Talk at KI Club Werder – 5 Days, Not 50

Freelance IT & AI Consultant · Potsdam

IT & AI expertise
that actually
moves things forward.

Senior-level consulting for SMBs and agencies — no overhead, no detours. Over 30 years of experience in Linux, cloud, network security, digital platforms and AI implementation.

In operation since 1991

TodayIT & AI consultant · Freelance

Services

Services that move your business forward

From server infrastructure to AI strategy — I cover the full spectrum of modern IT consulting. No generalist mush, but deep expertise in each area.

AI strategy & implementationNew

AI readiness assessment, LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic, local models), RAG systems, AI workflow automation and strategic AI consulting.

Linux & servers

Architecture, high availability and migration of Linux systems (Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL). Automation with Ansible.

Network & security

Planning of firewalls, VPN architectures, network segmentation and security audits for SMB environments.

Cloud & infrastructure

Cloud migration, hybrid setups, monitoring concepts and backup strategies for scalable environments.

Headless CMS & DAM

Consulting for Contentful, Bynder and similar platforms in a headless context.

Marketing platforms

Implementation consulting.

Content management

Editorial workflows, CMS migrations and structured content architectures for complex web projects.

IT strategy & consulting

System selection, digitalisation advice and senior-level technical management consulting.

Engagement

How we
work together

Project-based

For defined initiatives

Clearly scoped projects with defined scope, milestones and acceptance criteria. Fixed or time-and-materials budget. For migrations, rollouts and implementations.

Ad-hoc

For agencies · Hourly

Short-term support and technical reviews. Billed in 30-minute increments. Minimum booking 2 hours. For agencies that need a reliable tech partner.

About

Experience that
makes a difference

I have lived through and helped shape the commercial use of the internet from the very beginning. In 1995, I set up the first HTTP server of the Brandenburg state government (brandenburg.de) and helped build the IT network of the city of Potsdam. After that came stations at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, building the web and streaming infrastructure of rbb, and most recently architecting complex digital platforms at Accenture Song — including the sales platform smart.de.

My technical focus areas: Linux and high-availability systems, DevOps and CI/CD, Docker and Kubernetes, Ansible automation, headless CMS (Adobe AEM, AEP, Contentful), network security — and most recently AI strategy and LLM integration. Industries I have worked deeply in: automotive, energy, media, public broadcasting and public administration.

After a long career in large enterprises and public broadcasting, I now offer my expertise as a freelancer — for organisations that need real seniority but do not want to hire a full-time CTO.

My approach: pragmatic, direct, reliable. I explain complex matters clearly, give clear recommendations and, if you wish, implement them myself.

Based in Potsdam — operating Germany-wide and remote.

Today

IT & AI consultant · Freelance

Senior consulting for SMBs and agencies. AI strategy, LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic, local models), RAG systems and AI workflow automation.

2018 – present

Technical Architecture Associate Director · Accenture Song

Solution and platform architecture for complex digital engagements. Berlin. Projects include the systems architecture of the smart.de sales platform.

2016 – 2018

Senior Principal · Accenture

Thought leadership and digital solution architecture. Design thinking, DevOps and CI pipelines, complex web environments. Industries: automotive, energy, media. Focus: Adobe AEM, Docker, Kubernetes.

2014 – 2016

Head of Operations Online · rbb

Responsible for the content management platforms of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg on Adobe AEM (CQ). Led the web production group for fritz.de, radioBERLIN 88.8 and Antenne Brandenburg.

2003 – 2014

Project lead & architect · rbb

Mission-critical projects: groupware, CMS platforms (Day CQ4/5, Adobe AEM), Linux HA systems, virtualisation and Docker, Ansible automation, integration of open and closed source systems, Confluence/Jira. Scrum, security, open-source strategy.

2001 – 2004

Head of IT Department · ORB / rbb

Led the DevOps online team: operation of all rbb web services, data services for Android and iOS apps, audio and video streaming.

1996 – 2001

Senior systems analyst · ECMWF

DevOps for the web services of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (Reading, UK). Java development of data dissemination applications, firewall and networking responsibility (DNS, Cisco routers, proxy).

1994 – 1996

Head of department · State Office for Data Processing and Statistics

Built the IT network of the city of Potsdam. Firewall systems and networking, Cisco routers, proxy. First HTTP server of the Brandenburg state government (brandenburg.de, 1995).

1991 – 1994

Software developer · Breitfuß Messtechnik GmbH

Software development in the field of measurement technology.

before 1991

Project lead, meteorological workstation · German Weather Service

Design and software development of the meteorological workstation.

Day rates

Clear rates

All rates are net day rates; a consulting day is eight hours. For distances over 100 km, travel costs may be charged separately. Retainer models and longer projects have separate terms. The first 30-minute intro call is always free.

ServiceDescriptionDay rate
AI strategy & implementationAssessment, LLM integration, RAG systems, automation€1,800net / day
IT strategy & consultingSystem selection, digitalisation, architecture€1,600net / day
Network & securityOPNsense, VPN, security audits€1,500net / day
Headless CMS & DAMAdobe AEM, Contentful, Bynder — platform architecture€1,500net / day
Cloud & infrastructureMigration, hybrid setups, monitoring€1,400net / day
Marketing platformsSelection, implementation, automation€1,400net / day
Linux & serversArchitecture, HA systems, migration, Ansible automation€1,400net / day
Contact

Let's
talk

A first conversation costs you nothing — except 30 minutes.

I look forward to your enquiry. Briefly describe your situation and I will get back to you.

Location
Lessingstr. 47 · 14482 PotsdamRemote & Germany-wide