René van Zundert

CIO | IT Transformation | Organisational Change | Leadership Development

Netherlands

About

Hands-on, business-focused CIO who connects, transforms, simplifies and delivers. Passionate about helping organisations navigate growth, complexity and change by building scalable IT capabilities, high-performing teams and strong leadership. Combines strategic thinking with a pragmatic execution mindset and a strong focus on people, culture and business outcomes. Thrives in fast-paced, dynamic and international environments where Business, Technology and Leadership come together. Academic background in International Business Administration.

Experience

  • Senior Director IT - CIO Northern Europe at GXO Logistics, Inc.
    Dec 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 7 mos

    Led the transformation and professionalisation of the regional IT function with a focus on strategy, operating model, IT landscape, governance and capabilities required to support rapid business growth, increasing operational complexity and large-scale transformation initiatives. Key achievements: - Defined and executed a multi-year IT strategy and transformation roadmap aligned with business growth objectives and long-term operational requirements. - Delivered complex, mission-critical customer-centric projects enabling new and existing customers operate and optimise their supply chains. - Redesigned the regional IT operating model, introducing governance, portfolio management and prioritisation frameworks that improved transparency, strategic alignment and delivery performance. - Built and matured key IT capabilities including PMO, Service Management, Commercial IT and Vendor Management, creating a scalable and business-focused IT function. - Assessed and optimised the technology landscape, leading strategic initiatives covering cloud adoption, enterprise application modernisation, digital innovation and legacy system retirement. - Delivered Established architecture principles, technology standards and governance processes to improve scalability, reduce complexity and support sustainable growth. - Partnered with executive leadership, operational stakeholders, customers and strategic suppliers to ensure technology investments delivered measurable business outcomes. - Led organisational change, talent development and leadership coaching initiatives, strengthening team capability and supporting successful transformation adoption. - Improved business satisfaction with IT, significantly enhancing stakeholder confidence, service quality and operational effectiveness. - Ensured stable and secure IT operations across 50+ customer-centric operational sites and 1,500+ users.

  • Director of IT at Alliance Healthcare
    Mar 2020 - Nov 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos

    - Drive digital transformation. - Deliver IT projects, operational stability, operating model, IT governance.

  • Interim IT Change Leader at Independent Consultant
    Jun 2019 - Feb 2020 · 9 mos

    - Define IT strategy. - Guide transformation.

  • Senior Vice President IT | Contract Logistics at DB Schenker
    Sep 2015 - Dec 2018 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    - Defined global IT strategy in line with business objectives. - Established global IT organization with focus on standardisation and improved IT services to the business globally. - Adopted digital platforms in co-creation with suppliers and start-ups.

  • DHL Supply Chain (Full-time · 7 yrs 4 mos)
    • Vice President IT - Global Center of Excellence Supply Chain Solutions
      Jan 2015 - Aug 2015 · 8 mos

      Managed DHL’s global strategic supply chain solution.

    • Vice President IT - CIO Benelux, Head of IT for Technology Sector Europe
      May 2008 - Dec 2014 · 6 yrs 8 mos

      - IT transformation. Reduced IT complexity by simplifying landscape, organisation, and sourcing model. - Delivered complex Business & IT projects (customer implementations, continuous improvement, innovation) - Realised strong increase in business satisfaction scores, employee opinion, staff reduction, cost savings.