Rene van Haaster

Scaling EMEA enterprise software businesses through transformation | AVP EMEA North at Elastic | Search AI · Observability · Security

The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

About

Twenty-five years in enterprise software has taught me one thing: technology rarely fails on its own merits — it succeeds or stalls based on whether the right people, partnerships, and conviction are around it. Today I lead Elastic's EMEA North region (Benelux, France, Nordics, Baltics), helping organizations like ING, Booking.com, Volvo Cars and Orange use Search AI, Observability, and Security to operate faster, safer, and at lower cost. Before Elastic, I spent 19 years at Microsoft, where I led businesses through some of the company's biggest transitions — from on-premise to cloud, from license sales to subscription, and from direct selling to a partner-led ecosystem. Roles included leading ISV Partner Sales across 12 countries in Western Europe, running a 165-person Enterprise Solutions organization in the Netherlands, and being part of the early team selling what became Office 365 in EMEA. Engineering background (MSc, TU Eindhoven). Commercial career. Comfortable in both rooms. What I'm known for: building businesses through real partnerships — with customers, with the partner ecosystem, and with the teams I lead. I lead through influence and co-creation rather than hierarchy, and I'm at my best when a business needs to evolve faster than it's currently moving.

Experience

  • Area Vice President EMEA North at Elastic
    Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Leading our Benelux, France, Nordics and Baltics organizations. We’re the leading platform for search-powered solutions, and we help everyone — organizations, their employees, and their customers — find what they need faster, while keeping applications running smoothly, and protecting against cyber threats. When you tap into the power of Elastic Enterprise Search, Observability, and Security solutions, you’re in good company with brands like Uber, Slack, Microsoft, Volvo, Booking, ING and thousands of others who rely on us to accelerate results that matter.

  • Microsoft (19 yrs)
    • Regional Executive Director, ISV Partner Sales, Microsoft Western Europe
      Apr 2022 - Jan 2024 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Leading Microsoft's Independent Software Vendor strategy and Partner Sales and Recruit organisation across 12 countries in Western Europe. ISV's represent the most innovative and fast growing partner ecosystem and by building the right strategic partnerships and the right use of the Microsoft Platform, we can accelerate their growth and impact on customers from SMB to Enterprise.

    • Executive Director Enterprise Solutions
      Sep 2017 - Apr 2022 · 4 yrs 8 mos

      As member of the Microsoft Netherlands Leadership Team responsible for Enterprise Solutions. Supporting customers achieve their business priorities through Digital Transformation. This includes leading 165 solutions sellers and technical specialists with new business focus on Modern Workplace, Business Applications, Data & Artificial Intelligence and Azure Apps & Infrastructure. Business responsibility across operating mechanisms: P&L, Scorecard and Market share.

    • Head of Delivery Enterprise Services
      Jul 2015 - Aug 2017 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Lead Consulting Delivery and Premier Support Services in The Netherlands. Responsible for Customer Satisfaction, Customer Success based on succesfull projects and service delivery, and P&L performance. Professional Services span 2 major business units: 1) Consulting across 3 business lines, (i) implementation of complex Technology solutions, (ii) provision of expert-based Advisory services, and (iii) Enterprise Strategy Consulting services 2) Support Services for the majority of large Enterprise Customers

  • Sales Executive at Xerox
    Feb 2000 - Jan 2005 · 5 yrs

    Xerox Global Services (XGS) is the outsourcing and professional services division of Xerox focussing on document-intensive business processes. Responsible for selling large document management implementation projects with consultancy and project management and managed services. Initiate, define, position and implement solutions within the top accounts of Xerox in the Public, Financial and (Health) Insurance sector. Contracts were supported by Service Level Agreements and were my responsibility. New Business sales target per year of approximately € 1,25 Million.

  • Sales Executive at TNO Automotive
    Oct 1996 - Jan 2000 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    Responsible for the complete sales cycle and relationship management of existing and new European customers of the software program MADYMO. This simulation software, developed as a custom-made solution, answers questions in the field of passive safety of vehicles. Customers were eventually all global car manufacturers and subcontractors of airbags, belts and interior parts. Responsible for the organization and content of trainings and annual European Users’ meetings. Started at TNO as Scientific Researcher, but quicly moved to the role of Sales Executive.