Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Additional Development Networking
Timeline
Generic
Simone Wendler

Simone Wendler

Summary

I am an entrepreneurial results-driven Business Development professional with an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong passion for building and scaling growth initiatives in international environments. With a solid foundation in business strategy, I bring a hands-on and assertive approach to identifying new opportunities, driving commercial success, and navigating complex stakeholder landscapes. My can-do attitude, creative problem-solving, and strong sales acumen allow me to influence across matrix organizations and turn vision into action. I thrive on working with diverse, global teams to deliver ambitious goals — empowering others through clear, focused, and decisive leadership. Resourceful, fast-learning, and highly committed, I consistently bring energy, ownership, and momentum to every challenge

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

Vice President Head of Global Segments/Strategic Marketing

Lenze AG
Zürich
08.2024 - Current
  • Revenue Responsible: 300M Euro.
  • Developed and executed strategic plans to support the vision of the organization.
  • Strong collaboration with senior leadership to shape long-term vision and strategic direction.
  • Growing profitable sales through the definition and implementation of competitive segment strategies, customer applications-oriented value propositions, and solutions for the following markets: food and beverage (processing and packaging), textile, converting and printing, and material processing (wood, metal).
  • Directed market analysis to identify new opportunities for product expansion and growth.
  • Managed cross-functional teams to align business goals and drive project success.
  • Fostered relationships with key stakeholders to support business development efforts.
  • Strengthen senior-level customer relationships, supporting the organization in building long-term strategic partnerships and enhancing customer engagement at executive level.

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

BenLink AG part of the Bühler Group
Zürich
01.2024 - 05.2024
  • Build up the sales funnel, through acquisition of new OEMs, end customers, and suppliers, accelerating scale-up and expanding market reach.
  • Drove top- and bottom-line growth through targeted product offerings, strategic market positioning, and industrial branding.
  • Led cross-functional collaboration across Sales, Marketing, Product, and Operations to deliver integrated business outcomes.
  • Negotiated key vendor contracts, enhancing cost efficiency and service performance.
  • Built value-based selling capabilities within commercial teams, enabling high-impact pitches to OEMs and financial investors.
  • Defined and tracked key KPIs to manage performance and enable continuous growth in a lean, fast-paced environment.
  • Promoted a transformation mindset among OEM customers to foster innovation and secure long-term partnerships.
  • Continuously validated and refined the business model to secure buy-in from investors and strategic partners.

Chief Operating Officer/Head of Global KAMs/Head of Sales Europe

BenLink AG
Zürich
05.2019 - 12.2023
  • Built and scaled a new digital service business model in the industrial/machinery sector — grew revenue 20% YoY.
  • Developed and executed short- and long-term growth strategies, aligned with organizational goals.
  • Drove top- and bottom-line growth through focused product offering, market positioning, and industrial branding.
  • Led cross-functional teams and drove collaboration across sales, marketing, product, and operations.
  • Negotiated contracts and optimized vendor relationships to improve cost efficiency and service standards.
  • Continuously validated the business model to investors and OEM partners, securing stakeholder buy-in
  • Developed value-based selling competencies, supporting commercial teams in high-impact pitches to investors and OEMs.
  • Set and tracked key KPIs to drive performance in a lean, fast-growing organization.
  • Led acquisition of new OEMs, end customers, and suppliers to accelerate scale-up and market expansion.
  • Provided strategic business input into digital platform development (UI/UX, interface, app functionality).
  • Championed a transformation mindset among OEM customers to support long-term partnerships.

Co - Chief Executive Officer (ad interim)

BenLink AG part of the Bühler Group
Zürich
03.2023 - 05.2023
  • Full P&L Responsibility | Team: 5 Business Development Managers, 3 Field Coordinators
  • Built and scaled a new digital service business model in the industrial/machinery sector — double digit growth YoY.
  • Developed and executed short- and long-term growth strategies, aligned with organizational goals.
  • Continuously validated the business model to investors and OEM partners, securing stakeholder buy-in
  • Set and tracked key KPIs to drive performance in a lean, fast-growing organization.
  • Championed a transformation mindset among OEM customers to support long-term partnerships.
  • Manage financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation strategies.

Global Industry Segment Manager Food and Beverage

ABB Switzerland Ltd
Zürich
12.2014 - 04.2019
  • The overall result is doubling order volumes with double digit YoY growth over multiple years, results from 2018, $525M revenue.
  • Oversee effective setup of F&B team across all regions, global strategic account management operations, and full ABB Motion positioning.
  • Involvement in formulating, defining, and implementing the marketing strategy and sales growth plans for the segment.
  • Uncovered potential growth areas by analyzing relevant customer segments, market trends, and major applications.
  • Monitored monthly performance metrics related to segment sales and profits.
  • Deployed eco-system approach to map out targeted customers in F&B value chain.
  • Build ABBs brand in the F&B segment.
  • Developed a marcom plan from, PR, to digital marketing campaigns.
  • Acted as company representative at industry meetings, conferences, and events to gain insights and translate into winning strategy.
  • Coordinated product launches with marketing and sales teams across regions.
  • Led cross-functional teams to develop market strategies for product segments.

