Jaap van Oort

Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at VML

Haarlem, North Holland, Netherlands

About

Chief Strategy Officer with an engineer's foundation and a builder's hands. 13+ years leading strategy at agencies including VML, Wunderman Thompson and DigitasLBi, designing customer experience and marketing technology programmes for global brands like Audi, Dyson, Hilti, PVH and Whirlpool. Originally trained as an Industrial Design Engineer at TU Delft — a perspective I still bring to every brief: systems, prototypes, iteration. Bridging brand and concept to CX, data and technology decisions, leading propositions and pitches for multi-market multi-brand programmes. Active hands-on practitioner with AI — vibe-engineering working prototypes to test what is real versus what vendors promise. Guest lecturer at Nyenrode Business University since 2016, teaching senior executives how to put customer experience and data at the heart of their digital strategy.

Experience

  • Chief Strategy Officer @ WPP / VML | CX, Data & Marketing Technology at WPP Enterprise Solutions
    Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos

    Creating sustainable growth by uniting CX, Data intelligence, and Organizational change for ambitious brands, like Audi, Dyson, Hästens, Whirlpool, Hilti and PVH. Part creative, part consultancy, and for sure a technology powerhouse. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, technology and more. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. || ...The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it ...||

  • Guest Lecturer - Digital Transformation at Nyenrode Business Universiteit
    Jan 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 7 mos

    Guest Lecturer at the Masterclass series on Digital Transformation. Guide Senior Executives in the way they put the Customer Experience and Customer Data at the heart of their Digital Strategy.

  • Strategy Director EMEA - part of WPP at VML
    Jan 2018 - Jan 2024 · 6 yrs 1 mo

    Driving Business Impact by building data driven Customer Experiences. Using Commerce & Marketing Technology to turn Data into profitable relationships for ambitious brands, like Dyson, Hästens, Whirlpool, Hilti, The Social Hub and PVH. Operating for over 400 leading companies and proud to be a Salesforce Platinum Partner. Part of the Management Team.

  • DigitasLBi Amsterdam (5 yrs 1 mo)
    • Head of Strategy
      Jun 2014 - Jan 2018 · 3 yrs 8 mos

      - Leading, Guiding & Helping my team of passioned Digital Strategist in their work; digital communication, social, mobile, analytics & e-commerce. Our Strategy Team takes our clients on a journey of digital transformation. We deliver insights, make strategic choices and guide the creative process in such a way that our clients are successful in the digital arena. - Business Development for large international accounts (EMEA & Global). - Develop and Execute effective online strategies for large international brands. - Speaker at Events and Business School Nyenrode Brands & Projects: MCM Worldwide (Luxury), Cortefiel (Fashion), WomenSecret (Fashion) and La Prairie (Beauty)

    • Strategy Director
      Jan 2013 - Jan 2018 · 5 yrs 1 mo

      Taking our clients on a journey of digital transformation – from getting the basics just right to leading the market through head-turning innovation. Projects: Strategy & Redesign for scotch-soda.com, oneill.com, scs.co.uk, vertu.com, myspringfield.com, womensecret.com, britax.com and ns.nl

  • Director E-Commerce at Suitsupply
    Aug 2012 - Dec 2012 · 5 mos

    - Prepared and executed the global campaigns for the end of year holiday season (strong focus on US, Netherlands, Germany and UK) - Developed the platform to the next level: optimisation mobile shopping experience, added inspirational shopping to the webstore and implementation new e-mailmarketing software