Arnout Bakker
Non-Executive Board Advisor – IT & Cloud Services (Europe)
Experience
Independent Non-Executive Board Advisor
25+ years of leadership and advisory experience in global IT, cloud and enterprise software organizations across Europe.
Extensive background advising executive leadership teams on scaling cloud and services business models, partner ecosystems, P&L governance and post-merger integration.
Trusted sparring partner to CEOs, CROs and COOs in complex transformation, growth and turnaround scenarios within SaaS, cloud platforms and professional services environments.
Strategic oversight for cloud, SaaS & services business models.
Advisory on scaling professional services in platform-driven environments.
Go-to-market and partner ecosystem governance (Global SIs, hyperscalers).
P&L, margin and delivery risk management.
M&A due diligence, integration & post-merger stabilization.
Independent, pragmatic challenge to executive assumptions.
Deep understanding of European enterprise & mid-market dynamics.
Strategic Advisor - Cloud & Industry Platforms
- Advised senior leadership on industry cloud positioning, enterprise account strategy and partner ecosystem alignment in the European telecommunications, automotive and manufacturing sector.
- Supported executive decision-making around platform adoption, partner orchestration and large-scale transformation initiatives.
Strategic Advisor - Enterprise Cloud Services Transformation
- Advisory support to executive teams restructuring services sales and delivery models to restore growth, improve scalability and strengthen margin governance.
- Focus on partner-enabled scale, near/offshore delivery models and sustainable revenue growth.
Senior Executive
Infor
P&L ownership for large professional services organizations (200+ FTE) across DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Eastern Europe.
Strategic oversight of services sales, delivery, pricing and operating models.
Executive sponsor for major enterprise customers in Telco, Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services and Travel.
Design and governance of partner-centric delivery models with global system integrators.
Leadership in multiple restructuring, turnaround and post-merger integration scenarios.
Active engagement at board and C-level during growth, consolidation and transformation phases.
Scaled consulting and services organizations to double-digit YoY growth.
Returned declining business units to growth, achieving 4x revenue growth within 2 years.
Established factory-based and near/offshore delivery models, improving margins and scalability.
Built and governed SI ecosystems enabling enterprise deal access and delivery scale.
Integrated multiple organizations post-M&A, stabilizing operations and restoring performance.
Led executive-level stakeholder management across complex, multi-country environments.
Senior Executive
Oracle
P&L ownership for large professional services organizations (200+ FTE) across DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Eastern Europe.
Strategic oversight of services sales, delivery, pricing and operating models.
Executive sponsor for major enterprise customers in Telco, Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services and Travel.
Design and governance of partner-centric delivery models with global system integrators.
Leadership in multiple restructuring, turnaround and post-merger integration scenarios.
Active engagement at board and C-level during growth, consolidation and transformation phases.
Scaled consulting and services organizations to double-digit YoY growth.
Returned declining business units to growth, achieving 4x revenue growth within 2 years.
Established factory-based and near/offshore delivery models, improving margins and scalability.
Built and governed SI ecosystems enabling enterprise deal access and delivery scale.
Integrated multiple organizations post-M&A, stabilizing operations and restoring performance.
Led executive-level stakeholder management across complex, multi-country environments.
Senior Executive
Salesforce / Vlocity
P&L ownership for large professional services organizations (200+ FTE) across DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Eastern Europe.
Strategic oversight of services sales, delivery, pricing and operating models.
Executive sponsor for major enterprise customers in Telco, Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services and Travel.
Design and governance of partner-centric delivery models with global system integrators.
Leadership in multiple restructuring, turnaround and post-merger integration scenarios.
Active engagement at board and C-level during growth, consolidation and transformation phases.
Scaled consulting and services organizations to double-digit YoY growth.
Returned declining business units to growth, achieving 4x revenue growth within 2 years.
Established factory-based and near/offshore delivery models, improving margins and scalability.
Built and governed SI ecosystems enabling enterprise deal access and delivery scale.
Integrated multiple organizations post-M&A, stabilizing operations and restoring performance.
Led executive-level stakeholder management across complex, multi-country environments.
Senior Executive
Siebel
P&L ownership for large professional services organizations (200+ FTE) across DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Eastern Europe.
Strategic oversight of services sales, delivery, pricing and operating models.
Executive sponsor for major enterprise customers in Telco, Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services and Travel.
Design and governance of partner-centric delivery models with global system integrators.
Leadership in multiple restructuring, turnaround and post-merger integration scenarios.
Active engagement at board and C-level during growth, consolidation and transformation phases.
Scaled consulting and services organizations to double-digit YoY growth.
Returned declining business units to growth, achieving 4x revenue growth within 2 years.
Established factory-based and near/offshore delivery models, improving margins and scalability.
Built and governed SI ecosystems enabling enterprise deal access and delivery scale.
Integrated multiple organizations post-M&A, stabilizing operations and restoring performance.
Led executive-level stakeholder management across complex, multi-country environments.
Summary
Arnout Bakker is an independent Non-Executive Board Advisor with more than 25 years of experience in the European IT, cloud and enterprise software industry. He has held senior leadership and P&L roles in global US technology companies including Oracle, Salesforce/Vlocity, Infor and Siebel, operating across DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Eastern Europe.
He advises boards and executive teams (recent engagement: STACKIT) on the strategic scaling of cloud and SaaS-based business models, with a particular focus on professional services, partner ecosystems and go-to-market governance. His background combines deep operational understanding with a board-level perspective on growth, margin governance, delivery risk and organizational scalability.
Arnout has extensive experience supporting companies in growth, turnaround and post-merger situations. He has led and overseen the integration of complex organizations following M&A, restored declining business units to profitable growth, and designed partner-centric delivery and sales models enabling sustainable scale across Europe. He is particularly experienced in working with global system integrators, near- and offshore delivery models and enterprise customer environments.
Throughout his career, Arnout has acted as a trusted sparring partner to CEOs, CROs and COOs, challenging strategic assumptions while remaining pragmatic and execution oriented. He is known for his ability to bridge strategy and operations, helping leadership teams translate board-level objectives into scalable and measurable outcomes.
Arnout brings strong expertise in cloud platforms, SaaS, professional and managed services, enterprise software, telecommunications and adjacent industries. He serves boards and advisory boards as an independent, experienced and hands-on advisor, supporting sustainable value creation in complex and dynamic markets.
Skills
Strategic Oversight For Cloud, Saas & Services Business Models
Advisory On Scaling Professional Services In Platform-driven Environments
Go-to-market And Partner Ecosystem Governance (Global Sis, Hyperscalers)
P&l, Margin And Delivery Risk Management
M&a Due Diligence, Integration & Post-merger Stabilization
Independent, Pragmatic Challenge To Executive Assumptions
Deep Understanding Of European Enterprise & Mid-market Dynamics
Cloud Platforms & Saas
Professional & Managed Services
Enterprise Software
Telecommunications
Manufacturing & Automotive
Retail & Consumer Goods
Financial Services
Travel & Hospitality
P&l Oversight & Margin Governance
Go-to-market Strategy & Pricing Models
Partner & Ecosystem Strategy
Delivery Risk & Quality Management
Organizational Design & Scalability
Executive Incentive & Performance Models
Languages
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