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Thijs Bakker
Group Chief Financial Officer at Azelis
Professional Background
Thijs Bakker is an accomplished international finance executive known for his strong leadership and strategic vision in the dynamic fields of automotive and chemicals/coatings industries. With a wealth of experience spanning across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific regions, Thijs has built a reputation for driving effective business turnarounds and managing change adeptly in complex environments. Currently, he serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Azelis, a prominent specialty chemical, food ingredients, and life science distributor, which operates under the stewardship of Apax Partners from London. Thijs's extensive expertise encompasses various crucial areas, including mergers and acquisitions, new market development, and the design and implementation of management information systems that bolster core business processes and facilitate strategic decision-making.
In his leadership role at Azelis, Thijs leverages his extensive financial knowledge and industry experience to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and drive long-term value creation. His strategic approach to finance is characterized by a deep understanding of market dynamics and an ability to navigate challenges effectively, making him a sought-after figure in financial circles.
Education and Achievements
Thijs Bakker's educational foundation has played a significant role in shaping his career trajectory. He pursued his studies in Finance at the esteemed Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he honed his analytical skills and gained insights into the financial sector's intricacies. To further complement his education, he attended INSEAD, one of the leading business schools globally, where he delved into advanced business concepts that would later aid him in his various professional endeavors.
In addition to his finance studies, Thijs earned a Master of Science in Economics, Business from Erasmus University Rotterdam. This robust academic background not only equipped him with a strong theoretical understanding of economic principles but also sharpened his analytical capabilities, essential for addressing complex financial challenges in his career.
Throughout his career, Thijs has taken on various significant roles that have contributed to his professional growth and the success of the organizations he has been a part of. Notably, he served as the sBU Director Control for Marine Coatings at AkzoNobel Marine and Protective Coatings, where he was responsible for overseeing financial performance and strategic direction for the business unit.
Prior to this role, he excelled as the Finance Director for Car Refinishes in Asia at AkzoNobel Marine and Protective Coatings, focusing on driving growth and profitability in a highly competitive market. His initial tenure with AkzoNobel began as the Controller for Car Refinishes North America, where he managed financial operations, provided strategic insights, and fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
Thijs's diverse experience also includes serving as the Regional Controller for Asia Pacific at Nuplex Resins, where he played a vital role in managing financial performance, reporting, and compliance across the region, further solidifying his reputation as a finance expert capable of operating on a global scale.
Notable Contributions
In addition to his career roles, Thijs Bakker has made significant contributions to the academic community as a former member of the Curatorium Board at Erasmus University Rotterdam. His involvement with the university reflects his commitment to education and mentorship, as he seeks to foster the next generation of finance professionals and business leaders. By serving on the board, Thijs has actively participated in discussions that influence the strategic direction of the institution, ensuring that its programs align with the ever-evolving demands of the industry.
Thijs Bakker's multifaceted expertise extends beyond finance and operational management. His specialization in mergers and acquisitions integration has equipped him with the skills necessary to lead organizations through significant transitions, facilitating successful integrations that maximize synergies and drive sustainable growth. His proficiency in change management ensures that teams are prepared and engaged throughout the transformation process, promoting a positive culture of collaboration and resilience.
Summary of Experience
In summary, Thijs Bakker exemplifies the qualities of a seasoned international finance executive with a proven track record in the automotive and chemicals industries. His robust educational background, extensive experience within top-tier organizations, and dedication to fostering the next generation of leaders position him as a distinguished figure in the finance sector. As the Group CFO of Azelis, Thijs continues to lead with purpose, driving innovation and excellence in all endeavors while yielding significant contributions to his field and the broader business community.
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Mesh is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Mesh offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Mesh offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Mesh for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Mesh accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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User feedback consistently highlights Mesh's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Mesh as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Mesh eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.