Mario Hoek

Mario Hoek Email and Phone Number

Chief Product Officer (CPO) | Head of Product | Driving Innovation & Growth in Fintech & Telecoms | Start-ups & scale-ups | Product Strategy, Digital Transformation & Customer-Centric Solutions @ Pyypl (pronounced "people")
Mario Hoek's Location
United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Mario Hoek's Contact Details
About Mario Hoek

A hands-on Chief Product Officer with over 25 years of experience in creating, launching and managing innovative products the telecommunications and fintech industries in the start-up and scale-up space. I’m keen on building high-performing teams and creating successful digital products that are built on customer insights. I am passionate about driving product innovation, market growth, and improving customer satisfaction by understanding user needs and market dynamics.• Create and develop product strategy aligned with company vision and goals• Develop and maintain product roadmaps align stakeholders on product priorities• Set-up product lifecycle management, and data driven decision making and KPI’s • Building, leading, and mentoring cross-functional product, design and development teams of 25+ resources• Hands-on product management to stay involved in what’s being build, and lead by example• Establish user centric design principles and incorporate customer feedback in the development processes• Continuous improvements on time-to-market and team cadence by creating a can-do culture and drive• Solid technical understand to assess feasibility and facilitate communication with the engineering teams• Stakeholder management to ensure effective communication between the all internal and external teams• Experience in applying agile and scrum methodologies, and build up the product development processes and tools to support it• Managing change, and implementing digital transformation throughout the organizationSkillsFintech, Telecoms, Digital Transformation, Product vision, Digital innovation, Product roadmap, Product Strategy, Product development, Product lifecycle management, Product iteration, Product performance, Feature prioritization, Product-market fit, Usability testing, Product differentiation, Customer journey mapping, Customer centric design, User experience (UX), UX Design principles, User testing, Product experimentation, Prototyping, Brand positioning, Go-to-market strategy, Change management, Problem solving, Analytics, Key performance indicators (KPIs), Metrics and analytics, Data driven decision making, Leadership, Team building, Team mentoring, Stakeholder communication, Cross-functional collaboration, Market intelligence, Competitive analysis, Agile methodology, Process improvement, Business model innovation, Growth strategy, Go-to-market strategy, Customer retention, Customer success, Voice of the customer (VoC), Value proposition, Monetization strategy, Revenue growth

Mario Hoek's Current Company Details
Pyypl (pronounced

Pyypl (Pronounced "People")

