Flexmanager - Ad Interim Marketing & Communication Management Consultancy

Ad Interim Marketing & Communication Management Consultancy

Work Experience

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
04/2006 - 04/2008
a.i. Marketing Manager - Harley-Davidson Benelux (The Netherlands)
Harley-Davidson Benelux is the Benelux Head Office for the U.S. based Harley-Davidson Motor Company and is responsible - through its dedicated dealer network - for the Benelux sales and marketing activities of motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson and Buell and all their parts, accessories and motorclothes.

• Bring marketing department to the next level
• Define, develop and implement overall Benelux Marketing, Communications and P.R. Strategy for the brands Harley-Davidson, Buell & Harley Owners Group and contribute to 10 year business plan
• Define, introduce and implement CRM strategy
• Hire new creative agency, PR agency and set up dealer marketing service
• Manage and improve relationship with Authorized Harley-Davidson dealer network and stimulate dealer marketing activities.
• Manage and expand relationship with journalists (both motor press and general interest) and third parties.
• Set up miscellaneous (trade and consumer) shows and events
• Develop opportunities to expose brand to new audience
• Coach team of 3 FTE’s
• Member of Benelux Management Team and European Strategy Team
• Report to Benelux Managing Director

03/2006 – 04/2006
Freelance Marketing Consultant - KPN TV (The Netherlands)
KPN is a multimedia provider for the Dutch business and consumer market. KPN’s chore activities include voice, mobile and data communication in the Netherlands and mobile communication in Germany and Belgium.

• Development of an operational marketing and communication plan for the new VOD service of KPN IP- TV and the internet service MovieStream

12/2004- 01/2006
Interim Project Manager New Channels, Chellomedia – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Chellomedia is a division of Liberty Global and provides content and services for international communications and entertainment companies, including cable, satellite, broadband and telecommunications companies.

• Brand development: define and manage development of new name, logo, brand positioning, creative look and re-launch for recently acquired Canal+ channels
• Marketing & Communications: develop (B2B and B2C) strategy for re-launched Canal+ service and new channels
• Budget Management: write, present and manage Canal+ marketing & communications budget for 2005 and 2006
• 3rd Parties: responsible for selection, recruitment and day-to-day working relationship of external agencies like advertisement and media agencies.
• Marketing Research: set-up, analyze and present different (qualitative and quantitative) marketing research projects
• Media: help develop Canal+’s new TV guide, website and interactive television applications
• Content: advise on program acquisition and scheduling
• Recruitment: build new Marketing, Programming and Promotions team (both temporary and fixed)

05/2000 – 11/2004
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR BENELUX, CineNova B.V. – Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and London (United Kingdom)
CineNova is a 24 hour premium pay movie channel for the Benelux market, launched on May 18, 2000 and distributed on the digital platforms of the cable operators. Shareholders are Sony Pictures Entertainment, Buena Vista International and United Pan-Europe Communications

• Oversee and direct Marketing & Communications Department in Amsterdam and Creative Department in London (9 employees total)
• Responsible for the development, implementation and results of the marketing and communications strategy (B2B and B2C)
• In charge of the overall brand strategy and channel look & feel
• Set up and development of joint promotions and creation of free publicity
• Hire and maintain relationships with third parties like advertisement & media agencies, call centers and P.R. agencies
• Advise Programming Department on content acquisition and scheduling
• Responsible for building and maintaining constructive relationships with Dutch and Belgian cable operators
• Advise M.D. and UK based shareholders on strategy and business opportunities
Achievements:
• Successful recruitment of Dutch and UK teams and set-up Dutch office in 2 months
• 70% net CineNova subscribers growth in 2003, primarily via retail channels
• 35% subscriber penetration within 2004 Dutch digital decoder households
• 70% name awareness of CineNova in the market
• Professional development and advancement of team members

01/1997-04/2000
BENELUX MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER , Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - Hilversum (The Netherlands)
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a Dutch-based Benelux organization for video and DVD sales and reports to a UK and LA based Board of Directors

• Responsible for the Benelux Marketing & Communications strategy of video and DVD releases (B2B and B2C)
• Plan, develop, implement and post-evaluate all consumer directed communication (incl. above & below the line communication and free publicity)
• Management of external P.R., design and media agencies in the creation and execution of all relevant marketing activities
• Responsible for marketing/communications budget and co- responsible (together with Sales Department) for Benelux video and DVD revenue
• Set up major P.R. and trade events (like ‘Titanic’ and ‘Star Wars’) and private movie screenings
• Develop and implement business-to-business strategy
• Advise Management and International Board on market developments and opportunities
• Supervisor of Jr. Rental Product Manager

Achievements:
• Successful launch of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s 1st ‘straight to sell-through’ release ‘Independence Day’ in 1997
• Transition of old sell through team to embrace new (more commercial) sell through strategy
• 80% revenue growth Benelux Rental Department 1997 - 2000
• Responsible for marketing campaigns of 4 of the top 5 Benelux rental titles
• 1st Recipient of Twentieth Century Fox’s Award of Excellence for rental release of ‘Speed 2’

06/1992-12/1996
BENELUX MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, Canal Plus - Brussels (Belgium)
Canal Plus (formerly FilmNet) is a 24 hour premiere pay entertainment channel, offering a variety of movies, sports programs, special events and erotics

• Responsible for concept, development, planning, implementation and follow-up of Canal Plus’ movie marketing & communications strategy.
• In charge of set-up of P.R. department. Defined, developed and implemented Benelux P.R. and Communications strategy
• Press spokesperson, in charge of press communication, press conferences, company events and subscriber parties
• In charge of external relations with movie producers, film festivals and politicians
• Producer and interviewer for movie star interviews for Canal Plus’ movie programs and specials
• Head of department (2 marketing assistants and 1 secretary)

09/1988 – 02/1992 TELEVISA - Los Angeles (U.S.A.)
10/1989-02/1992
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, Protele (division of Televisa) - Los Angeles
Protele is a division of Mexican based company Televisa and distributes own and acquired movie and TV productions over the world

• Liaison between US movie distributors and Latin-American clients: coordinated Latin American video releases and television broadcasts, oversaw marketing campaigns and coordinated dubbing and subtitling of movies and programs
• Managed marketing campaigns for Mexican movies in US movie theaters
• Helped design and implement a new computerized system to generate sales reports, program availability, contract management and traffic information

09/1988-10/1989
ASSISTANT SALES DIRECTOR / SCHEDULER, Univisa (division of Televisa) - Los Angeles
Univisa is a division of Mexican based company Televisa and broadcasts to Latin American audiences in the USA

• In charge of commercial broadcast schedule for National Hispanic Cable Broadcast (Galavision) and local TV station (Channel 22) and for the coordination with sales representatives

08/1986-08/1988
OFFICE MANAGER, XL Media Consultants, Inc. - New York (U.S.A.)
XL Media Consultants is a company that is responsible for production work and research for Dutch TV stations and Benelux magazines.

• Responsible for overall supervision and coordination of office administration
• Scheduled on-location TV interviews for Dutch journalists, carried out production projects for several Dutch television stations and TV guides
• Conducted market research for European companies, interested in trade with the U.S.A.
• In charge of follow-up for sales and distribution of XL Media owned music record label activities