Marc Schonagen - Managing Director

Q: Where is Marc based?

Marc is based in Amstelveen, Netherlands and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Marc speak?

Marc speaks the following languages: Dutch (Native), English (Advanced), German (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Marc have?

Marc has at least 32 years of experience. During this time, Marc has worked in at least 17 different roles and for 15 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 10 months . Note that Marc may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Marc's latest experience?

Marc's most recent position is Managing Director at Birn+Partners NL .

Q: What companies has Marc worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Marc has worked for Birn+Partners NL and BOARDLINK Benelux .

Q: Which industries is Marc most experienced in?

Marc is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Manufacturing , and Food and Beverage . Marc also has some experience in Telecommunication , Information Technology (IT) , and Healthcare .

Q: Which business areas is Marc most experienced in?

Marc is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources (HR) , Strategy and Planning , and Project Management .

Q: Which industries has Marc worked in recently?

Marc has recently worked in industries like Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Marc worked in recently?

Marc has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources (HR) and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Amstelveen, Netherlands

Experience

Jan 2024 - Present

2 years 1 month

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Managing Director

Birn+Partners NL

Launched and built Birn+Partners’ business in the Netherlands, establishing the Amsterdam office and driving market entry
Grew revenue by developing key accounts and expanding the firm’s footprint in the Dutch executive search and leadership consulting market
Delivered senior executive search assignments, assessments and leadership development solutions
Advised leadership teams on transformation, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable employability

Oct 2019 - Jan 2024

4 years 4 months

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Partner and MD

BOARDLINK Benelux

Founded and built BOARDLINK’s Dutch practice while leading Benelux operations
Grew revenue through strategic business development
Advised boards and C-level executives on governance, leadership transitions, organizational design and change processes
Delivered senior executive and board search assignments

May 2018 - Oct 2019

1 year 6 months

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Interim Chief People Officer

Rainforest Alliance

Led full post-merger integration of Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, overseeing the design and execution of the organizational, cultural, and operational transition
Shaped the new global people strategy, harmonizing structures, policies, and leadership practices across countries
Guided executive leadership through complex change, ensuring clarity, alignment, and a stable foundation for the newly formed organization
Completed an organisational effectiveness assessment

May 2017 - May 2018

1 year 1 month

Zürich, Switzerland

Consultant

Kinetic Consulting

Helped leaders understand structural, process and cultural changes required to ensure effective execution of their strategy and delivered interventions to get the best out of their team(s)
University Medical Center Utrecht: lead transformation program division Neurology & Neurosurgery
Endeavour Group BV: strategy and culture
Ammeraal Belltech: redesign of global HR processes

Nov 2015 - Apr 2017

1 year 6 months

London, United Kingdom

Vice President of Human Resources

Hertz International

Implemented My Performance system, moving from top-down to bottom-up target setting on a newly introduced 4-point scale, focusing on continuous coaching and calibration sessions
Created the first ever Talent Plan for the region, including Talent Profile for every senior leader and a clear process for internal succession
Upgraded all leadership positions in the UK MT (except HR) to enhance the International Commercial organisation
Strengthened the International HR organisation through restructuring and unifying the team and completed a full talent and succession review for all HR staff
Facilitated the smooth sale and transition of the Brazilian business
Reviewed and upgraded Sales Bonus and CSR Incentives to align with profitable growth targets and consultative selling
Contributed to the Global HR agenda, including Talent Management Process, new Leadership behaviours, and new People Survey Management process

Oct 2014 - Nov 2015

1 year 2 months

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Business Advisor / Coach

Self-Employed

Actively involved in several personal, organisational and community-based projects while exploring new career opportunities

Apr 2013 - Oct 2014

1 year 7 months

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Global Director HR Transformation

