital Solutions, Business Transformation, Product Development, Machine Learning, Product Roadmaps, Planning, Scheduling, Project Management Operations, Cross-functional Collaboration, Risk Management, Agile Transformation, Sprint Planning, Consulting, Cost Analysis, Process Flows, Databases, Project Budget Management, Risk Analysis, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Operations, Process Mapping, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Product Launch, Project Management Professional (PMP), Go-to-market Strategy, Go-to-market Plans, Sprints, Feature Roadmaps, Web & Mobile Applications, Software Project Management, Technical Project Monitoring, Team Leadership, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Process Documentation, Backlog Management, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Intercom, Cloud, Data Analytics, Roadmaps, Agile Program Management, Smartsheet, Prototyping, Distributed Team Management, Digital Transformation, Quality Assurance (QA), IT Program Management, Team Management, Customer Service, Property Insurance, P&C Insurance, Online Banking, Product Discovery, User Research, Market Research & Analysis, Marketing, Music Industry, Snowflake, Request for Proposal (RFP), Fintech, Agile DevOps, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), Startups, Product Design, Content Management Systems (CMS), Website Redesign, Freelancing, Lean Startups, Vendor Selection, Prosci ADKAR, Organizational Development, Organizational Behavior (OB), Accounting, Cost-benefit Analysis, Notion, Web Development, SaaS, APIs, IT Projects, RFPs, Request for Information (RFI), Target Operating Models, Digitization, User-centered Design (UCD)
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