Cloud to ground

Over 40 years of experience combined

Executive operators & transformation partners

We are a senior executive duo working from cloud to ground – from strategy to execution in operations and organisation. As strategic sparring partners and as fractional and interim executives, we lead operational transformation with people at the center, aligning performance with human growth.

Why us · The duo

Two executive leaders,
one partnership.

We bring decades of executive experience in operations and organisation: as partners in work and in life. Together we move from strategy to execution, connecting boardroom decisions with shop-floor reality.

360° view of operations

From board and ExCom work to day-to-day network and warehouse operations, across 30+ countries and multiple business models – from asset-heavy logistics to asset-light services. We understand how decisions travel through organisations and how they show up in KPIs, customer experience and culture.

One shared core

A common backbone in warehouse and network operations, a strong consulting toolkit, retail and service expertise, and a leadership style known for clarity, empathy and high EQ. We are both operators and thinkers – equally at home in data rooms, warehouses and board meetings – giving clients a stable, values-driven center of gravity when stakes and speed are high.

Deliberately different

Engineering and wholesale on one side; data, machine learning and the service industry on the other.

We cut through complexity so leaders can commit to the right decisions and translate what works in one context into another – always with a human, compassionate leadership style.

Why us · The individuals

Two senior executives,
no hand-offs in
between.

You are not buying a brand name and getting juniors. You work directly with us – two senior executives with complementary track records. The people you meet at the start are the ones who design the approach and do the work.

Ben Lechner

Core sectors:  Electrical wholesale · E-commerce & parcel · Tech & telecom · Industrial B2B

Senior executive in end-to-end supply chain, transport, logistics and general management. Former SVP Supply Chain Transformation at Sonepar, shaping global supply chain and transport strategy across 40+ countries; Director of EU Network Operations and 3P Logistics at Amazon, leading a >€5bn P&L and 100+ sites in 26 countries; and Business Unit CEO at DHL Supply Chain for telecoms and technology.

Focus areas Network and route design · Transport and 3P logistics strategy · Procurement and commercials · Operational excellence in distribution networks · Turnaround of underperforming operations.

Laetitia Johnson

Core sectors:  Sports & lifestyle retail · Marketing & media · Logistics & fulfilment · Professional services

COO and operations leader across logistics, retail and marketing services. Currently COO Dentsu DACH, reshaping core operations, systems and vendor ecosystems; formerly VP Global Operations Excellence at Adidas, building a global portfolio of automation, capacity and sustainability initiatives with a €100m+ investment budget; and Managing Director at DHL Supply Chain in France with full P&L responsibility for multi-site operations.

Focus areas COO and operating model design · Large-scale transformation and program leadership · Data-led decision-making · Automation and capacity expansion · Vendor and ecosystem management · Building high-performing, engaged teams.

DHL
Amazon
Sonepar
Adidas
Dentsu
Decorative element
Why us · The network

A connected network of operators,
not a crowded pyramid.

We are connectors by nature, with a deep network of specialists, operators and advisors across industries and regions. Where it adds real value, we bring them in alongside us – so you access a broader capability without the overhead of a large firm.

Tap into our network
What we do

Four ways we typically work with clients.

From stepping in as hands-on executives to acting as discreet sparring partners and running outside-in diagnostics – our work spans leadership, transformation, advisory and structured health checks.

01 · Interim & Fractional C-Suite Leadership

When you need senior operational leadership now – without waiting for a full search.

We step in as interim (3–12 months, near full-time) or fractional leaders (1–3 days per week) with clear mandates to stabilise, improve or transform core operations.

COO / Head of Operations · Head of Supply Chain & Transport · Head of Procurement (direct & indirect) · Head of Operations Excellence · Transformation Lead.

02 · Transformation & Program Leadership

For critical initiatives with complex stakeholder landscapes, organisational resistance or delivery that is drifting off-plan.

We bring program discipline, structure and governance, aligning stakeholders and driving execution until outcomes are delivered and embedded.

Operating model redesign · Supply chain, logistics and fulfilment transformation · Process efficiency and cost reduction · Automation and AI implementation · Systems rationalisation and landscape simplification · Performance improvement and restructuring · Large commercial programs and contract negotiations.

03 · Strategic Advisory for Senior Executives & Investors

A trusted, experienced sparring partner when it feels lonely at the top and decisions are complex.

We work as discreet thought partners on leadership, strategy and capital allocation.

Designing and developing winning teams – from your first team to key individuals and your own role as a leader · Strategic options, scenario reviews and high-stakes decisions – framing choices, risks and trade-offs · Preparation and follow-up for boards and investment committees – sharpening storylines, anticipating questions and influencing key stakeholders.

04 · Outside-in Diagnostics & Health Checks

Fast, structured outside-in assessments to see what is really happening – in operations, governance and teams.

We talk to people, review data and observe the work, then cut through noise to a few practical priorities and clear next steps.

Project and project portfolio health check · Data maturity review – “Ready for AI?” · KPI and performance management system review · Operations Excellence maturity scan · Procurement and vendor governance health check · Team capability and leadership bench assessment.

Who we work with

Leaders, companies and investors
where operations sit at the core.

We typically work with organisations where daily execution, networks and supply chains are central to value creation – and where leadership wants a clear, people-centred path from strategy to operations.

01 · Leaders
CEOs, COOs and Managing Directors

CEOs, COOs, Managing Directors (Geschäftsführung) and senior leaders stepping into new roles or leading significant change – often with complex stakeholder landscapes and high expectations on delivery.

02 · Companies
Mid- to large-sized companies

Mid- to large-sized companies in logistics, distribution, retail, consumer goods and marketing / media services – businesses where supply chains, transport and service operations are core to the P&L.

03 · Investors
Private equity and growth investors

Private equity and growth investors with operationally intensive portfolio companies – looking to strengthen governance, leadership bench and day-to-day performance, beyond the deal itself.

We are based in Zurich and work with clients across Europe and beyond.

How to start

A short conversation
to see if we are the right partners.

Most engagements start with a short call to understand your context and whether we are the right partners for you:

  • Your situation, challenges and priorities
  • Where operations, organisation and leadership stand today
  • What kind of support would create the most impact

Leave a few lines below and we will get back to you personally.

Ben Lechner & Laetitia Johnson Executive operators & transformation partners

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