Heineken International

Designed and facilitated an HR Leadership Team workshop to develop a shared vision for HR Transformation and determine Global HR process priorities for Map and Adapt
Ran Map & Adapt workshops to develop a global standard for Recruitment & Staffing and Talent Management processes with ~20 subject matter experts from all regions and functions
Developed an implementation approach for alignment and improvement of the selected processes

May 2010 - Apr 2013

3 years

Amsterdam, Netherlands

HR Director Western Europe

Heineken International

Managed cost control initiatives, including regional reporting and stricter guidelines for local Collective Labour Agreement negotiations, achieving personnel expenses growth below inflation in most countries
Reduced more than 3000 FTE’s through strict cost control within the region
Created and executed an aligned regional HR strategy, improving the Management Review Process and the quality of Personal Development Plans
Attracted, developed and retained HR talent, replacing 7 out of 10 HR Directors, with 4 promotions
Implemented local HR Reviews, aligning local HR strategy with Regional/Global strategies and agreeing action plans to improve HR performance
Supported organisational changes, including the set-up of European Modern Retail and WER Supply Chain 3.0
Contributed to the Global HR agenda, including new Performance Management process, sponsorship of new Talent Identification process, and leading the Hackett study for HR

Jun 2008 - Mar 2010

1 year 10 months

Copenhagen, Denmark

Chief HR Officer

GN ReSound

Established a Global HR function, clarified roles and responsibilities, and aligned the team around the new global HR strategy
Developed and rolled out a cultural change program, defining company values and translating them into concrete behaviour through workshops
Developed and implemented Performance to Excellence (P2E), a global performance management system combining commitment setting, behaviour assessment and individual development planning
Developed and implemented a global Short Term Incentive framework and annual bonus scheme for white collar non-sales staff
Developed and implemented a global Sales Incentive Framework aligning sales targets with product portfolio strategy
Reduced headcount by 20% within a couple of months at the onset of the global financial crisis

Mar 2008 - Jun 2008

4 months

London, United Kingdom

VP HR, Shell Trading & Shipping (STASCO)

Shell

Provided global HR support to Crude Oil Trading, Global Products Trading and Shipping divisions across 25+ countries
Managed a team of 20 HR professionals in London, Houston, Singapore and Barbados and set governance process by clarifying roles and targets
Completed a global high potential identification process
Managed two roles in parallel and recruited my successor for Shell Energy Europe

Sep 2005 - Mar 2008

2 years 7 months

The Hague, Netherlands

VP HR, Shell Energy Europe

Shell

Identified areas for behavioural change under Delivery & Growth, focusing on Simplification, Accountability and Performance Management at the annual SEE Conference with 99% positive feedback
Promoted 2 HR staff based on performance and potential
Managed SEE Extended Leadership Team sessions, including organising, agenda setting and content delivery for local Business Leads and HQ representatives
Achieved 95% completion rate for Performance Goals and Development Plans, measured quality of target setting and provided feedback to managers
Improved succession planning by automating vacancy identification and leading monthly quality discussions on senior staff resourcing
Achieved competence completion targets in Shell People HR system and identified top development needs with appropriate interventions
Delivered Gender Awareness training for SEE ELT and supported Renewables LT

Jan 2005 - Nov 2005

11 months

Russian Federation

Sabbatical

Private

Traveled through Asia and Russia from January to July

Apr 2001 - Jan 2005

3 years 10 months

Munich, Germany

General Manager, Human Resources EMEA

Sony Ericsson International

Contributed to the turnaround of two loss-making mobile telecommunications divisions into a profitable market player
Designed, set up and recruited for the new EMEA HR organisation
Led organisational design project to establish a 'Customer Centric Organisation' and managed recruitment of key positions within 4 months
Established job profiles across the region
Implemented a performance management system with 96% objectives set and trained managers across 13 locations
Implemented SAP HR across the EMEA region
Established short term incentive and sales compensation incentive schemes linked to performance management
Set up EMEA Key Performance Program, including Performance Review structure with senior management
Managed outsourced recruitment strategy, selecting and managing key recruitment partners
Completed HR due diligence process and achieved headcount reduction targets
Transferred staff to the joint venture’s new legal entity

Sep 1999 - Apr 2001

1 year 8 months

Badhoevedorp, Netherlands

Senior Manager Human Resources, Consumer Group Europe

Sony Europa B.V.

