Beyond Chiefs

Beyond Chiefs: Revolutionizing AI First Executive Recruiting

Redefine your business with cutting-edge AI leadership. Beyond Chiefs connects you with AI Officers, AI-First CEOs, AI Product Managers, and CISOs to accelerate innovation and secure your competitive edge. Whether fractional or full-time, our executive talent solutions are designed to transform your future.

What We Do
- Flexible Leadership Solutions: We offer fractional executive roles, high-impact consulting engagements, and strategic board positions.
- Innovation Catalysts: Our leaders don't just manage—they drive 10x impact, fostering innovation and exponential growth.

Who We Serve
1. Visionary Leaders:
 - Elite executives seeking flexible, high-impact roles
 - Innovators who transcend traditional leadership boundaries
 - Experienced leaders eager to drive transformative change across multiple organizations

2. Forward-Thinking Companies:
 - Startups and scale-ups needing seasoned leadership without the commitment of full-time executives
 - Established companies navigating digital transformation or industry disruption
 - Organizations seeking fresh perspectives and strategic guidance at the board level

3. Industries in Flux:
 - Technology and SaaS companies
 - PE & VC portfolio companies
 - Healthcare and biotech innovators
 - Sustainability and cleantech pioneers
 - Any sector facing significant disruption or growth opportunities

Why Choose Beyond Chiefs
- Access top-tier talent previously out of reach for many organizations
- Inject transformative leadership without long-term commitments
- Leverage diverse executive experience across multiple industries
- Accelerate innovation and growth with on-demand strategic guidance

Join the Beyond Chiefs network—whether you're a visionary leader ready to make your mark across multiple ventures, or a company seeking the catalyst to propel you to new heights. Together, let's shape the future of business leadership.

Founder | Partner | CEO

Stealth Mode

Founder | CEO

CHRIS - Center of Human Resource Intelligence Services

I provide strategic advisory and supervisory board guidance to high-growth, tech-driven companies in the staffing industry. I specialize in AI, change management, future of hiring and scaling ventures focusing on AI, digital hiring transformation, and innovation-driven business models.

Advisory / Multivisory

NEO Venture Lab

NEO Venture Lab is my private venture studio and startup-focused tech investment vehicle. I have founded multiple companies through this venture studio and hold diverse investments in some of the best venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) funds globally, as well as direct angel investments in early-stage tech startups. NEO Venture Lab bundles companies like D2C Consumer Electronics, Service Industry flexible leadership solutions, SAAS and others, where innovative ideas take shape and thrive.

What We Do: Incept transformative ideas, assemble high-performing teams, and scale ventures with high capital efficiency.

Founder & Venture Builder

H.I. Executive Consulting (H.I.E.C)

Partner

Dwight Cribb Personalberatung

Director

dealerdesk

Chief Operating Officer

Carmichael Fisher Executive Search

Principal Consultant EMEA & US

Badenoch & Clark

Senior Consultant

Robert Half

Consultant

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗜 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗜 𝗖𝗫𝗢 & 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹

Christian is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and thought leader in the European tech ecosystem, with over a decade of experience in executive search and talent acquisition for high-growth tech companies and investor-backed ventures. Over the past 10+ years, I have successfully filled 100+ C-level and VP roles for tech startups, scaleups, and unicorns, specializing in transformative leadership placements across SaaS, e-commerce, PaaS, and digital-first business models.

Throughout my career, I have pioneered AI-driven talent strategies that optimize the executive search process, ensuring companies attract high-impact leaders who align with their current needs and future growth trajectories. My deep understanding of AI and digital transformation allows me to anticipate the leadership qualities essential for tech companies to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape, particularly as digital and AI capabilities redefine industries.

As the founder of NEO Venture Lab, my private venture studio and investment vehicle, I am committed to fostering innovation and scaling promising tech ventures. Through NEO, I have launched multiple companies and invested in high-potential startups and top-tier VC/PE funds, combining my executive search expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset. This dual approach enables me to support clients in building resilient, high-performing teams that can scale with agility and vision.

My background as a former COO of a SaaS company, where I scaled the team from 20 to over 70 employees, has honed my ability to understand the operational and cultural dynamics crucial to team growth and organizational success. This hands-on experience across roles—from Founder to Customer Success Manager to Sales—provides me with unique insights into the qualities and capabilities that high-growth companies require in their leadership.

I am driven by a passion for challenging the status quo and crafting employer brands that attract ultra-high performers. By leveraging AI-driven insights and strategic advisory, I help companies redefine recruitment as a powerful growth lever, transforming it from a transactional process into a long-term, value-generating strategy.

My commitment to building the next generation of tech leadership and driving impactful talent solutions has positioned me as a trusted advisor in the tech ecosystem. With a focus on innovation, strategic growth, and AI-powered recruitment solutions, I am dedicated to helping companies secure leaders who will shape the future of digital transformation.

Christian Pobbig

Chameleon Collective

As a Chameleon, I focus on interim & fractional CMO and VP Marketing roles uncovering potential in all Go-To-Market areas from innovation & product to communication, branding and media - ensuring a one-voice approach (and leveraging AI) across the marketing, sales and adjacent departments.

