Lead from the front and shape
I readily take the lead, put topics on the agenda on my own initiative and use the room to shape – especially where nothing has been defined yet.
Head of Digital Operation · Industrial Digitalization
Matthias Hlinka
Build service. Empower regions.
Retain customers.
15 years with the Krones Group, in leadership positions with revenue and P&L accountability continuously since 2015: through 2021 for digital revenue from the customer business, quote-to-cash from proposal to commissioning; today for subscription and recurring service revenue. Since 2022 I have built Digital Operation from zero to around 80 people, incl. partner teams: an international matrix organization with 24/7 operations and locations in Germany, India and the Czech Republic, working closely with China, India and the U.S.
- Organization built
- 80 people
- around, incl. partner teams · Digital Operation, built from zero
- P&L accountability
- 8-figure €
- P&L in the double-digit million euro range, 2015–2021 · P&L accountability since 2015, today incl. subscription & ARR
- Leadership
- 11 years
- consecutive head-of roles since 2015; 20 years of professional experience
- International
- 3 continents
- on site in the Baltics, Scandinavia, the U.S. and India; today close joint operations with CN, IN, US
01 · Leadership profile
Drive to shape, backed by structure.
- Building service & operations organizations
- International matrix & regions
- Customer retention across the lifecycle
- Edge, platform & Cyber Resilience Act
- Quote-to-cash & P&L accountability
I take ownership where technology meets industrial reality: at the customer, in the regions and in organizations that are repositioning themselves. My career runs from projects through development to the global operation of digital products and services – always with the goal of retaining customers across the entire lifecycle.
Current areas of responsibility
- Edge
- Security & CRA
- Lifecycle
- 24/7 operations
- Fleet management
- Platform & SaaS
- Remote access
- Customer experience
- AI & automation
Try new things – execute systematically
I bring in new ideas and get others excited about them. At the same time, I plan thoroughly, make well-considered decisions and reliably keep my commitments.
Develop people
I actively develop my team members, trust them with challenging assignments and keep learning myself – I see feedback as an opportunity.
02 · Selected results
What was built under my leadership.
0 – 80
Built Digital Operation in the Krones Group
Built the unit from zero to around 80 people, incl. partner teams, with locations in Germany, India and the Czech Republic – to enable the machine lifecycle with regard to the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and operations. Today an international matrix organization with 24/7 operations.
Edge
Led edge device development and architecture
Owned edge device development and architecture in the Krones Group's global development organization – including the on-premise and edge products of the Krones Operating Platform and the build-up of international development teams in the Czech Republic, India and China.
20+
Built international teams – KDSI from day one
Played a key role in building Krones Digital Solutions India (KDSI) as part of the founding team on site, focusing on Digital Operations 24/7: this team has since grown to more than 20 employees, including network operations, ServiceNow and trainer teams.
CX
Increased customer retention in the subscription business
Built a customer experience team that actively supports customers in the software – significantly increasing subscription renewal rates, now the basis of recurring revenue.
03 · International experience
Working internationally since 2006 – from the Baltics to the U.S.
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2006 – 2011 · ALSO
ERP & logistics in Northern Europe
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Finland (Tampere)
- Norway (Sandefjord)
- Project office Switzerland
Very close to the ERP and logistics processes – a great deal of time on site in the Baltics, with extended assignments in Finland (Tampere) and Norway (Sandefjord), seconded by ALSO after its acquisition of GNT.
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2011 – 2014 · Krones AG
Digitalization in the U.S.
MES North American key account
As MES project manager, developed the digitalization concept for a major North American beverage key account – now rolled out across the customer's operations.
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Today · Digital Operation
Global operations from the matrix
- Close joint operations
- China · India · U.S.
- Own teams
- Germany · India · Czech Republic
- Data expertise & support
- APAC · MEA
Played a key role in building Krones Digital Solutions India as part of the founding team on site, focusing on Digital Operations 24/7 (today 20+ employees). The teams secure and operate connectivity to the connected machine fleet and the cloud platform worldwide.
04 · What I bring
Accountability across countries, customers and results.
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Revenue & P&L accountability
Continuous budget and P&L accountability since 2015: through 2021 for digital revenue from the customer business, end-to-end quote-to-cash – solution design (proposals), order fulfillment from engineering to commissioning, and project management. Today P&L accountability for the subscription and recurring service business (ARR model) based on modular service agreements, incl. data-driven retrofit and secure remote access.
