Sjouke de Vries
Founder & Managing Director at De Vries Africa Ventures- Claim this Profile
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English Full professional proficiency
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Dutch Native or bilingual proficiency
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French Elementary proficiency
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German Elementary proficiency
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Bio
Mark Henrik Körner
During the last 3 years I worked with Sjouke in Africa. Sjouke truly reads the market, develops a suitable strategy based on market insights and drives execution. He is a Commercial Talent with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in Growth Markets like Africa. Next to that Sjouke is a great colleague, very reliable and integer.
Duncan McCue
I had the pleasure of working together with Sjouke during his roles in Business Transformation and General Manager of International Sales, where we were colleagues within the Commercial Leadership team. Sjouke played a significant role in transformation in the integration of the newly acquired Massive Consumer luminaires business (at the time) and was a key stakeholder in developing new and innovatie 'go to market models' specifically for the consumer business outside of Europe, leading to a significant growth and development of the MEA region. Sjouke is a highly accomplished commercial leader, who is always driven and provides creative and effective solutions to challenges presented. From a personal perspective I very much enjoyed working with Sjouke who is always calm in face of adversity, sharp and objective throughout, with a creative mind and great sense of humour! I would not hesitate to recommend Sjouke for any senior commercial role.
Mark Henrik Körner
During the last 3 years I worked with Sjouke in Africa. Sjouke truly reads the market, develops a suitable strategy based on market insights and drives execution. He is a Commercial Talent with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in Growth Markets like Africa. Next to that Sjouke is a great colleague, very reliable and integer.
Duncan McCue
I had the pleasure of working together with Sjouke during his roles in Business Transformation and General Manager of International Sales, where we were colleagues within the Commercial Leadership team. Sjouke played a significant role in transformation in the integration of the newly acquired Massive Consumer luminaires business (at the time) and was a key stakeholder in developing new and innovatie 'go to market models' specifically for the consumer business outside of Europe, leading to a significant growth and development of the MEA region. Sjouke is a highly accomplished commercial leader, who is always driven and provides creative and effective solutions to challenges presented. From a personal perspective I very much enjoyed working with Sjouke who is always calm in face of adversity, sharp and objective throughout, with a creative mind and great sense of humour! I would not hesitate to recommend Sjouke for any senior commercial role.
Mark Henrik Körner
During the last 3 years I worked with Sjouke in Africa. Sjouke truly reads the market, develops a suitable strategy based on market insights and drives execution. He is a Commercial Talent with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in Growth Markets like Africa. Next to that Sjouke is a great colleague, very reliable and integer.
Duncan McCue
I had the pleasure of working together with Sjouke during his roles in Business Transformation and General Manager of International Sales, where we were colleagues within the Commercial Leadership team. Sjouke played a significant role in transformation in the integration of the newly acquired Massive Consumer luminaires business (at the time) and was a key stakeholder in developing new and innovatie 'go to market models' specifically for the consumer business outside of Europe, leading to a significant growth and development of the MEA region. Sjouke is a highly accomplished commercial leader, who is always driven and provides creative and effective solutions to challenges presented. From a personal perspective I very much enjoyed working with Sjouke who is always calm in face of adversity, sharp and objective throughout, with a creative mind and great sense of humour! I would not hesitate to recommend Sjouke for any senior commercial role.
Mark Henrik Körner
During the last 3 years I worked with Sjouke in Africa. Sjouke truly reads the market, develops a suitable strategy based on market insights and drives execution. He is a Commercial Talent with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in Growth Markets like Africa. Next to that Sjouke is a great colleague, very reliable and integer.
