Erik Thomassen Email & Phone Number

Hengelo, Overijssel, Netherlands

My teams create software solutions for the world's biggest naval vessels. I manage up to 45 software developmemt and software system engineers and together we are some of the best performing and motivated teams within the company.

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Our technologies allow users to select and pay for hotel rooms and Airbnb accommodations within the trivago ecosystem. My team of up to 15 people (which is spread around the globe) includes frontend and backend developers, UI designers and Quality Assurance. Our services run in both public and private clouds, we use React, PHP, and Golang, and we heavily rely on micro service architecture in combination with advanced tracking analytics to connect to 3rd party hotel advertiser APIs and payment providers. We also keep a very close watch on GDPR, PCI and PDS2 compliance. Within my first year on the job our Leipzig office needed to shut down and I became primary coordinator for the transfer of all technologies, responsibilities and talents to the new Düsseldorf office, as well as setting up a new team there.Highlights• Coordinated all change management processes needed to transition from Leipzig to Düsseldorf.• Coordinated and motivated 30 DEVs, POs, QAs and team leaders during the 6-month decommissioning period.• Created a new engineering team in Düsseldorf that performed beyond expectation within record time.• Successful redesign of the mobile and desktop platforms.

My department was responsible for automotive Speech Recognition solutions in millions of Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda vehicles. As head of the department I managed up to 35 people including team leaders, software architects, requirement managers, voice and map data specialists, C++ developers, testers and external contractors. The department was spread across 5 countries and 2 continents, so collaboration and well organized sub-teams were crucial. I was responsible for customer relations, supplier deliverables, stakeholder management, risk assessments, new hires, career development planning, coaching, department resources and proof of fulfilment, to mention a few.• Turned the most problematic department within the company, into the best performing, within the 1st year • Grew the team size from 15 to 40 people • Rollout of automotive SPICE processes relating to compliance and adherence • Initiated new joint venture with our sister division in Asia

Leipzig Area, Germany

Established a new User Experience department by consolidating individual designers throughout the company into a single team. This required the introduction of new working structures, a quality control system, a new requirement management process, stakeholder management improvements, performance reviews and more. My UX designers were responsible for the user research and design of the world’s largest ‘fleet management platform’, where solutions were tailored towards Business-to-Business telematics services. User research and trend analysis was at the forefront of new feature innovations. The platform ran in parallel on HTML5, Android, and iOS and the team focused on the delivery of interactive mock-ups and visual designs for our 80 software developers spread across 4 sites in Germany, Spain and Poland• Developed and maintained a UX vision for all digital touch points • Designed Software as a Service (Saas) • The platform supported real-time information of 700.000 vehicles

Copenhagen Area, Denmark

Novo Nordisk is a global fortune 500 company that focuses on the treatment of diabetes. I reported directly to the Senior VP of R&D - and with partial autonomy to follow my own instincts - I was tasked with suggesting new projects for the division of 200+ engineers and driving these ideas from ideation to release. I designed next generation drug delivery systems, treatment regimes, apps, wearables, desktop solutions and packaging for patients, nurses and doctors. These projects started with ethnographic and analytical research, which led to broad ideation and the creation of hundreds of rapid prototypes across a wide range of topics. Over the years this approach led to new groundbreaking physical and digital solutions. Through extensive stakeholder management, collaborations and presentations I persuaded C-level management to follow these unique user insights. Many of my innovations changed the company understanding of their users and led to new business plans and product ideas. These insights then led to a broader understanding that the long-term strategic outlook needed to change, thus I played a pivotal role in the development of the company’s new 10-year digital strategy. • Consolidated user insights for a next-gen drug platform worth $1B USD a year • Designed new out-of-box experiences for drug lines worth $2.5B USD a year • Led the transformational process aimed at establishing a new 10-year digital company strategy • Revolutionized injection devices, needle solutions and insulin cartridges • Managed external design agencies, mentored junior staff and university students • Generated regulatory, quality and safety documentation according to industry standards • Extensively stakeholder managed other departments (Legal, Regulatory, Compliance, Medical, Sales, Packaging, Product Development, Marketing, Branding, Production, Customer care, etc.)

Amsterdam Area, Netherlands

As Senior Interaction Designer, Project Manager and manager of the User Experience team for emerging markets, I managed the design of software for standalone navigation devices, built-in car solutions, truck solutions, and motorcycle navigation systems. I worked closely with VPs and C-level leaders within the company. Created wireframes, optimized user flows, founded user profiles from international user research, performed extensive user testing, organized brainstorming workshops, and had 20 software patents approved in the EU and US. • I was responsible for the user experience of 15 million navigation units per year.• Our UX solutions were awarded 7 international design awards. • Helped the company grow their revenue from €20 million to €2 billion in 4 years.

At the root of innovation lies creativity! I’m proud to be a founding member of an award winning comedy group that performed throughout the Netherlands for 6 years. Winning several major awards along the way. Understanding your target audience is crucial, whether it’s comedy or commerce.

The Stanford Design Program, D.School Design Thinking

The executive boot camp created by Stanford believes everyone is a graduate of innovation, and their executive programs are open.

Leadership Training, Tomtom Talent Program

A small group of exceptional TomTom employees had the opportunity to hone their business skills during a part-time one year course..

Education record

Leadership training for department heads provided by their fantastic internal trainers.

Education record

Leadership training for department heads provided by award winning external trainers

Inspire Workshop

This flagship workshop covers essential best practices of successful Fortune 500 companies around product roles and people, product teams.

Cum Laude - Master Of Science, Industrial Design Engineering, With Honours

This master’s course follows the methodology of Integrated Product Design as a systematic approach to product development and innovation..

Winner Of The Following Prizes

> Groninger Studenten Cabaret Festival > DK bokaal > Parnassos publieksprijs > Eenacter Festival Publieksprijs > Eenacter Festival.