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High-performing service organization
Built the unit from zero to around 80 people, incl. partner teams, with locations in Germany, India and the Czech Republic – with service management, platform operations, customer support, training and network commissioning; workflow-driven, with a 24/7 network operations center since 2025.
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Customer retention & customer experience
Built a customer experience team that actively supports customers in the software – significantly increasing subscription renewal rates, now the basis of recurring revenue. Customer-specific secure remote access solutions for global key accounts.
-
Leading internationally
On-site work in many countries since 2006 – the Baltics, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, the U.S., India. Business-fluent English (Berlitz certificate), today my everyday working language. Led teams in Germany, India and the Czech Republic and co-founded teams in India; enabled digital service centers in the regions, established a structured feedback culture and monthly international alignment; drove the integration of the China site into the global operating model.
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Governance, processes & reporting
Budget, cost and KPI accountability, clear ownership and escalation paths; ServiceNow as the central ITSM, subscription management in the Salesforce standard process, transparent reporting in Power BI.
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Leading change
Implemented reorganizations in the matrix, led the lifecycle migration of the installed edge base, translated security and compliance requirements (CRA, NIS2) into operations.
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Scaling through automation & AI
Because the platform can only scale through efficient automation: evaluated and introduced AI use cases in operations – with the goal of bringing the digital workforce more fully into day-to-day operations.
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Engineering degree
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Industrial Engineering and Management, Hamburger Fern-Hochschule – completed part-time 2007–2011 alongside a full-time position with international assignments.
05 · Areas of expertise
Where I make an impact.
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01
Building & leading high-performing service organizations
Building organizations from scratch, defining roles and workflows clearly and anchoring a performance-driven, people-centered leadership culture.
-
02
International matrix & regional leadership
Leading distributed teams across sites, time zones and legal entities – with clear governance between global standards and local execution.
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03
Customer relationships & customer lifecycle
Customer satisfaction and retention across the entire lifecycle – from commissioning and hypercare to training, support and renewal.
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04
Strategy, KPI management & reporting
Translating strategy into goals, KPIs and roadmaps; efficient processes, clear accountabilities and effective reporting.
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05
Revenue, P&L & budget accountability
P&L and budget accountability for digital revenue in the customer business, quote-to-cash from proposal to commissioning; capacity planning and recurring contract models.
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06
Security, compliance & lifecycle (CRA, NIS2)
Secure operation of connected machines at the interface of OT and IT – with patch, certificate and asset lifecycle management as a service.
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07
AI & automation: a digital workforce in operations
Platforms only scale through efficient automation: actively evaluating AI technologies and their applications and deliberately bringing the digital workforce into day-to-day operations.
06 · Career
Steadily growing responsibility – without gaps since 2003.
- 2006Process & quality
- 2011MES project management
- 2015Head of MES Order Mgmt.
- 2017Head of Project Mgmt.
- 2020Head of Operation
- 2022Head of Digital Operation
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2022 – present
Head of Digital Operation
Syskron · Krones Group
Responsible for operating the digital products and services across their entire lifecycle: connectivity, platform onboarding, monitoring, service management, customer support and training. International matrix organization: built the unit from zero to around 80 people, incl. partner teams, with locations in Germany, India and the Czech Republic. The teams secure and operate connectivity to the connected machine fleet and the cloud platform worldwide, incl. network commissioning and customer-specific secure remote access solutions for global key accounts. Integrated into the product organization of Krones AG since 2025.
Current areas of responsibility
Edge
Installed edge base in the field; led the lifecycle migration of the installed edge base
Security & CRA
IT/OT security of connected machines – Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2
Lifecycle
Machine lifecycle service in line with the CRA: patches, certificates, assets
24/7 operations
Network operations center since 2025; monitoring and service management
Fleet management
Centrally managing edge devices in the installed base and keeping them up to date
Platform & SaaS
Krones Operating Platform, subscriptions and annual recurring revenue (ARR)
Remote access
Connectivity, network commissioning and secure remote access
Customer experience
Onboarding, support and training; renewal rates significantly increased
AI & automation
Evaluated and introduced AI use cases in operations; digital workforce in day-to-day operations
Internationally, the teams work very closely with China, India and the U.S. in day-to-day operations; other regions such as APAC and MEA are supported with data expertise and support.
- Built the unit from zero to around 80 people, incl. partner teams, with locations in Germany, India and the Czech Republic; 24/7 network operations center since 2025
- P&L accountability for the subscription and recurring service business (ARR model) based on modular service agreements, incl. data-driven retrofit and secure remote access.