Duncan McCue
I had the pleasure of working together with Sjouke during his roles in Business Transformation and General Manager of International Sales, where we were colleagues within the Commercial Leadership team. Sjouke played a significant role in transformation in the integration of the newly acquired Massive Consumer luminaires business (at the time) and was a key stakeholder in developing new and innovatie 'go to market models' specifically for the consumer business outside of Europe, leading to a significant growth and development of the MEA region. Sjouke is a highly accomplished commercial leader, who is always driven and provides creative and effective solutions to challenges presented. From a personal perspective I very much enjoyed working with Sjouke who is always calm in face of adversity, sharp and objective throughout, with a creative mind and great sense of humour! I would not hesitate to recommend Sjouke for any senior commercial role.
Credentials
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Worldchefs Certified Chef de Partie (WCCP)
City & GuildsOct, 2019- Nov, 2024 -
Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies by Harvard University
HarvardX - An Online Learning Initiative by Harvard University through edXMay, 2019- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Cook Certificate of Culinary Arts
Rouxbe Online Culinary SchoolMar, 2018- Nov, 2024 -
From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development by Oxford University
edXDec, 2017- Nov, 2024
Experience
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De Vries Africa Ventures
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Kenya
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Wholesale Import and Export
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1 - 100 Employee
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Founder & Managing Director
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Apr 2015 - Present
DE VRIES AFRICA VENTURES is one of Kenya’s leading wine import & distribution companies. We import premium wines from iconic estates such as Vergelegen (South Africa), Robert Mondavi (United States), Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte (France), Famille Perrin (France), Kim Crawford (New Zealand), Ruffino (Italy), Raventos Codorniu (Sp), Septima (Argentina) and Maison Sichel (Fr). We are also active in Rwanda and the Seychelles. To increase wine knowledge in the industry we operate a wine school that offers internationally recognised Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications in wine.Hospitality. www.africaconsulting.com Show less
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Hospitality Competence Center East Africa
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Kenya
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Hospitality
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Founder & Managing Director
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Aug 2018 - Present
HOSPITALITY COMPETENCE CENTER EAST AFRICA (HCC-EA) is the first Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Approved Program Provider in Sub-Sahara Africa. We provide best-in-class education and qualifications to inspire and empower the Africa's wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts. www.hcc-ea.com HOSPITALITY COMPETENCE CENTER EAST AFRICA (HCC-EA) is the first Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Approved Program Provider in Sub-Sahara Africa. We provide best-in-class education and qualifications to inspire and empower the Africa's wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts. www.hcc-ea.com
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JobnetAfrica
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South Africa
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Executive Search Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Management Consultant
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Jul 2019 - Dec 2021
JOBNETAFRICA is the most reliable site for international and diaspora professionals that are looking for careers in Africa. The platform is available for anyone looking to live and work in Africa, has done this before or still does. JOBNETAFRICA is the most reliable site for international and diaspora professionals that are looking for careers in Africa. The platform is available for anyone looking to live and work in Africa, has done this before or still does.
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Swiss-LED
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Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Managing Director
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Jul 2015 - Feb 2019
SWISS LED is an international Technology Company that designs, manufactures and distributes lighting products, intelligent LED solutions and control systems. SWISS LED is an international Technology Company that designs, manufactures and distributes lighting products, intelligent LED solutions and control systems.
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NOTS Solar Lamps
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Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chief Operating Officer
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Jul 2015 - Dec 2018
NOTS IMPACT ENTERPRISES improves lives and preserves nature in Sub- Saharan Africa by building renewable energy enterprises such as NOTS Solar Lamps in Rwanda. As an ‘impact enterprise’ NOTS aims at maximal social impact, while providing a healthy return on equity. NOTS IMPACT ENTERPRISES improves lives and preserves nature in Sub- Saharan Africa by building renewable energy enterprises such as NOTS Solar Lamps in Rwanda. As an ‘impact enterprise’ NOTS aims at maximal social impact, while providing a healthy return on equity.
