The ROI story of Martijn van Deun
Martijn van Deun wanted to move from a large, international organization to an environment with more influence, broader responsibility and shorter lines of communication. He made that move to Lindeboom Bierbrouwerij, where he joined as Finance Director.
There he experienced exactly what he was looking for: more variety, visible impact and the space to really help build the future of the organization.
Expectations: from multinational to greater influence
After 17 years of enjoying working for an international organization, he knew his next step would be toward the SME. To a smaller organization with more entrepreneurship, shorter lines and broader responsibility.
While on vacation, he stumbled upon the vacancy at Lindeboom. Not because he was actively looking, but because the role immediately caught his eye. He knew the company and the sector, and immediately saw what made it interesting: a combination of finance, HR and ICT within a 155-year-old family business. It was precisely that combination – history and room to build – that gave him energy.
In the process, that feeling was confirmed. He sat down early with the owner and the Supervisory Board, was given access to figures and was included in the plans. Via Velde, the process proceeded carefully and without pressure. The ambition booklet he filled out during the process played an important role in this. It forced him to consciously reflect on his own ambitions, motives and expectations. Where do you want to go, what gives you energy – and does this step really fit with that? It was this focus that made the choice feel right, on both sides.
Practice: variety, pace and visible impact
The practice largely matches what he expected beforehand. There is a lot of work: the application landscape must be renewed, the administration was traditionally structured and there are several improvement projects going on at the same time. At the same time, he feels the room to take steps in this regard, with support from the Supervisory Board.
What makes the difference for him is how he stands in the organization. Not at a distance, but visible on the shop floor. A round every day. “That’s where you get your information, not in your office.” It creates speed, commitment and better decisions. The role is broad and no day goes as planned. It’s that variety and constant shifting that give him energy. He learns every day and finds that here he finds the broadening he was looking for.
At the same time, all this is taking place in a market that is changing. The beer market is under pressure, consumer behavior is shifting and growth is increasingly in new segments such as 0.0 and specialty beers. For an independent and financially healthy player like Lindeboom Bierbrouwerij, this is precisely where there is room to build and differentiate.
-Martijn van Deun
Result: growth and real impact
After a few months, the first results are visible. The incoming invoice flow has been digitized, a project for a new ERP system is underway, and in the HR area a conversation cycle has been set up whereby all conversations were conducted in Q1. Processes in Legal are also being set up more efficiently, step by step.
In addition, a culture change was initiated. More openness, more communication and actively involving employees in the course. One way this happens is through meetings in the beer room, where plans and progress are shared every six weeks. It creates movement and involvement.
The payoff is not just on the organizational side. For him personally, the payoff is in the breadth of the role, the variety and the feeling that he is really making a difference. “It gives a lot more satisfaction.” What helps is the long-term view. Instead of steering by quarters, the thinking here is in generations. With 155 years of history, the focus is on building for the future – precisely the environment in which he comes into his own.
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