Experience
Apr 2023 - Present
2 years 5 months
- Provide consultancy in innovation and business creation.
Jan 2017 - Mar 2023
6 years 3 months
- Designed and held the regulatory dossier for the meniscus prosthesis.
- Successfully outsourced manufacturing and clinical studies.
- Built the company from scratch and raised €6,3M Venture Capital.
- Obtained €5,0M innovation credit from the Dutch Government and €3,6M in grants including the €2,5M EIC accelerator grant.
- Achieved ISO 13485 certification and obtained FDA Breakthrough designation in the US for a meniscus replacement device.
- Completed enrollment for a second clinical study in December 2022.
- ATRO Medical became Medtech Innovator Finalist in 2019 and won the $50k Johnson & Johnson QuickFire Award in 2022.
- Left the company with an effective startup team and professional organization for scaling the business.
- Built relationships with strategics, consultants, and investment funds for scaling.
Jan 2010 - Dec 2017
8 years
- Led preparation for Venture and M&A deals and strategic planning for global product portfolio growth for a €140M business.
- Successfully led preparation for acquisitions at Royal DSM (€10B annual turnover).
- Delivered hands-on experience in valuation, M&A processes, US business environment, and deal-making.
- Resulted in one large US-based acquisition (US$ 360M) and three venture investments.
- Supported various Business Units for creating strategic marketing plans for a wide range of medical device products.
- Covered cardiovascular, orthopedic devices, ophthalmic, and general surgery areas.
- Left DSM with several patent licenses and an initial investment of €600k by DSM Venturing to build the ATRO Medical startup.
Jan 2007 - Dec 2009
3 years
- Led the program for a new business area of Personal Nutrition.
- Built and executed a business plan for genetic profiling for weight management.
- Streamlined and focused the business and project portfolio.
- Initiated close collaboration with a spin-out of Philips.
- Left due to regulatory uncertainties and financial crisis stopping internal funding.
Jan 2002 - Dec 2007
6 years
- Developed new products for the food ingredient market with budget and sales responsibility.
- Led the market introduction of a genetically engineered biotech product in the B2B market globally.
- Managed sales, R&D, technical support, production, IP, and regulatory approvals globally.
- Launched the product worldwide within six months.
- Major success in China, Eastern Europe, and South America.
- Fully realized a high-margin business plan within five years after launch.
- Moved to the DSM business group Innovation.
Jan 1997 - Dec 2002
6 years
- Managed projects for developing new or improved food ingredient production processes.
- Developed an alternative process for vitamin B12 production.
- Created new products based on a protein-digesting enzyme.
- Commercialized biotechnology molecules for applications in cosmetics, crop protection, beer, and dairy industries.
- Promoted internally to Business Manager to transform ideas into commercially viable products.
Jan 1993 - Dec 1997
5 years
- Managed biotechnology-driven product portfolios for Unilever's food and cosmetics business groups.
- Conducted fundamental research and developed enzymes, yeast extracts, flavoring, and malodor treatment products.
- One product reached the cosmetic market after departure.
- Left Unilever as biotechnology was no longer a core business, and related groups were divested.
Jan 1993 - Dec 1993
1 year
- Engineered strategies for biotech process scale-up.
- Worked on an EU-funded project building on a PhD thesis.
- Transitioned to Unilever after completing the project.