Global Segment Marketing Manager - OEM

Eaton Corporation
Morges
09.2013 - 11.2014

Revenue Responsibility: $500M | Global/Regional Scope

  • Defined and executed the OEM segment strategy for a key vertical market, driving profitable growth and differentiation.
  • Led the alignment and rollout of the OEM commercial platform across global regions, connecting country sales teams with business units.
  • Designed and implemented the Voice of Customer (VOC) process to fuel the innovation pipeline with market-driven insights.
  • Developed customer-centric value propositions and created application-specific sales training to strengthen go-to-market execution.
  • Supported strategic innovation and long-term planning through customeRr insights and segmentation.

Global Segment Marketing Manager - Food/Beverage and Packaging

Eaton Corporation
Morges
10.2012 - 08.2013

Segment Marketing Manager EMEA - Food/Beverage and Packaging

Eaton Corporation
Morges
08.2010 - 09.2012

Marketing Manager -Electrical Sector EMEA Marketing Leadership Development Program (MLDP)

Eaton Corporation
Morges
09.2009 - 07.2010
  • Developed and implemented an integrated marketing intelligence process to track and interpret market dynamics across EMEA.
  • Rolled out the intelligence framework across a complex matrix organization—spanning countries, product divisions, and corporate functions.
  • Analyzed market trends to support strategic decision-making and product positioning.
  • Collaborated with sales teams to align market insights with business goals and commercial execution.
  • Provided macroeconomic insights by country and region to support strategic planning activities and executive reporting.

Marketing Manager - Automotive EMEA Marketing Leadership Development Program (MLDP)

Eaton Corporation
Torino
09.2008 - 08.2009
  • Analyzed market trends to guide strategic decisions and optimize competitive positioning.
  • Developed and executed marketing strategies to drive brand visibility and market penetration.
  • Collaborated closely with sales teams to align marketing initiatives with commercial goals.
  • Defined customer-specific strategies for global automotive accounts, including pricing and profitability assessments.
  • Contributed to the regional profit and strategic planning process.
  • Held interim Product Manager responsibility for Valve Train Products portfolio ($750M revenue), ensuring continuity and performance during transition

Various roles in Product and Sales Management in EU and US

ABBOTT GMBH & Co. KG
Wiesbaden
12.2002 - 08.2008

Education

BA - Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Boston, MA
05.2002

Skills

  • Strategic planning
  • Business growth and marketing strategies
  • Business development
  • Results-driven
  • Customer relationship managementProfitability optimization
  • Customer service
  • Team leadership
  • Relationship building
  • Cross-functional leadership
  • Effective communication
  • Value proposition development

Languages

  • German, native
  • English, native

Additional Development Networking

  • 11/22 - 06/23 Bühler Advanced Leadership Program
  • 03/22 - 02/23 Mission Female - A network uniting successful women across industries to advance further together professionally in the DACH region., Tailored towards startups, focus on how to build up a business, how to use one's network and mentorship, and how to build effective teams.
  • 03/18 - 02/19 Advance Gender equality in Business

Timeline

Vice President Head of Global Segments/Strategic Marketing

Lenze AG
08.2024 - Current

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

BenLink AG part of the Bühler Group
01.2024 - 05.2024

Co - Chief Executive Officer (ad interim)

BenLink AG part of the Bühler Group
03.2023 - 05.2023

Chief Operating Officer/Head of Global KAMs/Head of Sales Europe

BenLink AG
05.2019 - 12.2023

Global Industry Segment Manager Food and Beverage

ABB Switzerland Ltd
12.2014 - 04.2019

Global Segment Marketing Manager - OEM

Eaton Corporation
09.2013 - 11.2014

Global Segment Marketing Manager - Food/Beverage and Packaging

Eaton Corporation
10.2012 - 08.2013

Segment Marketing Manager EMEA - Food/Beverage and Packaging

Eaton Corporation
08.2010 - 09.2012

Marketing Manager -Electrical Sector EMEA Marketing Leadership Development Program (MLDP)

Eaton Corporation
09.2009 - 07.2010

Marketing Manager - Automotive EMEA Marketing Leadership Development Program (MLDP)

Eaton Corporation
09.2008 - 08.2009

Various roles in Product and Sales Management in EU and US

ABBOTT GMBH & Co. KG
12.2002 - 08.2008

BA - Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Simone Wendler