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Chief Product Officer (CPO) | Head of Product | Driving Innovation & Growth in Fintech & Telecoms | Start-ups & scale-ups | Product Strategy, Digital Transformation & Customer-Centric Solutions
Mario Hoek Work Experience Details
  • Pyypl (Pronounced
    Chief Product Officer (Cpo) | Fintech
    Pyypl (Pronounced "People") Jan 2021 - Present
    Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Ae
    As the Chief Product Officer, I lead the definition and execution of our product strategy deeply aligned with the company’s vision, driving a 20x growth in Monthly Active Users (MAU). This involved creating a multi-year product roadmap and setting clear, data-informed product priorities to ensure consistent evolution and innovation, supporting and surpassing our ambitious growth objectives.I successfully built and scaled a high-performance product organization from scratch, growing from 0 to 30 skilled professionals across product management, design, and development within two years. My approach focused on fostering a collaborative and innovative culture, providing mentorship and professional development, and instilling a strong sense of ownership within the team.To enhance our operational efficiency, I designed and implemented a scalable product lifecycle management framework, which included well-defined stage gates, agile methodologies, and robust development processes. This enabled us to accelerate our release cadence to bi-weekly iterations, boosting overall team productivity and ensuring rapid, iterative improvement to meet evolving market needs.At the core of our product philosophy was a commitment to user-centric design principles. I championed usability and accessibility enhancements across the product suite, resulting in a marked improvement in customer satisfaction and retention, as evidenced by user feedback and engagement metrics.Collaborating closely with the executive team, I aligned product initiatives with key revenue targets, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize go-to-market strategies. This alignment strengthened our market positioning, driving sustained revenue growth and cementing our product’s place as a leader in the fintech industry in the region.
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  • Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa
    Vice President (Vp) Products & Digital Transformation | Telco
    Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa Jan 2015 - Dec 2020
    Dubai, Ae
    As VP of Product, I led the successful launch of the UAE’s first fully digital telecoms provider, achieving the highest industry NPS scores and established new standards in customer retention. It created a new reference in the digital telecom space within the region, driven by a product strategy that combined innovation, a unique proposition, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction.To further this in the other Virgin Mobile MEA markets, I built and scaled a top-performing digital product team, assembling talent to manage complex, multi-country implementations. We achieved a 100% increase in speed-to-market, significantly reducing both development and operational costs and positioning our team to rapidly deploy and scale products across new markets.Created and managed the product roadmap balancing product innovation and business growth objectives. This roadmap introduced a higher frequency of product releases, directly contributing to increased customer acquisition, heightened retention rates, and a notable uplift in ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). By aligning product strategy with the company’s core revenue-driving goals, I ensured our initiatives consistently supported top-line growth.Championing a customer-centric approach, I implemented design principles that enhanced user experience across both digital interfaces and physical touch-points. This emphasis on seamless, intuitive design was critical in reducing churn and significantly improving customer satisfaction, helping to reinforce our brand’s reputation for quality and reliability.We implemented KPIs across all product lines, ensuring they were closely tied to key business objectives, and fostered a data-driven culture by introducing advanced analytics and reporting tools, allowing the team to make informed, real-time decisions that optimized product performance and met the evolving needs of our customers.
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  • Blackberry
    Head Of Market & Product Planning Middle East & Africa
    Blackberry Jan 2012 - Dec 2014
    Waterloo, Ontario, Ca
    • Market Intelligence & Insights: Conduct in-depth research and provide actionable market insights on the Middle East and Africa telecommunications landscape. Deliver analysis on trends, customer preferences, competitive positioning, and regulatory developments to inform strategic decisions for regional and EMEA teams.• Strategic Business Planning: Utilize data analysis and forecasting models to guide business and product planning initiatives, supporting the alignment of the current and future product portfolio with market needs. Leverage predictive analytics to shape tactical plans that align with BlackBerry’s objectives.• Identifying Opportunities & Risks: Proactively identify and assess new market opportunities and potential threats. Provide recommendations on strategic responses and resource prioritization to strengthen BlackBerry’s position in the Middle East and Africa region.• Customer-Centric Approach: Translate market and customer insights into actionable strategies for product and service enhancements, ensuring BlackBerry’s offerings align with evolving customer needs and maintain a competitive edge.• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with EMEA regional teams, product development, and marketing departments to create and adapt go-to-market strategies that maximize regional growth. Facilitate a collaborative approach to planning that leverages insights from diverse functional areas.• Performance Tracking & Reporting: Develop and monitor key performance indicators to track the effectiveness of market strategies, providing regular reporting to senior leadership on progress and necessary adjustments. Utilize feedback to continuously improve planning processes and business outcomes.
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  • Huawei
    Senior Business Consultant
    Huawei Jan 2010 - Dec 2011
    Shenzhen, Guangdong, Cn
    • Executive Advisory Services: Provide strategic consulting to C-level executives and marketing teams of telecom operators across the Middle East & Africa. Deliver expert guidance to refine product strategies, enhance customer propositions, and align their portfolios with current market demands and emerging trends.• Data Analytics & Market Insights: Conduct data analysis to uncover trends and establish a comprehensive knowledge base on key sectors within the Middle East telecoms market, including mobile broadband, cloud services, OTT video, IPTV, and fixed broadband. Regularly disseminate insights to internal and client teams to drive informed decision-making.• Industry Representation & Advocacy: Act as a key representative for Huawei’s mobile and fixed broadband solutions at industry forums, conferences, and events. Engage with industry stakeholders, advocate for Huawei’s technological innovations, and strengthen the brand's presence within the telecom sector.
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  • S2M Group
    Marketing Director
    S2M Group Aug 2007 - Dec 2009
    •Design and develop product proposition and customer experience for mobile TV product•Support to business development for the commercial agreements with mobile operators•Recruiting and building marketing team
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  • Belgacom Mobile - Proximus
    Head Of Mobile Data & Vas Products
    Belgacom Mobile - Proximus Dec 2004 - Aug 2007
    Brussels, Be
    • Product Strategy & Lifecycle Management: Lead the end-to-end product management for mobile and fixed-line value-added services (VAS), including Vodafone Live, triple-play propositions, IPTV, OTT video, and other key offerings. Define product roadmaps, prioritize feature development, and oversee the entire product lifecycle to ensure alignment with market trends and customer needs.• Customer Experience Optimization: Develop and implement strategies to enhance the customer experience across all mobile and fixed-line services. Utilize customer feedback, data analytics, and industry best practices to improve usability, engagement, and satisfaction with products, ensuring Proximus delivers a seamless and valuable user experience.• Profit & Loss (P&L) Responsibility: Own the P&L for mobile data and VAS products, managing budget allocations and revenue forecasting to ensure profitability and financial health of the product portfolio. Drive cost efficiencies, optimize pricing strategies, and ensure that revenue targets are consistently met or exceeded.• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, technology, and customer support, to align product offerings with market demands and operational capabilities. Coordinate product launches, marketing campaigns, and sales enablement initiatives to drive product adoption and market penetration.• Team Leadership & Development: Build and lead a high-performing product management team. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, providing mentorship, training, and career development opportunities to support team growth and engagement.• Market Research & Competitive Analysis: Conduct ongoing market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, assess competitive positioning, and capitalize on opportunities in the VAS and mobile data sectors. Use insights to continuously evolve product offerings and maintain Proximus’s competitive edge.
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  • Sony Europe
    Head Of Mobile Data And Vas Products
    Sony Europe Jun 2001 - Dec 2003
    Tokyo, Jp
    • Digital Product Development & Innovation: Lead the product development of digital services across Sony's connected product portfolio, including imaging, music, and gaming. Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of mobile services, from concept to launch, ensuring alignment with Sony’s digital strategy and delivering innovative, high-quality experiences for users.• Strategic Business Development: Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with content providers, mobile network operators, and other ecosystem players to expand Sony's digital service offerings.• Customer-Centric Product Strategy: Develop a deep understanding of customer needs and industry trends to shape Sony’s mobile service strategy. Utilize customer insights, data analytics, and market feedback to drive continuous improvements, optimize product-market fit, and enhance user engagement and retention.• Cross-Functional Leadership & Alignment: Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including engineering, marketing, legal, and finance teams, to ensure cohesive and coordinated product rollouts. Align mobile services development with Sony’s broader business objectives, facilitating smooth launches and consistent brand messaging across all channels.• Team Leadership & Development: Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing mobile services team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability. Provide mentorship, career development, and support to team members, ensuring skills growth and strong performance in line with Sony's strategic goals.
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  • Synkronis
    General Manager
    Synkronis May 2000 - May 2001
    General Manager start-up company around permission based e-mail marketing
  • Iris
    Area Sales Manager
    Iris Jan 1998 - Mar 2000
    Market & channel development OCR products Benelux & UK
  • Monsanto
    Market Manager
    Monsanto Jan 1990 - Dec 1997
    St. Louis, Missouri, Us
    -Business & strategy development-Market & business analysis-Market research
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Mario Hoek Skills

Mobile Devices Product Management Strategy Telecommunications Business Development Start Ups Marketing Strategy Management Mobile Applications Business Strategy Market Research Business Planning Product Marketing Cloud Computing Product Development Entrepreneurship Marketing Management Iptv Team Management Marketing Mobile Content Strategic Partnerships Competitive Analysis P&l Management Management Consulting Partner Management Business Analysis Contract Negotiation Content Strategy Mobile Internet Vas Strategy Development People Management Product Strategy Fixed Mobile Convergence Mobile Broadband Consumer Products Thought Leadership Digital Strategy Digital Transformation Customer Acquisition Product Launch Telco Triple Play Leadership User Experience Customer Engagement Product Leadership Digital Innovation Problem Solving

Mario Hoek Education Details

  • Delft University Of Technology
    Delft University Of Technology
    Physics
  • Ehsal
    Ehsal
    Marketing Management

Frequently Asked Questions about Mario Hoek

What company does Mario Hoek work for?

Mario Hoek works for Pyypl (Pronounced "people")

What is Mario Hoek's role at the current company?

Mario Hoek's current role is Chief Product Officer (CPO) | Head of Product | Driving Innovation & Growth in Fintech & Telecoms | Start-ups & scale-ups | Product Strategy, Digital Transformation & Customer-Centric Solutions.

What is Mario Hoek's email address?

Mario Hoek's email address is ma****@****ail.com

What schools did Mario Hoek attend?

Mario Hoek attended Delft University Of Technology, Ehsal.

What skills is Mario Hoek known for?

Mario Hoek has skills like Mobile Devices, Product Management, Strategy, Telecommunications, Business Development, Start Ups, Marketing Strategy, Management, Mobile Applications, Business Strategy, Market Research, Business Planning.

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