Decision SPARRING
For a defined decision, we jointly assess options, economic implications, risks and next steps.
A transparent decision basis with priorities, accountabilities and next steps.
Frank Hummel · SPARRING
Executive sparring for your next decision.
Are you facing a significant investment or a change that needs to move forward in your company? I bring my experience of building, leading and selling a business to the table. Together, we examine the economic implications, set priorities and prepare decisions. Where needed, I support implementation through a clearly agreed fixed-term mandate.
Entrepreneur since 1993, with first-hand experience of building, growing and selling a business. Certified advisory board member (Beirat BW).
Start a Confidential ConversationYour Decision Situation
Which Decision Are You Facing?
We start with the decision that requires a robust basis, then define the right engagement model together.
Entrepreneurial sparring partner for executive management, shareholders and advisory boards.
Frank Hummel brings first-hand experience of building businesses, growth, sale and corporate integration to decisions. Together, we clarify options, commercial implications and the next implementation steps.
Realign the Business Model
Markets, margins or customer expectations are shifting. You need a robust target state and clear priorities before committing capital and organisational capacity.
De-Risk a Major Investment at Executive Level
You are facing a major capital commitment and need an independent owner and CFO perspective. In SPARRING, we challenge TCO, returns, risk, debt-service capacity and alternatives - regardless of the technical discipline.
Technical All-Electric analysis: REVOLUTION EMove Transformation into Execution
The direction is clear, but ownership, sequence or momentum are missing. We translate strategy into prioritised workstreams, clear accountability and measurable outcomes.
Prepare for Growth, Succession or Exit
The next chapter is becoming real. We assess value drivers, structures, timing and transition from the perspective of owners, management and shareholders.
Gain an Independent Executive Counterpart
Management, shareholders or the board need an experienced perspective without an internal agenda - confidential, candid and focused on consequences and execution.
Complex decisions begin with a confidential conversation and an approach tailored to your situation.
Start a Confidential ConversationEngagement Models
Three Engagements. Clearly Defined Scope.
The engagement model follows your task, the support required and the agreed scope.
Advisory Board
Ongoing strategic guidance for executive management and shareholders. Responsibilities, information rights and authority are agreed; formal board powers do not arise automatically.
Independent input on strategy, investment and transformation priorities at agreed intervals.
Fixed-Term Implementation
A focused, fixed-term execution mandate for electrical transformation. Responsibilities, authority, availability, milestones and handover are agreed. It does not cover general interim management or installation services.
Coordinated implementation with the internal team and specialist partners through the agreed handover.
Before starting, we agree the task, time commitment, decision rights, remuneration and handover. The advisory-board role and REVOLUTION E services are clarified transparently and separately.
About Frank Hummel
Entrepreneurship. Sparring. Governance.
I know entrepreneurial decisions from personal accountability: from building and growing a company through its sale and integration into a corporate group. From 2020 to 2023, my leadership responsibility as Head of Energy Technology at ZÜBLIN within the STRABAG Group added the perspective of a large corporation to this experience.
Entrepreneur since 1993
2020–2023: Head of Energy Technology at ZÜBLIN within the STRABAG Group.
1,000+ historical HUMMEL Systemhaus projects in planning, project coordination and service
Vendor-independent and P&L-focused - author of 'Highway to Climate Hell'
How the Engagement Starts
From an Open Question to a Robust Decision
01
Clarify the Situation
Confidential Initial ConversationWe clarify the real decision, stakeholder interests, time pressure and risk.
02
Evaluate the Options
Clearly Defined ScopeWe assess economics, consequences and options with the relevant decision-makers.
03
Support Execution Under a Mandate
Fixed-Term Execution MandateOnly under a separately agreed mandate, I support execution beyond the roadmap with the internal team and specialist partners through handover.
SPARRING leads to an economically grounded decision with clear accountabilities. Where implementation support is needed, we agree a separate, fixed-term mandate.
Electrical Transformation Needs Entrepreneurial Leadership.
Energy investments affect costs, operations and the development of a site. I help management and shareholders clarify the economic direction and prioritise the right steps. As an advisory board member, I support strategic decisions. Through a separate fixed-term engagement, I can coordinate implementation with your team and specialist partners. The REVOLUTION E All-Electric Site Assessment evaluates power, heat, process heat and mobility together. Specialist partners remain responsible for design and delivery.
From Practice
Business experience in action.
I combine technical expertise with a business perspective on investment, operations and implementation. I put this experience to work in workshops with construction companies and in dialogue with owner-led businesses.
ZÜBLIN · WORKSHOP
Building services in residential construction – assessing technical choices and their economics together.
MÖRK · WORKSHOP
Building services in residential construction – considering design and subsequent operation together.
BUSINESS TALK · OWEN
The electric future: opportunities for businesses.
Teckbote report (partly behind a paywall)
Certification · Beirat BW - Qualified Advisory Board Member View Board Profile
Author & Speaker
Highway to Climate Hell
A practical field guide to the energy transition. As an author, I turn complex interdependencies into clear, accessible insights; as a keynote speaker, I create shared understanding that moves leadership teams to action.
For leaders ready to move from intent to execution
Advisory Board & Executive Sparring
Independent Perspective at Board Level
As a certified advisory board member with Beirat BW, I challenge and support shareholders, executive management and leadership teams with an independent, candid perspective. I combine strategic judgment with first-hand accountability for building, scaling and transforming a business - focused on results, impact and value creation.
Particular strength at the intersection of strategy, energy, infrastructure and orchestrated execution. First-hand responsibility for growth, strategic realignment, company sale and post-merger integration.
View Board Profile
- Strategy
- Transformation
- Profitable Growth & Scaling
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Energy Infrastructure
- Years of Experience
- 30+
- Certified
- Beirat BW
Frequently Asked Questions
SPARRING at a Glance
Which companies is SPARRING for?
For owner-led and mid-sized companies whose executive management, shareholders or advisory board face a decision involving substantial capital or organisational commitment.
How does an engagement begin?
With a confidential, complimentary 15-minute initial conversation. We clarify the decision at hand, when it must be made and whether my sparring is the right contribution.
What does the engagement cover?
We agree the scope to suit the task: preparing a specific decision, supporting management and shareholders as an advisory board member, or coordinating implementation through a separate, time-limited engagement. We clarify responsibilities, time commitment, decision-making authority and handover before starting. We transparently distinguish the advisory board role from services provided by REVOLUTION E.
How do SPARRING and REVOLUTION E relate to each other?
Where an energy investment is at stake, the REVOLUTION E All-Electric Site Assessment adds an assessment of the site to the sparring engagement. Both services can also be commissioned independently.
Ready to Move the Next Critical Decision Forward?
A confidential initial conversation is enough to sharpen the situation and determine whether my entrepreneurial sparring is the right contribution to your decision.