Geert de Groot - Interim Manager, Nomilk2day Interim
Without interim experience, yet possessing exactly the right luggage for a successful start as an interim manager. How does Geert de Groot do it? Something to do with expat experience, notebooks, his strength, and drive.
Geert de Groot - Interim Manager
After eighteen years in various wonderful commercial management positions at Nestlé, in different parts of the world, Geert chooses a different work direction. 'I was ready for something new. The offer from Nomilk2day for a role as Interim Commercial Director ticked almost all the boxes of what I was looking for. Not a big corporation for a change, but still a family structure and a new category for me. At cheese and tapas producer Bouter Group, I work in fresh, private label, and we are strategic partners of Ahold/Delhaize. Something completely different.'
Do you have a preference for the type of project?
'This is my first assignment, but what matters to me is that the assignment suits me. Is there a clear connection with the management team, the vision, and what needs to happen? I really enjoy improving and transforming things. That's also my background; reorganizing and renewing teams or making a business profitable again. A turnaround in any area has always been part of me.'
According to you, what is the most important aspect in leading a transformation?
'Understanding the interplay between people, teams, and processes. My broad commercial background helps with that. It allows me to bring people and teams together and help them do things better together.'
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
'Once the playing field, context, objectives, and expectations within the team are clear, they have the freedom to decide how to achieve them. I am the one who sets the overall strategy, challenges colleagues to do better, and brings structure. Need help? I'm always there. In short; I'm not a micromanager, but I adapt when the situation calls for it. Prioritizing is important in this leadership style. You can have all sorts of wild plans, but ultimately, the focus should be on making a profit... I'm happy to assist in making smart choices. The wild plan goes in my notebook with 1001 ideas, as it could be an interesting challenge for the future.'
A notebook with 1001 ideas? Tell us more.
'When I enter a new environment, I observe a lot of things and notice various aspects that make me think; can we do something about it? I jot it down, and along the way, I often discover why many of those ideas haven't been implemented yet, or how they could work in a modified form. There are still plenty of good ideas waiting to be pursued. Moreover, these notes help me stay sharp and keep challenging myself to achieve them. This is also the beauty of an interim manager; he/she brings in a fresh perspective and broad experience, looking at everything with different eyes. That is often very valuable.'
Is that the ultimate reason to hire an interim manager?
'An interim manager does, even more than someone climbing the corporate ladder, what is best for the company. Because I have a different role than a permanent employee, I am much less concerned with internal politics and more willing to address the uncomfortable truths. You wouldn't do that as easily with someone who will be your boss in the coming years. I might say things that are unpleasant to hear or challenge a sacred cow, but these are the conversations that move a company forward.'
Do you come from the food industry. Will you keep focusing on that?
'The food industry is a very fascinating sector because it touches the consumer. Every day. This means you have a huge impact on people and the world. Consumers are also a very fun target group to work with. Don't ask me to work on a cryptocurrency platform, but I'm open to cool non-food projects as long as they involve a lot of innovation, opportunities, and challenges. Doing things smarter with digital solutions. I really enjoy that.'
You have worked in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Malaysia. How much do you benefit from your expat experience?
'Definitely. Although I'm currently on my first interim assignment, the international assignments at my previous employer make it feel like not such a big new step. I'm used to going somewhere with a task. However, I feel like I need to deliver faster and do things a bit better with an interim job. But that's also what makes it fun.'
Did you plan how to start your first assignment?
'No, not really. I think that mindset comes from the many assignments abroad. I'm someone who enjoys meeting people and diving into processes. In essence, it's not much different from boarding a plane to a new expat destination. It's a combination of studying numbers, listening to opinions and perspectives, talking a lot to verify them, and forming my own view from there. That's how I like to approach a new assignment.'
What is your vision on teams?
'I believe that diverse teams achieve better results because different perspectives take you further. When faced with a challenging problem, don't just involve the commercial team, but also operations and QA. This way, you gain other valuable insights. It may make things more complex and require more time, but ultimately, it takes you further. I've seen the most amazing things come from improvement projects shared on the work floor, such as cost savings that also have a sustainable purpose.'
That must be quite rewarding!
'High revenue and large teams don't drive me. My motivation lies in what I can contribute. How can I help people, teams, and companies move forward?'
Are you a dynamic Interim Manager or is your organization looking for an interim professional who dives into business challenges? Contact us quickly.
Photo: Esther Scholte Fotografie