Chameleon Collective grows companies. Our Collective solves challenges across business and brings knowledge to drive meaningful transformation across five enterprise pillars - Branding, Marketing, Experience, Commerce and Sales. 

We believe our approach is the future of work. We have reinvented the traditional company by removing traditional hierarchies, unnecessary costs, and a business model that breeds inflexibility. Our approach attracts multi-disciplinary leaders and entrepreneurial free thinkers who self-manage and solve meaningful challenges for our clients. The approach that sparked our company will revolutionize yours.

At the heart of our mantra are three cornerstones: Lead, Deliver and Recruit. We infuse your organization with visionary leadership, equip you with expertise and fortify your teams with transformative talent, ensuring change isn’t fleeting - it’s foundational.

Join our transformational journey at www.chameleoncollective.com.

CMO / VP Marketing & Go-To-Market Strategy, Product & Brand (Fractional / Interim)

Brand Director (Fractional / Interim) - VIREO Systems (pH-D Feminine Health & CON-CRET)

- Product- and portfolio strategy, incl. marketing mix
- Consulting, with focus on developing a Value Proposition Canvas (see: Osterwalder)
- Economic evaluation, competitive analysis, consumer-/marketing-needs to develop concrete recommendations (e.g. Sales, Tea Tasting / Sourcing, production, QM, branding and marketing)
- Establish, implement and monitor internal and external processes as they pertain to product and innovation management
- Mentoring / re-align product management team

Product Management - Research - Innovation (Interim) at J. T. Ronnefeldt KG Tea House

marqueteer

Uncovering communication potential:
Branding, PR, market research, product strategy, portfolio analysis, e-commerce – with a business development focus. Regional, national and global.

_____

TOURISM BOARD (Asia):
Localized’ global brand (re-)launch:
* Cultivated on-line B2B community to continually educate travel trade about ‘new’ Singapore, resulting in double-digit membership growth 2 years in a row.
* Negotiated long-term (co-op) alliances with strategic B2B partners, incl. consortia like Signature Travel Network.  Result:  Higher-end/Higher-yield clientele in business as well as leisure market. 

GERMAN 'ECOLOGICAL HEATING ELEMENTS' Manufacturer:
Consulted re US market entry (size of opportunity, certification process, etc.) .  Set(ting) up corporation, website, distribution, and marketing for launch (Spring 2013).

consultant │ chief marqueteer

J.T. Ronnefeldt KG

Product Management - Research - Innovation (Interim)

TOPRO Mobility

Member of Management Team for multi-national premium supplier in medical aids segment. Reported to CEO. 

In charge of marketing (team including online and classic marketing as well as graphic design).
Launch: Innovative stair-walking aid - brand platform, on- and off-line marketing (Facebook, Google SEA/SEO, print, TV commercial), corporate design & voice. 

Strategy and execution of marketing and business development, including but not limited to:
Perfomance Marketing | Lead Generation | Tracking & Analysis
Sales Support | Go-To-Market
Public Relations | Cooperations
Campaign Planning: Budget, Content (Online, Print & TV) & Integration
Annual Planning & Optimization

Head Of Marketing (International) / Member of Management Board

Pacific Trellis Fruit - Dulcinea Farms

Updated strategy to leverage premium positioning.  Identified business development / revenue potential across two primary product line-ups.
* Focused Dulcinea-brand, added new SKUs under brand roof - creating incremental orders on Day 1(!).
* Revamping entire digital presence - from website (incl. SEO) to social ('2x' social media engagement).
* Implemented consistent B2B outreach -- LinkedIn, Public Relations (incl. press releases and interviews with trade press)

Senior Director Marketing

Super King Markets

Recruited by the ownership to bring marketing rigor to a talented marketing team at Super King Markets. Develops marketing strategy & budgets, tracks ROI. Customer-facing: Digital & traditional communication, POS & on-line. Buyer Support: Maximizes co-op dollars via innovative support tools. Leads marketing team & manages agencies. 

*	Used SMS for hyper-targeted campaigns – resulting in double-digit % sales growth in first month.
*	Optimized workflow and footprint for (printed) circular – resulting in savings without revenue loss.
*	Leveraged loyalty app data for customer segmentation – resulting in improved targeting across all marketing mix elements.
*	Integrated previously ‘siloed’ marketing mix elements: Circular, Web, Social Media, & Direct Marketing.

Marketing Director

Ehrmann

Leads all marketing & communications – Advertising / Branding / Media Planning & Buying, PR [incl. events, sampling], Digital [SEM / SEO, Mobile, Social Media] & Innovation / New Product Development.  Closely partners with Sales and Retail to ensure specific support (e.g. Costco roadshow, couponing).  ‘Built’ multi-million dollar budget, tracked ROI.

