Gideon van Zyl

Chief of Staff & Ops Performance at Flink | Ex-Bain | CA(SA)

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

About

As a Chief of Staff at Flink, ex-consultant at Bain & Company and a Chartered Accountant holding an Honours degree in Financial Accounting from Stellenbosch University, I bring valuable experience from various industries, including On-demand Grocery Delivery, Consumer Goods, Retail, Advanced Manufacturing, and Private Equity. Beyond high-level planning, I am passionate about executing strategy—working hands-on by leading an Ops Performance team to drive KPI improvements, execute hub turnarounds, and deliver tangible profitability. My professional approach is marked by dedication, strong analytical skills, and a focus on problem-solving through effective teamwork. A well-rounded personal life contributes to success in the workplace. In my personal life, I am happily married and enjoy exploring the underwater world through scuba diving, as well as engaging in leisurely activities like playing Padel and spending quality time with my dog. This balance between work and personal pursuits fosters a positive and focused mindset in my professional endeavours.

Experience

  • Flink (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands · On-site)
    • Chief of Staff & Ops Performance
      Oct 2025 - Present · 9 mos

      Strategic Initiatives & Analytics: Support business planning and drive core strategic initiatives from initial data analysis through cross-functional execution. Leverage operational analytics to scale solutions and deliver bottom-line impact. Data-Driven Insights & Decision Making: Enhance automated reporting frameworks using SQL and BI software to provide clear visibility into core metrics. Use these insights to increase accountability, drive unit economic improvements, and redesign incentive structures that reward operational excellence. Run Ops Performance Team: Support country operations by taking ownership of KPI improvement and hands-on hub turnarounds. Identify issues via early-warning data and drive rapid recovery through data-backed insights, operational experience, and clear escalation paths.

    • Chief of Staff
      Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • Bain & Company (On-site)
    • Consultant
      Dec 2023 - May 2024 · 6 mos

      6-month transfer to London in 2023 Bain CA(SA) program, where I completed three years of articles and did a 6-month rotation to the Bain Global Accounting Team, demonstrating the required competencies to register as a CA(SA) Experienced in business planning, cost optimisation, project management, innovation, commercial due diligence, and organisational assessment and redesign. Additionally, proficient in finance forecasting and analysis, working with large datasets, stakeholder engagement, and driving decision-making and implementation. Broad range of topics: Full Potential Growth Strategy, Sustainability, Results Delivery, Operating Model, and Due Diligence Wide range of industries: Consumer Goods, Retail, Advanced Manufacturing, and Private Equity

    • Senior Associate Consultant
      Jul 2023 - Dec 2023 · 6 mos

    • Senior Associate Consultant
      Jan 2023 - Jul 2023 · 7 mos

  • Freelance Web Developer at Web Design Business
    Jan 2016 - Jan 2021 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    As a student, I designed websites, created online stores, and executed online marketing strategies for a range of clients, including Chartered Accountants, clothing stores, and landscapers.

  • Dagbreek Residences - Stellenbosch University (Stellenbosch)
    • House Committee Representative
      Sep 2019 - Aug 2020 · 1 yr

    • Mentor
      Sep 2018 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr