From intern to CEO

The story of Marcel van der Velden

From a student writing his thesis on electronic communication between hospitals to CEO of an international software company. Marcel’s career is both surprising and impressive. In this interview, Marcel talks about how he joined Enovation, what drives him and how he fulfils his role as CEO.

When Marcel conducted his first case study for Enovation in 1999, he was still living with his parents in Barendrecht. He spent a lot of time playing pool, snooker and gaming on his Nintendo. His first encounter with what is now Enovation was when he was looking for a company where he could complete a practical assignment for his Business Administration studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam. ‘My mother worked at Enovation and handled the payroll administration. It was through her that I got in touch with the then director, Jean Nederlof. As a result of that conversation, I was allowed to do a case study for Lifeline Networks, as Enovation was called at the time.’

The very beginning

In 2000, Marcel wrote a second case study for the company, after which he started his graduate assignment in 2001 at Enovation’s predecessor. ‘During this period, I was in the office every day, spending half the time working on my thesis on electronic communication between hospitals. For the rest of the time, I worked as a sales and marketing support assistant, which helped me get to know the company and its sales operations well.’

‘We were in a smaller office then, with about 50 employees. The atmosphere was informal and approachable. For example, you could walk into anyone’s office. That is something I have always appreciated, and it is something we are still trying to maintain.’

From customer contact to board meetings

‘I enjoyed my time in the sales department during my graduate internship,’ Marcel continues. ‘Therefore, when I graduated in 2003, I decided to stay with the company. By then, I was working as a Junior Account Manager, selling services to hospitals. Later, I also started selling Secure Email (then ZorgMail).’

‘Over time, I progressed to Account Manager and then Senior Account Manager. A new challenge presented itself every few years.’ At the time, Marcel hadn’t imagined that he would one day become CEO. ‘As you take steps, your responsibility grows. But I didn’t initially think that I wanted a management position. The first moment I thought “wow, I’m in management” was when we became part of VANAD Group and I became Vice President of Sales.’

The move to CEO

When asked to become CEO, Marcel took time to think carefully before giving an answer. ‘CEO is a big responsibility. I therefore felt it was important to discuss it at home and not make a hasty decision. Jeroen, my predecessor, said, “You can do this, it will be fine.” That gave me the confidence to take the plunge.’

How does Marcel explain his unusual career path? ‘I started here because the atmosphere really appealed to me, and we really do something useful for healthcare,’ Marcel begins his explanation. ‘I still have that feeling. Besides, I always wanted to see what I could achieve in life; push myself to the limit in terms of commitment and see how far I could go. I think that combination has brought me where I am today. At Enovation, you also get the space to grow. If you show that you can handle responsibility, you get the freedom to organise your work in a way that feels right for you.’

Changes and highlights

In 25 years, Marcel has seen Enovation transform from a small business to an international organisation. ‘Professionalisation is huge; the bar has been raised higher and higher. This is also a nice compliment to everyone working at Enovation. We are now an international player and almost everything has gone digital.’

An open door

In his new role, Marcel wants to maintain the family feeling within the organisation as much as possible. Accessibility is paramount to me. I like to have lunch downstairs with all employees, and I actively seek out conversations. I also keep everyone informed through update videos about Enovation and the board’s work. I want everyone to feel that they can always approach me. At the same time, I think it is important to remain assertive and entrepreneurial on the business front.’
‘The Enovation values – Committed, Open and Passion – guide how I work. You may not always agree with everyone, but as long as you are honest and can look yourself squarely in the mirror. Honesty and commitment ensure that we move forward together.’

Outlook

Has Marcel set any goals for himself? ‘Definitely, I think it’s important to always find new challenges that help you improve yourself. Personally, it is important to focus less on the content and more on the big picture. I do enjoy being involved in the content side, so that will take some getting used to,’ Marcel continues with a laugh.

Finally, Marcel has a tip on happiness at work: ‘It is really important to enjoy your work. You see some colleagues more often than your family, so make sure you have a good time together. Share your ideas and any concerns and help each other when needed. That way, you know what to expect from each other and how everyone is doing. You have to do it together and together you are also stronger.’