Chris Hafner

chris hafner

Senior Digital Strategy Advisor / Venture Builder / Go-to-Market Strategy

United Kingdom

Bio Summary

Exceptional background in digital strategy, transformation, business development and acceleration, supporting corporate clients in forming, shaping and executing plans to drive digitalization efforts. 

Proven ability to lead diverse teams by example, ensuring they are highly motivated and equipped to develop innovative digital strategies, capabilities, and competitive differentiators. Leadership style encourages a proactive approach to individual and team contributions in digital strategy development and execution.

Successful track record of guiding corporate clients through ideation, validation, pilot and implementation phases of their digital transformation journey often by ‘rolling up the sleeves and doing whatever it takes’ to deliver new digital capabilities.

Proactive in coordinating and collaborating internally and with partners, supporting business development efforts, and taking on additional roles, such as recruitment, publications, and market promotion. This comprehensive approach helps drive the success of digital transformation projects and go-to-market strategies for new digital offerings.

Demonstrated ability to prepare and deliver engaging presentations on digital strategy-related topics to various stakeholders, including mid to senior management to boards, clients, partners and investors, effectively conveying complex digital strategies and their potential impact on the organization's goals and objectives.

Availability

Availability:

Available

Constraints:

None

Employment History

Almaaber Advisors

Strategic Advisor Innovation Leader

Almaaber Advisors

2019 - present

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

 Co-created Strategic Plans and developed Digital Transformation Programs resulting in Digital Adoption, Margin Expansion and Scalable Growth across a wide range of industries with a primary focus in the Middle East and No ...see more
Davies Consulting

Executive Director Chief Operating Officer

Davies Consulting

January 2017 - December 2019

London, UK

● Rapidly grew net new revenue >20% by creating a Strategy & Innovation consulting capability. Won new business in Financial Services, Insurance, Med-tech and Life Sciences ● Expanded Gross Margin by 30% thru business m ...see more
Aspirant

CEO VP Strategy Director European Operations

Aspirant

January 2012 - December 2017

London, UK

● 2012 - 2013: Authored global growth strategy identifying 3 key geographies (2 domestics, 1 international) ● 2013 - 2016: Grew revenues to +£5M after relocating to London to lead the international growth agenda. Expan ...see more
Archipelago Services

Founder and CEO

Archipelago Services

January 2009 - December 2012

● Founded innovative digital platform-based service offering in the residential real estate property services/global corporate relocation services industry ● Geographic expansion in 14 months to all 50 United States and ...see more
Point Management Group Consulting

Principal Advisor

Point Management Group Consulting

January 2005 - December 2010

● Identified investment (Seed, Series A) opportunities, develop term sheets, negotiate terms for $60M fund ● Grew services revenues >150% in under 24 months in Financial Services, Medical Devices, Chemicals, and Primary ...see more

Selected Project Experience

Project Description:
Masterminded the ideation, research, innovative design, and execution of a strategic expansion blueprint for revolutionary cognitive services in the technology & digital sector, dedicated to bolstering NEOM—the futuristic $500B sustainable cognitive city giga-project—the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategic development program.

Industry: Technology

Topic(s): Applications Of Artificial Intelligence, Product Innovation, Behavioral Science, Product Design, Digital Strategy

Project Description:
Crafted and executed the ecosystem strategy and transformation roadmap for the intermediary division of one of the UK's preeminent retail banking brands. Identified significant mega-trends and critical challenges, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive transformation roadmap that incorporated distribution channels, emerging propositions, digital solutions, Intelligent Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and API commercialization, driving an annual impact of £5B in new business and retention. Played a key role in shaping the investment thesis and process for the corporate venture program.

Industry: Financial Services

Topic(s): Business Strategy, Digital Experience Strategy, Product Design, Digital Strategy, Business Transformation

Project Description:
As an advisor to the Chief Digital and Strategy Officer at NEOM, collaborated with multiple executive stakeholders and the NEOM partner ecosystem to deliver expert advice, alignment, and clarity for critical foundational decisions concerning the product portfolio strategy of the world's most advanced sustainable cognitive city.

Industry: Technology

Topic(s): Investment Advisory, Digital Strategy, Business Strategy

Project Description:
Provided expert guidance to the board and executive management of a leading £3.2B insurance and wealth management company on the expansion of their operations into the UK market through the establishment of a specialized digital and AI venture unit. Effectively facilitated the discovery and selection of early-stage and start-up companies in FinTech, InsurTech, and HealthTech, leading to a successful £30M investment.

Industry: Insurance

Topic(s): Investment Strategy, Business Strategy, Digital Strategy, Innovation Strategy

Project Description:
Headed the formulation of the data strategy and spearheaded the transformation initiative to establish an avant-garde insights and innovation capability, underpinned by a fortified analytics platform, which harnessed the power of data science and AI for a prominent challenger motor insurer based in the UK. The outcome was a significant shift in the decision-making process towards the operational front, resulting in an extraordinary 85% surge in profit and a remarkable 35% augmentation in new business volumes. Additionally, identified novel product possibilities in the core business and adjoining market segments.

Industry: Insurance

Topic(s): Data Governance, Digital Strategy, Innovation Strategy, Data Transformation

Education

Post Graduate Diploma / Masters in Strategy & Innovation

Said Business School

2015

Availability

Availability:

Available

Constraints:

None

Language Skills

Country Experience

Egypt Saudi Arabia Thailand United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States

Skills

Law, Regulation, and Compliance

Corporate Governance

Business

Digital Transformation,

Innovation Strategy,

Due Diligence,

Stakeholder Management,

Organizational Strategy,

Portfolio Strategy,

Product Strategy,

Strategy Execution,

Strategy Map

Finance

Venture Capital

Project & Program Management

Marketing and Public Relations

Market Access Strategy

Sales

Sales Strategy

Strategy & Planning

Industry Experience

Financial Services

Insurance

Technology

FinTech,

MedTech

Professional Services

Management Consulting

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products

Medical Products & Tech

Principal Investors

Private Equity,

Venture Capital

Consumer Products

Energy

Metals & Mining

Automotive