Our Leadership
It’s the movers and shakers who make the world turn. Those who take the liberty to act. To design new technologies to remove obstacles.
Chief Executive Officer
Karsten Renz, co-founder and CEO of OPTIMAL SYSTEMS, is responsible for strategic company management. He primarily focuses on achieving solid financial growth, continuously optimizing cutting-edge, innovative business processes, and expanding strategic networks. Renz studied computer science with a focus on business at Technische Universität (TU) Berlin from 1987 to 1991. During that time, he took part in projects at WIB Weltrauminstitut Berlin GmbH to compile image databases for the aviation and aerospace industry. Together with his classmate Sven Sauer, he founded OPTIMAL SYSTEMS GmbH as a spin-off of WIB in 1991.
During the company’s early years, Renz was responsible for sales, marketing, and administration, while Sauer oversaw the development of new technologies and product management.
Chief Operations Officer
After completing his studies in computer science at the TU Berlin, Wolf stayed on at the university for several years as a researcher and authored the PEtS software development method. He served the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, unions, and research institutes as a consultant on software development methods. In 1991, Wolf switched to the private sector, where he moved from Berlin-based Condat AG to positions such as Managing Director of the Web CMS start-up The BtoB Company. Prior to joining OPTIMAL SYSTEMS, he spent eight years as a Management Board member and CTO of Klopotek AG and as Managing Director of Klopotek UK. During this time, he also actively served on advisory boards and consortia.
Wolf has been part of OPTIMAL SYSTEMS since 2013, and started by revamping product management. He has served as COO for all operational business units since 2015.
Chief Services Delivery Officer
Björn Grabe is responsible for the Professional Services business unit. This provides the full spectrum of technical customer and partner support, from consulting and implementation, to training and technical support, through to operating customer systems. After completing his studies in computer sciences for the production industry, Grabe began working as a consultant for DMS projects at OPTIMAL SYSTEMS in 1995. In 1998, he assumed leadership of the Consulting and Support team, and built it up into the current Professional Services division. The certified engineer sees the new field of cloud services as an important challenge, and works together with his colleagues on corresponding services.
Chief Technology Evangelist
Dr. Olaf Holst became Chief Technology Evangelist in 2018. Previously, he was responsible for the expansion of the international sales network and business development in the industrial and service sectors. Prior to that, Holst served as Sales Director at OPTIMAL SYSTEMS. He holds a PhD in philosophy as well as a graduate degree in engineering. Along with that, he has in-depth expertise in sales, IT, and company organization. He served as Senior Manager Partner Sales at AuthentiDate International AG and Head Partner Manager at Ceyoniq AG. Prior to that, Holst was Head of Sales at FurniNet Service GmbH. His work at several companies under the aegis of Gildemeister AG allowed him to gain many years of experience in mechanical and plant engineering.
Director Marketing & Brand Strategy
Sven Kaiser is head of the Marketing & Brand Strategy business unit. He oversees the planning and implementation of marketing activities that supports sales. After completing specialized training in hotel management and marketing communication, as well as working as a consultant in B2B full-service advertising agencies in Dortmund and Berlin, he studied at imk Berlin as well as Miami Ad School (in cooperation with Florida International University), earning a master’s degree in Communication and Advertising. Kaiser joined OPTIMAL SYSTEMS in late 1999.
Director Sales D/A/CH Region
Andreas Kalz has been responsible for the sales department in the D/A/CH-area since 2017. After initially working for the group in 2005 as a sales representative, Kalz moved to Bundesdruckerei (Federal Printing Office) three years later. Here he took over the sales management for the trusted solutions division. Upon his return to OPTIMAL SYSTEMS in 2013, Kalz took over the position of Sales Manager.
Andreas Kalz holds a degree in communications engineering. He achieved his first sales successes in 1995 in the communications technology division of Siemens AG, from where he moved to the software industry in 2013.
Chief Finance Officer
Andreas Karger is responsible for centralized Group tasks in the area of finance and administration. His area of responsibility includes leading the back office, accounting, HR planning, and HR development. After completing training to become a retail salesman, he earned a degree in business administration. He held a number of roles at several companies in a comparable position before coming to OPTIMAL SYSTEMS in late 2007, where he now serves as a member of management.
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Nikola Milanovic has been responsible for product development at OPTIMAL SYSTEMS since 2014. He oversees software development for the product lines enaio® and yuuvis®, as well as quality assurance, maintenance, and agile development processes. Previously, Milanovic served as CEO of Model Labs GmbH as well as Senior Consultant and Team Leader at GAI NetConsult GmbH. In 2001, Milanovic completed his studies in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Belgrade. In 2005, he earned his doctorate from the Department of Computer Science at Humboldt University in Berlin. In 2010, he acquired habilitation and qualified as Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department at the TU Berlin, where he also worked as a research assistant.