Leading the marketing & communication at fast growing bike leasing company

WiMedia does C-level interim management assignments in marketing and delivers consultancy services to grow your business. Specialized in (re)building business through state-of-the-art marketing including communication and product management.WiMedia can also be hired for the digital transformation of your traditional marketing department to an agile, lean and adaptive creative marketing department with more and measurable growth.WiMedia also supports start-ups in their growth as Fractional CMO at a friends price day rate.WiMedia can also be hired by established companies without a presence in Belgium or Europe to successfully bring products and or services to the European markets and grow your business.

Wrote new businessplan for CEO a.i. of leading company in print industry company. Because of confidentiality, name can not be disclosed.

Investigated and explored the European market for American start-up in construction and event software

Started in november 2017 on interim management base as digital marketing manager to speed up the digital transformation of the marketing & communication department. Soon after asked to lead the worldwide Marketing & external Communication department at the corporate Headquarter in Belgium.Vinçotte, founded in 1872, is the market leader in the TIC sector (inspection, certification) in Belgium, realizing an annual turnover of +€200M serving over 60.000 customers per year with 2000 employees. Vinçotte is active in electricity, lifting, pressure, NDO and certification in sectors like building construction, architecture, health care, other construction-related companies, (renewable) energy production and -distribution (HV MV, LV), utilities, (petro)chemical, pharmaceutical, waste processing and -recycling, steel industry, extractive industry, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, wholesale, radiation protection, food manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing,... and even in LV electricity control in private homes (installation, solar, charging poles,...).After having worked on increasing the reach (doubled the number of website visitors in 3 years to 500.000 in 2020), the next phase is on building the (inter)national growth by improving the customer experience and transform more visitors into customers. The transformation into a full digital Marketing department is finalized and Vinçotte MarCom is ready for the digital world.In charge of: online and offline marketing, brandbuilding, marketing and communication plan, marketing strategy, improving customer experience, event management, product marketing of new digital solutions like Digi-Tags, BIMproof, v3D,… marketing budget, ROI of actions, market research, supporting the Business Unit managers in Belgium and the country managers in NL and Lux,... Reporting to the CEO.

Leading Planidoo (2DS vzw) spin off from VTBKultuur, founded in 1922. Disrupting the way people organize events. Digital platform based on open source Ginger CMS. Received a Google Grant and funding from vtbKultuur and the Flemish government for the cloud based platform Planidoo. Without spending one euro more on SEA, the website traffic exploded by making the right marketing choices.Marketing automation, CMS management, content creation, marketing, communication, product development, business development, partnerships, funding,... Reporting to the Chairman and Board of Directors.After reconversion, Planidoo was acquired by Give-a-Day vzw in december 2017.

Partner at the leading training institute for nonverbal communication in business

Defining and selecting the new Marketing Automation Platform for Federale, leading insurance company in Belgium.

SCRUM Product Owner advising on the Digital News Room project at DPG Media

In this docu with Amaryllis Uitterlinden on street harrasment, which is the first local TLC production, I give advice on nonverbal communication. Broadcasted on national television in October 2015http://www.sbsbelgium.be/pers/amaryllis-uitterlinden-onderzoekt-alledaags-seksisme-voor-tlc

Restructuring marketing & product management department. Started as Product Manager a.i. to develop and launch new digital products and services. After 3 months promoted to Marketing Manager/CMO Belgium a.i. to bring the marketing departement (4 FTE’s) into the digital world. Arval is the Belgian marketleader in operational leasing.Invented, initiated and managed multiple new digital campaigns including the Arval Road Safety drawing competition for all schools in Belgium. This project, which was a combination of offline (direct mail) and online (Facebook competition), got an incredible amount of interaction both in the schools as on Facebook (+ 8000 likes) and won the Award for best campaign across all Arval countries. Reporting to the Country Manager BeLux.

For a national TV infomercial Sputnik hired me as body language expert to tell who was bluffing and who wasn't. The infomercial was sponsored by Pokerstars and the result in Dutch with the twins De Meulder, Thomas Smith and Pieter Timmers can be seen here: http://youtu.be/Spx-QizcRxk and in French with Gaëlle Garcia Diaz, Sophie Pendeville and Germain Gigounon here: http://youtu.be/SWkAUZmFZIU

ZapFi builds a venue marketing platform based on free Wi-Fi at high traffic places like shopping malls. Restructuring the product development as Product Development Director. In charge of the entire software development from managing the roadmap over writing user stories and copywriting of the text in the product and the commercial texts to bringing the product to market. With 1 agile SCRUM development team (10 FTE’s) we succesfully launched every 4 weeks after 2 sprints a new version of the cloud based SAAS mobile marketing platform. ZapFi originates from the idea of creating an international mobile community through free Wi-Fi and, by monitoring users' surfing behaviour and habits, attract large advertisers. Today ZapFi has established a unique marketing platform, in collaboration with SAS Business Analytics and Business Intelligence Software, which analyses the data generated by users' profiles and on line activity. The outcome is ZapFi's powerful toolset of actionable reports, segmented data and dashboards which allows businesses to directly target the right audience in the right place at the right moment for their mobile marketing campaigns by sending relevant messages through the ZapFi Advertising platform. Reporting to the CEO.Next to development of the standard product I was also in charge of specific customer requests. ZapFi is installed at customers like Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, Quick, Ethias, Beobank in Belgium and AB Inbev in Germany. Other tasks included Product Management and Product Marketing.Very happy with the compliment I got from the CTO and Head of Development: "Finally a marketer that understands software development"

