Wijchen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Proven track record of 20+ years in entrepreneurship, leadership and international business development. Shaping organizations to fit market needs. Demonstrating a keen focus on profitable growth, customer satisfaction, team spirit, innovation and continuous improvements. An energetic and creative leader, placing a high value on developing a committed and motivated team, building a culture of innovation and resourcefulness for business development. Results driven, translating vision and strategy into achievable goals, ensuring an adequate sense of urgency. Decisive in actions after concise and adequate analysis, devising creative solutions and leading others to do the same. Exacting and hands-on in execution by experimenting and ´learning by doing’. Sharing victories and defeats as one team, seizing opportunities to develop as a team and as individuals. Feeling at home in entrepreneurial organizations targeting further growth of turn over and profits. A (niche) market leader with a solid reputation in innovation, customer satisfaction and operational excellence. Cooperating with professionals in a joyful atmosphere, passionately and dedicated, having the interests of the company and its customers at heart.
Owner and founder of Romacs - international business development, general management and turnarounds - interim / fulltime / participation as shareholder. Clients in The Netherlands included Van Riet in Houten, Vanderlande Industries in Veghel and Nive in Raalte.
‘Stichting Quality Boards’ is an independent non-profit organization to improve the quality and transparency of supervisory boards in the Netherlands. ‘Stichting Quality Boards’ offers supervisory directors the opportunity to enter into dialogue with each other and to find answers to today’s relevant matters.
Veldkamp is an OEM-independent service provider for industrial machinery and production lines, with combined mechanical, electrical, software and controls expertise. With a annual turnover of approximately €10 million Veldkamp has its roots in overhauling and servicing of packaging and filling machines. In addition, Veldkamp builds custom new machines and customized conversions of existing machines from its factory in Raalte, Netherlands. Transitioned to Managing Director in November 2017. Core objective was to develop the foundations of the company to facilitate further expansion of the business and achieve sustainable growth of revenues and EBIT. After forming a new Management Team, the mission, vision and core values were revitalized and the companies’ strategy was developed to focus on (1) Customer loyalty, order intake & contract management, (2) Total Quality Management, (3) Financial performance, (4) Culture, autonomy , urgency & ownership and (5) Employee development & job satisfaction. By the end of 2017 this resulted in a positive turnaround in revenues and EBIT. Transparency was improved by the implementation of financial and non-financial KPI-overviews. Loss-making participations were sold and a range of improvement plans were executed. Smart working procedures were developed and implemented to inspire team work as well as to improve sales, contract management, purchasing and project management. Order intake, cash flow, quality, sick leave and return on projects showed noticeable improvements. To lift the brand awareness of Veldkamp, marketing communication was intensified, focusing on both the labor market and the market for (potential new) customers. Mainly through digital, social media and SEO, but also through other channels such as print, fairs and congresses and by increasing presence with relations and prospects. Over 40 FTEs were hired since 2018.
Implementing project & contract management, operational processes and workflows to increase quality, customer & employee satisfaction and long term profitability. Encouraging ownership for budgets, planning, quality, sharing information and working together with a keen eye for business risks and opportunities. Close cooperation with Finance, Sales and HR. Coaching the Management Team and keeping company values top of mind. Inspiring company culture, team spirit and sense of belonging. P&L responsible and member of the board.
Managing Director of Business Unit International at Vanderlande Industries B.V. in Veghel, The Netherlands, reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors with responsibility for sales, delivery and turnkey execution of material handling systems at airports, warehouses and distribution centers worldwide, including service, maintenance and operations. Leading the management team (sales, execution, service, HRM and finance). Directly responsible for subsidiaries in Pune, Shanghai, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Oslo, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Dubai and Moscow including key account management responsibilities for several strategic accounts. With P&L responsibility, led the turnaround of loss-making Business Unit, recovering per annum revenues and EBIT to levels from 2013, tripling revenues to € 130 million and achieving all-time high EBIT in 2015. Reorganized the BU into a lean matrix organization installing a cross functional BU-Management-Team with integral targets and goals to achieve a one third reduction in costs; halving overruns in execution and doubling hit rates on sales quotations. Expanded geographically into Latin America, Australia and Asia Pacific while further boosting service revenues and profits. Implemented effective and efficient sales processes. Careful selection of opportunities doubled hit rates on quotations with increased transparency and accuracy on cost calculations by multifunctional and self-managing quotation-teams including execution staff. Overruns in execution were more than halved. Expanding geographically into Latin America, Australia and Asia Pacific while boosting service revenues and profits. Focusing on customer loyalty and employer satisfaction, celebrating successes and ‘learning by doing’.