Mechanical engineer · industrial engineer · Executive MBA · certified board director

Daniel Sengstag

Leadership with substance, between strategy, technology and market.

More than three decades of operational and strategic responsibility, from engineering and consulting to global sales and executive management roles. Today CEO of Abexis GmbH; mandates as board member, advisor and sparring partner.

Contact

Judgement emerges where experience meets complexity, and execution has priority.

In profile

Daniel Sengstag

Leadership with substance, between strategy, technology and market.

Years leadership

since 1995

Stations

Siemens → Abexis

Brands

CEO · EMEA · Founder

2000

Board Director CAS

Swiss Board School · HSG

Stations

Siemens Industry SoftwareDassault SystèmesAnsysPegasystemsAbexis

Positioning

Think strategically. Decide clearly. Execute consistently.

I work at interfaces: transformation and daily business, technology and economics, people and organization. In doing so, I combine technical understanding with P&L responsibility and a clear sense of governance.

My career leads from design engineering and software through professional services and global sales leadership to executive management and entrepreneurship. This breadth shapes how I read situations: discreetly, precisely and reliably.

Read detailed portrait→

Daniel Sengstag has more than 30 years of experience in corporate and business unit leadership, both in multinational corporations and in more compact organizations. His career began as a design engineer, later as a software developer for technical applications, before moving into consulting and project management.

This was followed by leadership roles as business unit manager for services, sales director, CEO and Country Manager at Siemens Industry Software. Subsequently, he was EMEA Sales Director and Country Manager at Dassault Systèmes (PLM and CAx). He became self-employed in management consulting and executive search; was Country Sales Manager at Ansys (simulation, digital twins); and Sales Manager Manufacturing at Pegasystems (digital business transformation, BPM, CRM).

In addition to degrees in engineering and business and an Executive MBA, Daniel is a certified board director, with ongoing continuing education in sustainability, digitalization and governance.

Career

Experience with perspective

More than 30 years in corporate and business unit leadership, both multinational and compact. Starting as a design engineer and software developer for technical applications, then consulting and project management.

Business unit leadership in services, sales leadership, CEO and Country Manager at Siemens Industry Software; subsequently EMEA Sales Director and Country Manager at Dassault Systèmes (PLM/CAx).

More than 25 years of leadership experience; P&L in several roles
Change from mergers, reorganizations and process optimization
Sales and business development for complex goods, including demanding contract negotiations
Sales operations, S&OP, sales excellence
IT depth: PLM, CAx, CRM, ERP, process automation

since 2011 / 2021
Managing Director and Founder
Abexis GmbH
2019-2021
Sales Manager Manufacturing CH
Pegasystems
2017-2019
Country Sales Manager CH
Ansys
2012-2016
Sales Director EuroCentral · Country Manager CH
Dassault Systèmes
2008-2011
Country Manager / CEO
Siemens Industry Software
2002-2008
Director Professional Services CH/AT · Deputy Country Manager · Board Member
Siemens Industry Software
2000-2002
Team Lead · Senior Consultant · Program and Project Leadership
Siemens Industry Software
1995-2000
Project Leadership · Consulting · Software Development · Design Engineering
Dür + Partner, Strässle, Sulzer

Focus areas

Selected fields

Strategy · market · sales

Market and portfolio decisions, go-to-market, complex capital goods and software.

Digitalization · change

Transformation, process and organizational development, Industry 4.0, PLM, automation, AI and RPA, always linked to impact.

Corporate leadership · sparring

Leadership in matrix organizations, cultures and hierarchies, from SMEs to corporations.

Competencies

Experience that adds up

Focus areas from the classic portrait page: compactly visible, with details on one click.

Digital transformation
Leadership
Change management
Strategic thinking
Engineering
Sales & business development
Project management
Corporate governance
Human resources
Risk management
Sustainability
Cybersecurity

Fields

Digital transformation · leadership · change management
Strategic thinking · engineering · sales & business development
Project management · corporate governance · HR · risk
Sustainability · cybersecurity
Manufacturing · software & IT · high-tech · plant engineering

Detailed competency list→

Experience from design engineer and developer through project manager and business unit leader to sales director and managing director
Operational and strategic leadership; change management in reorganizations, mergers and process optimization
P&L responsibility in several roles
Broad project experience; strong ability to drive decisions and implementation
Many years of experience as service delivery / professional services business unit manager
Sales management and business development for complex capital goods and software, including demanding contract negotiations
Sales operations (S&OP), sales excellence
SMEs and international corporations: confident navigation across different cultures and hierarchies
Regulations, compliance, corporate governance
Strong background in various IT topics
Engineering background in PLM, CAx, Industry 4.0, digital twin, smart factory and process automation
Industries including manufacturing, software and IT, engineering, consumer, high-tech and plant engineering
Focus on sustainability and cybersecurity

Approach

How I work

“I deliberately question the status quo, not out of opposition, but to create clarity. As a sparring partner, I care about robust decisions, not volume.”

For me, execution strength and perseverance are not buzzwords, but the benchmark: in mandates, in transformation and in collaboration with executive management and boards.

Formal education

Education & credentials

Degrees & programs

2023
Board Director CAS
Swiss Board School, cooperation HSG / University of St.Gallen
2022-2023
Certificate Sustainable Leadership
HWZ Zurich, cooperation Sustainable Switzerland
2004-2005
Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA), General Management
1997-1999
Industrial Engineer STV
IMAKA
1991-1994
Mechanical Engineer FH
University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil
1984-1988
Vocational baccalaureate; apprenticeship as design engineer

Selected programs

Additional credentials

The Challenger Sales Training·
MEDDIC Sales Training·
Management Trainings·
Sales and Communication Trainings·
Salesforce Training·
Seminar IT Law·
Strategic Services Management and Delivery·
Storytelling·
Project Management PMI·
Agile Project Management·
HERMES 2022 Foundation Certification·
PRINCE2 Foundation Certification·
ITIL 4 Foundation Certification·
SCRUM Master Certification·
Cybersecurity·
Sustainability·
Business Model Innovation·
Procurement Masterclass: Procure to Pay·
Decentralized Finance, Blockchain

Mandates

Board · advisory · interim

Are you looking for a member of a board of directors, advisory board or foundation board, or for an interim leadership role? I look forward to a factual, confidential contact by email or phone.

Board of directors / advisory board / foundation board
Interim management
Sparring for executive management and boards

Contact by email →+41 79 349 04 54

Abexis

CEO and owner

Abexis GmbH stands for demanding support in business and digital transformation: project management, Industry 4.0, PLM, sales consulting and change management, wherever technology and organization come together.

Contact

Direct and discreet

A short introduction is enough; I respond personally. For business matters concerning Abexis GmbH, you can also reach me through the channels below.

Phone

+41 79 349 04 54

daniel.sengstag@abexis.ch

Schedule appointment