Led a team of 4 HR professionals supporting Sony Europa B.V. and various European Business Units
Focused on centralising the European Marketing Communications Business Unit
Reported to European HR Head for the Consumer Electronics BU in Berlin

Apr 1998 - Sep 1999

1 year 6 months

Badhoevedorp, Netherlands

Human Resources Manager

Sony Benelux B.V.

Provided HR generalist support to various departments
Served as change manager supporting implementation of a Sony Benelux organisation

Jan 1997 - Apr 1998

1 year 4 months

Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Human Resources Advisor

Sony Broadcast & Professional Europe & Sony Semiconductors Europe

Selected for a talent development expatriate assignment
Supported R&D team for Sony BPE and established an HR department for SSE

Sep 1993 - Jan 1997

3 years 5 months

Badhoevedorp, Netherlands

Personnel Officer

Sony Nederland B.V.

Provided generalist HR support for various departments within the Dutch sales company
Completed a successful traineeship as part of HR degree resulting in a permanent contract

Summary

Senior HR Executive, Business Advisor and Managing Director with a global track record across Corporates, Non- Profit and Consulting. Recognised for leading complex transformations, building high-performing teams and guiding executive leaders through strategic, cultural and organizational change. Chief HR Officer with deep international experience across Europe, the Americas and APAC. Combines strong commercial insight with a pragmatic, people- centred approach to leadership development, talent strategy and organizational effectiveness. Thrives in dynamic environments and trusted partner to boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams.

Electronics/Retail (Sony), Telecom (SonyEricsson), Oil & Gas (Shell), MedTec (GNResound), FMCG/Retail (Heineken) & Automotive/Leisure/Retail (Hertz), Non-Governmental Organisation (Rainforest Alliance), Consulting (Boardlink and B+P)

Languages

Dutch

Native

English

Advanced

German

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2018 - Jun 2020

INSEAD

Executive Master in Consulting & Coaching for Change · Consulting & Coaching for Change · Fontainebleau, France

Oct 1998 - Jun 1999

PAO, Business and Administrative Sciences

Post-Graduate: Business Science · Business Sciences · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Oct 1991 - Jun 1995

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

B.A. Human Resource Management · Personnel & Labor · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Profile

Created

January 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Marc based?

Marc is based in Amstelveen, Netherlands and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Marc speak?

Marc speaks the following languages: Dutch (Native), English (Advanced), German (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Marc have?

Marc has at least 32 years of experience. During this time, Marc has worked in at least 17 different roles and for 15 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 10 months. Note that Marc may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Marc be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Marc would be well-suited for roles such as: Managing Director, Partner and MD, Interim Chief People Officer.

What is Marc's latest experience?

Marc's most recent position is Managing Director at Birn+Partners NL.

What companies has Marc worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Marc has worked for Birn+Partners NL and BOARDLINK Benelux.

Which industries is Marc most experienced in?

Marc is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Food and Beverage. Marc also has some experience in Telecommunication, Information Technology (IT), and Healthcare.

Which business areas is Marc most experienced in?

Marc is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources (HR), Strategy and Planning, and Project Management.

Which industries has Marc worked in recently?

Marc has recently worked in industries like Professional Services.

Which business areas has Marc worked in recently?

Marc has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources (HR) and Strategy and Planning.

What is Marc's education?

Marc holds a Doctorate in Business Sciences from PAO, Business and Administrative Sciences, a Master in Consulting & Coaching for Change from INSEAD and a Bachelor in Personnel & Labor from Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

What is the availability of Marc?

Marc is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Marc?

Marc's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.