Manfred Wagner

Lead a global team of project managers, product owners, and data & analytics experts, driving Swiss Re’s digital transformation in sourcing, procurement, vendor risk management, and external workforce management. Strategically align technology investments with company goals through prioritization, budget management, and resource optimization to deliver maximum business value. Manage data assets and data product development to provide actionable procurement insights and support data-driven decision-making. Ensure cost optimization to meet financial targets and operational efficiency goals. - Developed Swiss Re’s procurement digitalisation strategy, transitioning to a streamlined application and data architecture, enhancing efficiency and scalability. - Consolidated Swiss Re’s procurement application and data landscape, digitalising procurement processes globally, supporting thousands of users, and bringing 98 % of spend under procurement management. - Successfully led a multi-year strategy implementation program, ensuring proper resourcing, secured funding, and maintained a focus on business outcomes. - Directed a portfolio of global digital transformation initiatives in procurement and supply chain, reducing cost and complexity while improving operational efficiency, user experience, data quality, and compliance. - Developed and implemented a data and analytics strategy, integrating advanced analytics tools to deliver actionable insights and enhance reporting and decision-making capabilities. - Achieved significant cost savings by implementing a MSP/VMS solution to optimize global contingent workforce. - Streamlined vendor base, resulting in significant savings on vendor management costs while increasing preferred supplier spend through analytics, process, and system enhancements. - Delivered substantial savings by introducing tail spend solutions, B2B marketplaces, and automated invoice processing. - Pioneered Gen AI adoption in contract management and analytics.

Led strategic digital transformation programs at Swiss Re, leveraging AI and machine learning to optimise group operations and internal service delivery. Directed the upgrade of global HR systems, replacing legacy systems and significantly reducing annual costs. Implemented a SaaS-based project portfolio management system, streamlining project oversight and enhancing organisational efficiency. - Accelerated the adoption of advanced AI technologies, improving customer service delivery and reducing response times for enhanced operational efficiency and customer experience. - Delivered substantial cost savings and operational enhancements by leading cloud-based system transformations, optimising scalability and performance.

Held global responsibility for establishing and enhancing project and program management standards and practices. Represented Swiss Re in the PMI Chapter Switzerland’s corporate networking group. - Implemented a portfolio management tool, increasing visibility and control over Swiss Re’s strategic projects with substantial annual spend. - Revamped global project management training and capability development, enhancing effectiveness and achieving cost efficiencies.

Designed and delivered project management curriculum focused on software development, teaching both traditional waterfall and agile methodologies.

Led a team responsible for IT strategy, governance, and architecture transformation projects for financial services clients across Central and Eastern Europe. Managed large-scale consulting, IT implementation, and outsourcing projects, driving efficiency and IT modernisation. - Achieved an annual increase in service revenues by leading a program to outsource, nearshore, and offshore Oracle e-Business Suite application development, management, and delivery services while successfully dissolving the customer’s IT service subsidiary. - Established and managed a Program PMO to oversee a major core banking implementation project in Eastern Europe, ensuring effective planning, control, and successful project execution. - Led a project turnaround for outsourcing credit card issuing and acquiring capabilities, delivering on time and within budget, enabling the launch of new products and revenue opportunities for a bank in Eastern Europe. - Generated significant individual and team revenue contributions during tenure.