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Philips Lighting
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Netherlands
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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General Manager Consumer Lighting Africa
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Nov 2013 - Jul 2015
• Head of the Consumer Lighting organization responsible for marketing and selling Consumer Luminaires, Lamps and Electronics. Accountable for P&L.• Definition and implementation of the growth strategy for the Consumer Channel: Go-To-Market , organization & capability, resource allocation, business development, sales, marketing, distribution and supply chain.• Define and lead the Consumer Lighting category growth strategy and in-store excellence program for branded retail, modern retail and traditional retail. Strategy includes merchandising, in-store promotion, world class Point Of Sale material and Distribution Management System (DMS).• Category management off-grid Consumer Solar Lighting for the Bottom of the Pyramid. Show less
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General Manager International Sales
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Oct 2010 - Oct 2013
• Head of the Consumer Luminaires export organization Middle East, Africa, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Caucasus and Central Asia. Accountable for P&L.• Business development via 75 distributors and retailers in 69 countries.• Management of supply chain & warehousing with warehouses in Belgium and China.• Category management off-grid Consumer Solar Lighting for the Bottom of the Pyramid.• Lead the Small Markets workstream in the Lighting-wide Go-To-Market program defining the EMEA Consumer Lighting commercial strategy and organization blueprint. Show less
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Sr Director Business Transformation
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Jan 2010 - Mar 2012
• Head of the Business Transformation program office managing all Consumer Luminaires global, large-scale business transformation and turnaround programs e.g. the the Post Merger Integration (PMI), supply chain transformations, New Product Introductions innovations, the brand transformation and organizational capability building.• Head of the Business Process Owner (BPO) organization, defining and implementing all new business processes e.g. Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance, for the PMI of Massive. • Head of the Business Improvement Black Belt organization driving operational excellence through Lean and Six Sigma.• Business program management of the Consumer Luminaires transition to SAP (commercial organizations in Europe & US, Headquarter in Belgium, Factory in China, retail outlets in Belgium). Show less
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Chief Information Officer
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Feb 2008 - Jan 2010
• Head of the global Business Group Consumer Luminaires IT function and team.• Lead the Post Merger Integration (PMI) of the IT function of Consumer Luminaires – formerly PLI (Partners In Lighting) - into Philips.• Co-lead the IT Mergers & Acquisitions Integration strategy and the creation of PMI implementation cookbooks on Philips group level.
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Philips
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Netherlands
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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Director Marketing Information Management
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Sep 2004 - Jan 2008
• Setup and management of marketing IT demand management for the Philips global marketing function. • Program management of the roll out, development and service delivery of the Philips global Digital Asset Management (DAM) system Marcom X-Change. • Setup and management of marketing IT demand management for the Philips global marketing function. • Program management of the roll out, development and service delivery of the Philips global Digital Asset Management (DAM) system Marcom X-Change.
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Philips
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Netherlands
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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Project manager eBusiness
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2002 - 2004
• Project management of Philips DAP eBusiness projects.• Team lead Philips DAP eBusiness team.
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Early career experience
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1995 - 2002
• 1999-2002 Service Manager DAP Head Quarters, Philips DAP, Groningen - The Netherlands.• 1997-1999 Customer Services Specialist, Philips DAP, Drachten - The Netherlands.• 1995-1997 System & database administrator, PTT Telecom, Groningen - The Netherlands
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Education
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2022 - 2022
Henley Business School
The Board of Directors’ Program -
2016 - 2016
University of Oxford - Said Business School
Oxford Private Equity Program -
2013 - 2013
INSEAD
Leading the Effective Sales Force -
2009 - 2009
Harvard Business School
Leading Change and Organizational Renewal -
2007 - 2007
University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School
OCTAGON Philips Top Potential Leadership Program -
2006 - 2006
Ashridge Business School
Influencing Strategies and Skills -
2000 - 2003
Henley Business School
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management, General -
1991 - 1996
NHL Hogeschool
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Secondary Education and Teaching - Mathematics -
1991 - 1996
NHL Hogeschool
Bachelor of Science - BS, Mathematics & Information Technology
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