Dr. Joachim von Heimburg is one of the most experienced innovation practitioners in the EMEA Industry. Innovating to create business value is the theme of his professional life. As an independent Innovation Architect, Executive Advisor and Board Member he helps companies to improve their innovation processes and create sustainable business value by innovation. As founder and Managing Director of jvhinnovation gmbh, a boutique consulting firm on innovation and industrial R&D he designs and implements business development, R&D and innovation strategies, processes and structures and makes them operational driving the business. This he supports by creating an environment fostering an innovative spirit and entrepreneurial activities. His expertise is based on a deep understanding of innovation and a profound expertise in industrial R&D, Product Development, and Consumer Research. Key assignments:


2012–Present: Innovation Architect and Executive Advisor on state-of-the-art innovation strategies, processes, tools, and organizational structures.


2010–2012: General Manager Innovation and Corporate Program at SABIC, one of the leading global chemical companies. In this new position working for SABIC's top management he laid the foundations for a more innovate SABIC. He created new, state-of-the-art innovation capabilities and structures like corporate venturing and incubation, global technology scouting, company-wide employee innovatino drive, the Corporate Research and Innovation Centre at the new Saudi Arabian elite university KAUST.


2009–2010: Executive Advisor on innovation management helping executives to innovate how they innovate and creating industry innovation networks(Open Innovation Alliance - a group of European Multinationals committed to innovation as a driver for sustainable business growth and striving to develop their innovation capabilities and competencies). He also published a monograph on innovation processes in industry as part of a book of the European Business School, Germany.


2006– 2009: Director Innovation & Knowledge at Procter & Gamble creating and leading the organizational and culture change from traditional R&D to Open Innovation systems (Connect & Develop) in Europe/Middle East/Africa.


1997–2006: International Product and Brand Development Director at P&G (co)leading e.g. the launch of the tissue paper business (Charmin, Bounty) in Europe.


He gathered a plenty of multi-cultural on-the-ground working experience in seven countries (Belgium, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Turkey and the USA).Joachim has rich and diverse experience in working in technical and business organizations, being a past member of the European Tissue Symposium (ETS) and Research & Innovation committees of the EU (EPC) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC).


He currently sits on the Board of the Chemistry & Industry Section (VCW) of the German Chemical Society. He is a personal member of EIRMA (European Industrial Research Management Association, affiliated with the US Industrial Research Institute) and is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).


He holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics of the University of Marburg, Germany. In addition to physics, he studied economics at the University of Frankfurt, Germany.


For more details see the following website:


JvH LinkedIn Profile


Favorite Quote:  The best way to predict the future is to create it (Peter F. Drucker)

Favorite Book:   Brilliant Mistakes (Paul J. H. Shoemaker)

Favorite Film:   Hoosiers (with Gene Hackman)

Contact:             joachim@jvhinnovation.de