- Built a customer experience team; subscription renewal rates significantly increased
Concurrently, interim · 01/2022 – 09/2023
Head of Krones Operating Platform
In the Krones Group's global development organization: strategy of the Operating Platform within the matrix organization; responsible for developing the on-premise and edge products. Built the platform organization across several legal entities and international development teams in the Czech Republic, India and China.
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2020 – 2021
Head of Operation
Syskron · Krones Group
Responsible for solution design (proposals), order fulfillment from engineering to commissioning, and project management – for filling lines and process technology such as CSD systems.
- Budget and P&L accountability for digital revenue from the customer business in the double-digit million euro range
- End-to-end quote-to-cash in one hand: from proposal to commissioning at the customer site
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2017 – 2020
Head of Project Management
Syskron · Krones Group
Project management and order fulfillment (engineering to commissioning) for the digital solutions in the customer business – for filling lines and process technology such as CSD systems – with budget and P&L accountability for digital revenue.
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2015 – 2017
Head of MES Order Management
Krones AG
First head-of role with revenue responsibility: order fulfillment for MES and digital solutions in the customer business – from engineering to commissioning.
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2011 – 2014
Project Manager MES
Krones AG
Project management for manufacturing execution systems.
- Developed the digitalization concept for a major North American beverage key account – now rolled out across the customer's operations
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2010 – 2011
IT Coordinator
ALSO
- ALSO 2006–2011: very close to the ERP and logistics processes; a great deal of time on site in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with extended assignments in Finland (Tampere) and Norway (Sandefjord), seconded by ALSO after its acquisition of GNT; project office in Switzerland
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2009 – 2010
Lead Business Process Owner
ALSO
Concurrently, part-time · 2007 – 2011
B.Eng. Industrial Engineering and Management
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule (HFH, University of Applied Sciences, distance learning), part-time alongside a full-time position at ALSO (incl. international assignments). Graduated 12/2011.
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2006 – 2009
Quality Control Agent
ALSO
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2003 – 2006
Apprenticeship: IT Systems Management Assistant (IHK)
ALSO GmbH · training company
During the apprenticeship: Cisco CCNA, 2006 (official certification).
2007–2011 · B.Eng. part-time
Leadership since 2015
since 2022 · subscription & ARR
2015–2021 · digital revenue, customer business · double-digit €M range
07 · How I lead
Five principles you can hold me to.
-
I
Take ownership where others hesitate.
Make decisions and stand behind the outcome – even when the situation is unclear.
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II
Provide structure so creativity can thrive.
Clear goals, roles and processes create the space in which teams develop new ideas.
-
III
Listen, challenge, move forward together.
High expectations and genuine interest in people belong together.
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IV
Build trust – live reliability.
Keep commitments, communicate transparently, act predictably.
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V
Understanding customers means leading for the long term.
Those who know their customers’ requirements make the right decisions for tomorrow.
“Service that lasts – shaped with responsibility.”
08 · Education & languages
A foundation in engineering, business and IT.
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2007–2011
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Industrial Engineering and Management
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule (HFH, University of Applied Sciences, distance learning), part-time alongside a full-time position at ALSO, incl. international assignments; on-site study phases at the Nuremberg study center. Graduated 12/2011, bachelor’s thesis on an SAP-related topic.
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2003–2006
Apprenticeship: IT Systems Management Assistant (IHK)
German dual vocational training (IT-Systemkaufmann), ALSO GmbH.
Certification Cisco CCNA, 2006 – official, earned during the apprenticeship
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Ongoing
Internal professional development
Internal Krones Group programs, without external certification: leadership programs and training in SAFe, PMP methodology, ITIL and ISO standards; soft skills.
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Languages
German & English
German: native. English: business fluent – my everyday working language in the international matrix organization.
Certificate Berlitz English – official
09 · Personal
Rooted in Lower Bavaria, with a wide view of the world.
Family man, married, two children. Rock and metal are my source of energy, calisthenics brings calm and clarity. And when there is time left, I work on my own maker projects.
At drinktec: German, English – and Bavarian.
Contact
Let’s talk.
I'm happy to exchange views on service organizations, digital lifecycle and operating connected machines – and welcome speaking and networking requests.
The full résumé (2 pages) is available here as a PDF.
Résumé (PDF) (opens in new tab) Email matthias.hlinka@gmail.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/matthias-hlinka (opens in new tab) Save contact (download vCard)Contact card (vCard) for phone, Outlook and other address books.