Christian Jourdant

Growth needs clarity.

I support executives and companies where growth stalls, interim leadership is needed or important decisions are on the table. As an interim executive, executive advisor, strategic advisor or board member, I take responsibility for clear, evidence-based decisions for sustainable growth.

Almost 30 years of experience in leadership, strategy and transformation: 10 years in line responsibility and 20 years as a consultant and interim manager. Having lived and worked in Germany for many years, and still working mainly with German companies, I bring a precise understanding of German audiences and decision-making patterns. I have worked for companies such as Vodafone, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom, Altana, Elanco, Unilever and Deutsche Bahn.

In which situations I help

The usual growth levers are no longer working.

You need a clear strategic reset — from positioning and offer to go-to-market and leadership.

You need interim leadership.

For companies facing transition, vacancy or reorganization, I take responsibility until a solid solution is in place.

You need a sparring partner at senior level.

For managing directors, CEOs, CMOs and board members who want to prepare important decisions with clarity.

Book a 30-min call

Services

I work in different setups, tailored to the requirements of the task.

Executive Advisory

Trusted support for CEOs, managing directors, CMOs and boards when strategy, positioning or leadership decisions need to be rethought. Confidential, direct and senior work — a focused advisory, project-based support or ongoing retainer.

Interim Executive / CMO

I step in when leadership is missing, teams need direction or the commercial setup no longer fits the business. With clear ownership, operational credibility and a structured handover.

Positioning & Go-to-Market

For international companies that need clearer value propositions and market logic that works in Germany and Europe. Especially when what already works globally does not translate locally and fast, clarity and relevance locally.

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Selected mandates

For more than 20 years, I have supported companies through transformation, repositioning and growth as an Interim CMO, Executive Advisor and strategic sparring partner at board and leadership level – often where strategy needs to be translated into operational clarity across countries and cultures.

Interim Head of Marketing & Executive Advisor | Transformation for leading public sector consultancy

I helped move a 1,500+ consultant organisation from administrative marketing to an insight-driven strategic setup. I led three teams with 20 FTEs, worked directly with the Managing Directors and Executive Board, and built segmentation, research, KPI and reporting structures.

Interim Head of Marketing & Sales | Executive Advisor | Turnaround for renowned telco provider

I drove the commercial turnaround post-MBO, shifting from pure price competition to a value-based brand with clear positioning. I redefined brand, target groups and go-to-market, built a 10-person marketing and sales team, and acted as a close advisor to the CEO on positioning, pricing and communication.

Interim Head of Group Digital | Executive Advisor | Transformation for global specialty chemicals group

I clarified and consolidated a fragmented digital agenda across 22 subsidiaries into one coherent roadmap. Reporting directly to the Executive Board, I set priorities, identified e-commerce growth fields and doubled the impact of the internal digital team.

Program Manager Digital Transformation | Executive Advisor to CDO | US animal health leader

I coordinated a global transformation programme across four continents and multiple workstreams. As advisor to the CDO, I reduced cross-border complexity, aligned technology rollout (including Salesforce Marketing Cloud) with change management, and bridged IT language with market logic for senior leaders.

Positioning & Strategy Lead | Executive Advisor to CEO | Global software & cloud provider

I developed a unified positioning framework for 90 national subsidiaries, balancing global consistency with local market logic. Working with the CEO and leadership team, I translated strategy into clear guidance for UX, imagery and storytelling.

Strategic Consultant | Positioning Advisor | China / Europe market bridge for automotive OEM

I shaped the B2B positioning for a new connected-car data offer in China and Europe, operating between Chinese development logic and European market expectations. Working with product owners, engineers and legal, I translated technical capabilities into a clear value proposition, user stories and go-to-market narrative.

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How I work

As a strategic advisor, interim leader or executive advisor, I work fast, go deep and stay close to real decisions - combining experience, specialised AI agents and practical implementation. If you want to understand how I work inside organizations, start with the first part. If you are mainly interested in 1:1 advisory, jump straight to Executive Advisory below.

How I work as an advisor and interim leader

1. I start with people, not just the industry

I have deliberately worked across many industries because in the end it is always people who decide - whether they test a new product, sign off a budget or renew a partnership. I focus on the patterns behind those decisions: how different audiences perceive, how they decide and what they need to move forward.

2. I combine a team of AI agents with stakeholder conversations

I work with specialized AI agents to build a clear view of markets, competitors and trends quickly - and I know what to ask and how the output needs to be structured to support real decisions. In parallel, I speak with key stakeholders: leadership, sales, product, service and, whenever possible, customers. This allows us to unlock unused potential inside the organization, using a fresh external perspective and the right questions.

3. I turn complexity into a realistic roadmap

From experience, data and stakeholder input, I derive strategic recommendations and refine them together with the people involved. The result is a roadmap that fits the organization: clear decisions, priorities and a sequence of steps that can actually be delivered - not just a slide deck.

4. I stay involved - and adapt my role to what you need

I stay involved through implementation, help design structures and initiatives and work alongside the people already in place. Depending on the situation, I may act more as an advisor, as an interim leader or as a project driver - always with the aim of strengthening internal capabilities rather than replacing them.

How I work as an Executive Advisor

Executive advisory with real-world depth

As an Executive Advisor I work differently from many traditional CEO coaches: I understand leadership and development methods, and I also bring 20+ years of experience in strategy, execution and corporate reality. I have spent many years living and working in Germany and still work mainly with German companies, which gives me a precise view of how decision-makers there perceive and decide. I have also worked with organizations in markets such as China and the US. Depending on what we agree, my role can sit somewhere between advisor, mentor and coach; what matters is that we are clear about what we are working on and which outcomes we are aiming for.

1. A clear space for strategic and personal decisions

In our confidential 1:1 conversations we focus on decisions and situations that have visible impact for you and your organization - and that rarely get the time and attention they deserve in day-to-day business. We create a clear space in which you can sort issues, test assumptions and explore scenarios before you take them into the organization.

2. We make it clear what is really at stake

We start by looking at what is truly on your table right now: decisions that need to be made, tension points in the system, and personal patterns that might hold back the next step. From there we define a small number of focus areas and concrete goals for our work together, so that we can see whether things are actually shifting in practice.

3. Individual sparring instead of a carousel of methods

I bring my experience in as a sparring partner at eye level, not as an expert arriving with a suitcase full of techniques. We work with clear questions, structured thinking and concrete examples from your reality, with the aim of sharpening your options and making your decisions more robust. Where it is useful, I add targeted input from strategy, positioning or change work - and we test together what they mean for your day-to-day leadership.

4. Conversations with key stakeholders only when they add value

In some cases it can be helpful to involve one or two key people from your environment - for example to align expectations or to sharpen an important step you are preparing. We only use this instrument when it clearly supports the outcomes we have agreed and all parties are on board.

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Let's talk.

If you want to find out whether and how I can help, book a call directly in the calendar or send me a short note about what is on your mind. I will get back to you personally.