TCL is one of the worlds largest producers of consumer electronics, headquartered in Huizhou, China. TCL has approx. 60,000 employees in 80 cities, 20 R& D centers, 30 manufacturing sites, 50 sales offices and a revenue of aprox. 9 billion USD. It is listed with 3 companies on the stock exchange. TCL ranks top 5 in the global LCD TV market. Ikea selected TCL in april 2012 to produce their first Smart TV's entertainment system under the Uppleva brand.TCL requested to prepare the introduction of the TCL branded Lighting LED products in Europe. Reporting to the CEO of TCL Lighting. After an extensive product training at the TCL Lighting Headquarters in Huizhou, a thorough European market research and meetings with leading players in the lighting business in Europe I prepared the complete go to market and digital strategy: - Created a business plan for the Lighting division in Europe: SWOT analysis, (digital) strategy, mission & vision, go to market.- Product Management & Product Marketing: positioning of the TCL LED Lighting products in a already crowded European retail market between brands like Philips, Osram and Sylvania, DIY private labels and C-brands.- Prepared corporate marketing incuding branding, European packaging, collaterals, PR, advertising, gifts, incentives, social media, digital- Discovery and proposal of marketing related activities like exhibitions, conferences and events throughout Europe.- Marketing and brand introduction budget preparation & presentation- Channel Management: setup CRM, funnel & marketing reporting- Prepared a multilingual Digital Strategy for EuropeSome examples of PR can be found here:http://www.ledsmagazine.com/ugc/2012/07/wim-meulders-been-appointed-general-manager-europe-for-tcl-lighting-corporation.htmlhttp://www.gg-led.com/asdisp3-65b095fb-1907-.htmlhttp://mgledcn.com/news_show.asp?x_id=146314

After the acquisition of the Topcom brandname and assets by Tristar Europe bv begin february 2012, I was asked by the CEO to start up the new Belgian office for Tristar, to integrate the Topcom customers into the Tristar structure and to get things going. All major retail Belgian customers including but not limited to MediaMarkt, Saturn, Makro, Carrefour, Colruyt, Dreamland, Aldi, Premaman, Fun,... made the move in the first 4 months.

Restructuring the marketing product management of Topcom, a Belgian manufacturer of communication and care products, owned by @Korys (Colruyt investment company) and distributed in EMEA, LatAm & Asia through own subsidiaries (Scandinavia, Benelux, CEE, Iberia, Hong-Kong), agents, distributors & operators under its own Topcom brand or under private label.As Chief Marketing Officer and Member of the Executive Management Team at Topcom, my first assignment as independent interim marketing manager was very successful:- restructuring of the product management team: cost cut of 30%- repositioning of the Topcom brands (from C-brand to A-brand) and products: packaging, manuals, pricing, design,... a complete and extremely succesfull make-over- selection of and negotiation with American, Vietnamese and Chinese manufacturers in Hong Kong and Shenzen.- organization of fairs and events in Germany, France, USA- handling of product management and product marketing of the communication products like DECT (digital cordless phones), PMR (walkie-talkies), PLC (Homeplug PowerLAN adaptors), HYP (innovative design peripherals for smartphones), Sologic elderly CareSystems (1st pendant with voice),...From June 2011 to January 2012 I assisted the new CEO in a major turnaround of the company and prepared it for a takeover. At the end of 2011 the results were already visible. For the first time in 5 years Topcom realized a clear profit (EBITDA). On February 2nd 2012 the tradename and assets of Topcom Europe nv were bought by Tristar Europe bv.

My passion to work internationally and to build a brand brought me to Rainbow when Xavier Llopis owner of Rainbow, which was succesfully distributed by Silicon Technology, asked to manage his computer peripheral brand worldwide excluding Iberia.From 5 countries at start in October 2008, after 18 months Rainbow was present through distributors in 26 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North- and South-America. Next to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Belgium operations were started and managed in Greece, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Germany, Tunis, UK, Ireland, Uruguay, USA, Poland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Saudi-Arabia, Mexico and Chile.Next to setting up the traditional distribution channel found new ways of bringing products to the market like bundling with leading software vendors: e.g. Panda Security antivirus used the Rainbow i-mouse in Benelux and Italy as free gift with their software.To move away from the me-too products, I developed "mi-mouse" an idea I had about a revolutionary mouse that fits the size of your hand (like shoes fit your feet). This resulted in the launch of the Fit-U mouse that won an iF design award and got excellent reviews like here: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/10/15/rainbow-fit-u-wireless-master-mouse-review/ The idea was great according to Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5484989/rainbow-wireless-laser-convertible-fit+u-mouse-review-neat-idea-lousy-mouse Press releases:* http://channelemea.com/spip.php?article2249* http://www.accesomedia.com/display_release.html?id=52709* http://www.idg.es/computerworld/Rainbow-nombra-a-Wim-Meulders--director-internacio/seccion-ti/noticia-75998* http://winred.com/notas-de-prensa/wim-meulders-nuevo-director-internacional-de-ventas-de-rainbow/gmx-niv117-con12165.htm

