About Me - Personal Background
After completing my HAVO, there was a two-year gap before my military service. Having already spent an extra year in HAVO, I needed to do something meaningful. I chose to attend Redichem College in Oosterbeek to complete a two-year MEAO Business Administration program and earn a diploma in addition to my HAVO.After successfully completing the program and my military service as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force, I started my career at SKF Bearing Industry as a budget administrator while enhancing my financial knowledge through Modern Business Administration studies. Transitioning to Mol Coatings B.V. as a financial administrator in a smaller company provided a new perspective.
I pursued an SPD diploma, which required significant effort due to its seven challenging subjects. This study solidified my ambition to become a Financial Controller, a role that utilized my SPD skills and offered greater influence within a company.
I progressed through roles at Koops Bunschoten B.V. and H.B. Füller B.V. before joining Mathys Medical Nederland B.V. as a Financial Controller and Management Team member. There, I gained confidence in my voice and grew with the company. After Mathys was acquired by Synthes, I became the Financial Director of the Dutch subsidiary and later the General Manager in 2008.
During this period I also followed the HOFAM study from NIVE opleidingen. Until now I appreciate the content of this Higher Financial and Administrative Management study almost every day.
In 2012, following Johnson & Johnson's acquisition of Synthes, I focused on completing the merger as Managing Director of DePuy Synthes in the Netherlands. My teams began to collaborate and achieve their goals, which set the stage for an international role in 2015. As Managing Director in Stockholm, I led a major J&J reorganization across five Nordic countries.
In this period my connection with the Insead University took place. The opportunity was given to follow the Advanced Management Program, led by Professor Ian Watkins. What a learning and personal development push.
After five years in Scandinavia, I took on the role of Vice President of Africa, Turkey, and Iran for One MD in 2020, based in Dubai. However, due to the pandemic, I spent the first year working from the Netherlands. Eventually, it became clear that Africa got smaller focus from company, leading to my departure.
This transition allowed me to establish Plantage Consulting B.V. in 2023, where I leverage my expertise to analyze, understand, and connect organizations. I quickly grasp company operations and pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses, thanks to my strong financial foundation.
Like, for instance, in this project where I was asked to work as a General Manager for a mid-sized automotive equipment company with two branches, stepping in due to the director's illness and making several adjustments to prepare the organization for future development. This work is fulfilling and aligns with my strengths.