Business News
Van Gennep focuses on the future through strategic reorganization
Tuesday 17. February 2009 - Top management team is restructured for efficiency and flexibility; New strategic roadmap will ensure continued response to future challenges
Van Gennep announces the restructuring of its top management team to benefit clients and stakeholders. The change is part of a continuous drive to deliver the company’s vision to be the publisher’s supplier of choice for planning and workflow management solutions.
“We have always had a clear goal for the company and its products,” states Ton van Gennep, founder and owner of the company since 1988. “To achieve this goal, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing industry, we need a highly focused management team with fresh ideas and short lines of command. This will give us the agility to extend our high quality products and services to a wider market without losing the ‘personal touch’ that is the cornerstone of our business.”
With immediate effect, Gerda Oppewal – Chief Commercial Officer – and Bart van Stal – Chief Technology Officer – will be responsible for day-to-day operations and for setting new business goals, with new product lines meeting the high expectations of Van Gennep’s customers and prospects, worldwide.
“The challenges faced by publishers have been intensified by the current economic environment. It is more important than ever to offer products that make publishing businesses more efficient and thus less vulnerable to economic pressures,” confirms Gerda. “Our new team will be able to respond efficiently to all internal and external demands, including the development of solutions with enhanced ROI and the capabilities to dramatically streamline publishing processes.
According to Bart, “The first steps on our new product roadmap are imminent through the availability of Polo. Available from June 2009, it will, over time, replace PlanSystem3, our current Publishing Management System. New planning products, to optimize creative media management, and ongoing enhancements are also in the pipeline for the next 18 months as well as a brand new TV Listings system for both EPG and printed media, which will set new standards. Each and every product will help our customers face future technology and economic challenges with best-of-breed functionality.”
With the new management team in place, Ton van Gennep will assume the role of company chairman. “I will continue to offer my long term publishing experience, working side-by-side with the new team. However, the new structure will allow me to take a more strategic role. Our long-term philosophy will be to emphasize good support and business relationships, state-of-the-art products and innovations that are simple to implement and maintain. In fact, everything needed for the future by customers looking for a supplier that really cares for their success.”