After my business partner and me succesully sold Silicon Technology in August 2006 I stayed 2 years on board to guarantee the smooth transition into the structures of the new owner untill the total merge.

As co-owner, in charge of commercial management, grew the business from 4.5M€ in '98 to 17.9M€ in 2005 realizing double digit growth for 7 consecutive years. Overall marketing (incl. strategy, product development and management, communication, product marketing), sales, purchasing and vendor management. Developed in 2002 the first "GPS solution with voice for PDA's (HP/Compaq iPaq + Navman GPS + Alturion software + Pretec CF card) with an official license from Compaq "Compaq GPS Navigation Pack for iPAQ":[Dutch] http://www.diskidee.be/2002/08/01/de-wereld-in-je-hand/3307/ Created the best selling "TMF Notebook Pack" with Toshiba and TMF (MTV in Dutch) and local VJ's like Evi Hanssen and Elke Van Elderen.Made the Proximus connectivity bundle (HP Jornada + Sony Ericsson GPRS phone + Socket Bluetooth CF card).Launched multiple new brands and products. Initiated and sold mobile products to leading operators in Belgium like Belgacom-Proximus (Socket, Pretec) , Mobistar-Orange (Pretec, Emtac) and Telenet (Silicom)Because of this innovative approach Silicon Technology could realize a double digit annual growth (17% on average) and became the largest specialized mobile ICT distributor in the Benelux. In 2004 and 2005 we even outperformed Ingram Micro and TechData on Toshiba and became the largest Toshiba distributor in Belgium. In Q4 of 2005 SiliconTech completely dominated the Toshiba retail market with a massive 80% of all Toshiba retail sales in Belgium through partners like MediaMarkt, Euronics, Fnac and others.We successfully sold the company in August 2006:[Dutch] http://nl.connexie.be/2006/09/13/overname-silicon-technology-nv-door-cloetens-nv-is-afgerond/ After the sale I stayed on board to guarantee the smooth transition into the structures of the new owner until the total merge in 2008.

My passion for nice design made me take over a small (20m²) design store in Wilrijk, nearby Antwerp, specialized in interior design, household appliances, decoration, consumer electronics, small furniture, glass- and tableware,... from renowned houseware brands like Alessi, Fatboy, Golla, Jensen, Koziol, Phillipe Starck, Stockmans, Ritzenhoff, Zack... and build it to one the largest design stores in Belgium (over 100m²). Working behind the scenes from searching and buying new brands at leading fairs like Ambiente (Köln), Light+Building (Frankfurt), Maison & Objet (Paris),... to creating a unique wraparound packaging. Was invited as one of the few Belgian design stores on a unforgetable incentive trip to the Caribbean, cruising with the Alessi family.

Retail store in Wilrijk, near Antwerp, specialized in children ware http://www.bananakid.be/ Minority shareholder. Invented the name "Banana Kid" and helped the start-up in the previous (20m²) location of April Design.

In charge of business development in EMEA & customer specific product development at Scala, leading digital signage software vendor. Based in Maastricht area, the Netherlands. Reporting to the VP Strategic Alliances.

Commodore was worldwide not able to compete with clone and other no-name PC's and went into bankruptcy on April 29th, 1994. The Belgian offices were closed but. To keep the possibility of a restart open some key people were kept on-board and I worked from the remaining Dutch office, "managing" the Belgian channel. After 6 months of "keeping the spirit alive" all remaining stock was sold out and it became clear Commodore was an ending story.

In an effort to save the company from bankruptcy the CEO Mehdi Ali restructured the company and moved away from the money losing PC business and went all in on the Amiga multimedia computer line. Only a few key people worldwide stayed on board. From June '93 onwards at the age of 26, I was in charge of sales & marketing in Belgium and received an extensive in-house training based on Vanderbilt University Executive MBA - Owen Business School

Youngest Sales Manager worldwideExecutive Leadership training based on Vanderbilt University Executive MBA - Owen Business School

First assignment was the organization of Computerland's IT summit in BrusselsWas headhunted by Commodore after 3 months

During my studies I ran the commercial division of a newspaper for students in Antwerp called "De Antwerpse Student"Presented at Bureau '89 in september the new Commodore Amiga 3000 multimedia computer as a job student

Did my apprenticeship at AGFA Diagnostic Imaging Systems and graduated summa cum laude on thesis