Peter Pilawa

About Peter Pilawa

Throughout my career, I’ve built a reputation for transforming ambiguity into clarity—challenging outdated systems and driving strategic impact across global operations, technology, and planning. With over 20 years at Audi of America, I’ve led some of the most high-stakes transformations in the company’s history, from navigating the TDI emissions crisis to reshaping how the organization operates, plans, and measures success.My journey has never been linear—and that’s intentional. I’m driven by curiosity. I question assumptions, challenge legacy thinking, and constantly ask: Why do we do it this way? What if there’s a better way? That mindset led me to replace siloed, long-term planning with agile, quarterly OKRs across the company—compressing strategy meetings from 3 hours to 45 minutes and creating a globally recognized model for transparency and execution.I’ve also redefined how Audi engages with its customers. From launching a CLV model that prevented a 4pp drop in retention amid a recall-heavy period, to crafting Audi’s first end-to-end customer journey and data architecture map, I’ve built the systems, insights, and alignment to put customer-centricity into action.Beyond strategy, I’ve led transformative initiatives such as a $2B EV charging rollout with Electrify America and redesigned our multi-million dollar dealer margin system—launching a real-time app that improved dealer satisfaction by 10 points. I’m proud to have influenced decisions at the CEO level, managed global consulting firms like McKinsey, and brought together cross-functional teams to act with precision in moments of crisis.But I don’t lead with ego. I lead with clarity and conviction—often without a team or a large budget—and empower others to do their best work. What I value most is building systems that outlast me, decisions that make sense in the long term, and a culture where people feel safe questioning the status quo.Because real transformation doesn’t start with answers. It starts with the right questions.

Experience

1. Director, Strategic Transformation & Epmo

   Audi of America

   Jan 2022 — Present · Reston, VA, US

   Tapped by the CEO to bring our long-term vision to life. My mission? Turn strategy into action—aligning teams, accelerating innovation, and ensuring that electrification, digitalization, and growth weren’t just ideas, but measurable outcomes.One of my first major moves was to scale the OKR methodology companywide. By replacing rigid planning with agile, outcome-focused execution, we boosted organizational alignment by 20%. I also introduced a real-time reporting system that replaced traditional decks—enabling 45-minute strategy reviews and setting a new benchmark for transparency and efficiency.When faced with customer churn risks during a period of heavy recalls, I developed a segmentation model based on CLV data. This not only helped us avoid a 4-point drop in retention but also shifted internal decision-making toward a more data-driven, customer-centric approach.I also led the rebrand of Silvercar into Audi on Demand in under five months—aligning global teams, untangling past missteps, and boosting brand cohesion and market trust.

Education

• Justus Liebig University Giessen

  Dipl. Kfm., Business, Economics

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  Master, Economics

• Wayne State University

  MBA, Strategy Management

• Georgetown University

  Master of Technology Management, Technology Management