* Launched two new brands in competitive Greek yogurt market – from concept to final on-shelf product: (1) Indulgent / adult product: Introduced in 3 states and 800 stores at end of 2013, expanded to 11 states and 3,300 stores by mid-2015, incl. 850 Walmart stores. (2) Innovative Kids Greek yogurt: Wrote concepts, conducted market research, oversaw packaging design & development and presented at retailers.
* Reviewed existing brands/SKUs in Ehrmann USA holding – resulted in a streamlined portfolio, with fewer SKUs increasing production efficiencies and margins (COGS reduction from 5 to 12%).
* Leveraged mobile coupon app to generate trial – resulted >50% redemption(!) and 25% repeat purchases.

Head of Marketing

Ignited Digital Advertising Agency

Mobile. Social. Digital. Interactive … Full-service advertising agency ‘For People Who Want To Set The World On Fire.’
_____

Oversaw first-ever ‘ingredient-brand’ consumer campaign (á la ‘Intel inside’) for DTS.  Developed strategy for all clients – DTS Audio, Chime.in (UberMedia), TaylorMade Adidas Golf.  Led account team implementing campaigns (creative, media, events).  In charge of contract negotiations, budget / resource allocation, and P&L (> $2 MM).

* DTS:  Increased annual client billings by 25% by winning Social Media contract from incumbent agency.
* Chime.in (UberMedia / Bill Gross):  From private beta to public launch and beyond, led efforts to establish alternative Social Media network – resulting in 50,000 daily users within 3 months.
* TaylorMade Adidas Golf:  Led pitch team that won new business (> $1MM) for game-changing golf product (involves product development, complex website architecture, e-commerce, social media – launch: August ‘12).

Account Director

LaserPacific Media Corporation - A KODAK Company

Global provider of innovative and complex digital / high-tech post-production services for Independent Movies (Clerks II, Southland Tales), A-List feature films (e.g. The Kite Runner, Alvin & The Chipmunks, & The Black Dahlia) and television programs (e.g. Pushing Daisies, Burn Notice, & Weeds).
_____

Created LaserPacific’s marketing function from scratch.  As member of executive team, aligned internal and external communication for new product initiatives by (co-)directing project management (20+ staff), sales (5 staff), and technical staff (5 senior staff).  Reported to President of Kodak’s largest post-production subsidiary.


* Generated project leads through monthly networking events; closed deals in excess of $300K in first 2 months.
* Designed comprehensive communication plan for launch of two innovative digital imaging products (inDI / accurateIMAGE); created  instant industry awareness (press coverage, demo events, trade shows, SEO/SEM, ...)
* M&A task force:  Evaluated acquisition targets to move Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging into “digital age.”

Director, Marketing & Communications

Los Angeles Times

Largest US metro newspaper with monthly combined print & web audience of 4.9M (3K employees and $1B in revenue).
_____

Re-organized marketing department – mentoring Marketing Manager & 4 Senior AEs. Member of weekly ‘Publisher’s Marketing Roundtable.’ Spearheaded all B2C advertising (incl. research/segmentation, creative, and budget / ROI) and oversaw internal Creative Services department.  Managed outside vendors (incl. ad agency).

Senior Consumer Marketing Manager

As a Fractional CMO and Interim Marketing Executive, I partner with leaders of small-to-medium-sized businesses, PE/VC firms, and department heads in larger companies to drive growth and navigate transformation. I'm proud to be part of Chameleon Collective, a US and Europe-centric network of senior independent thinkers who embed within organizations to solve complex business challenges - making sure to leverage my "Master Management for Artificial Intelligence"-credentials to keep our partners ahead of the game.

My journey has taken me from global ad agencies (strategizing for the likes of P&G or Mattel) to the client side with Los Angeles Times, Ehrmann or Eastman Kodak, primarily on international assignments. This diverse background, complemented by successful independent consulting for brands such as the Hong Kong Tourism Board or Ronnefeldt Premium Tea, has equipped me with a unique perspective on go-to-market strategies – from innovation and product development through to comprehensive marketing plans and launches.

My mantra: When done right, marketing is a powerful business development tool.

It's about understanding the audience, whether through pixel or ink, and valuing the brand above all. I thrive on looking beyond the horizon, finding different angles, and collaborating across functions like sourcing, operations, and R&D to unearth true innovation.

For example, I recently led the international D2C launch of an innovative medical aid, developing the complete marketing toolset post-acquisition and rapidly expanding into new European markets. In another venture, I took an unknown brand in the US from 0 to over 3,000 retail outlets in under 18 months, building a robust portfolio from scratch by being scrappy, nimble, and determined. I've also mentored and restructured marketing teams to break down silos and create integrated, data-informed outreach strategies.

My approach is analytical, yet I always make room for unconventional methods that can unlock new opportunities. If you're looking for an experienced marketing leader to help your business transform, achieve ambitious GTM objectives, or provide an "extended bench" for your portfolio, let's connect. 

I’m always ready for the next rewarding challenge, and ...

... while I wholeheartedly agree with Stephen Covey to ‘seek to understand before being understood’, I will add: Never lose your sense of humor.

taplio

The Battle

Christian Pobbig

Thorsten Rhode

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