Harmony has grown rapidly in recent years.
In close cooperation with retail partners in the Netherlands and Belgium, hundreds of thousands of people now enjoy their phones, laptops, brown or white goods without worry, knowing that in case of damage, they can turn to Harmony for quick handling, repair or replacement. Retailers increasingly choose Harmony because of the active, professional support they receive from Harmony to safely offer insurance products to their customers, with Harmony guaranteeing that the necessary product knowledge is present on the shop floor to do so successfully. Proud of what has been built up with partners in recent years, managing directors Ronald van Weelde and Jef Van Herck have indicated that this autumn they would like to pass on the torch to newly joined Managing Director, Paul de Schipper.
Ronald and Jef, how would you describe the past few years?
Van Weelde: “1 look back with pride on ten turbulent but the most amazing years of my career. In addition to completely rebuilding the back office and implementing the right systems, a lot of attention also went into setting up a new sales department and the
implementation of a culture change. In addition, the
day-to-day business also had to be kept running.” Van Herck: “Great, but very chai leng ing. The past few years were busy but very successful times during which we concluded several extensive partnerships, which contributed significantly to the results.
In recent years, we have invested extensively in automating processes and, together with the sa les team, we have put them even more at the service of our partners and customers.”
What were your highlights and why?
“One of the highlights for me was starting in Belgium and in the brown and white goods market. We challenged ourselves to go completely out of our comfort zone in terms of sales support, compliance and marketing.” responds van Weelde enthusiastically.
“In addition, 1 have thoroughly enjoyed rebuilding Harmony and being able to do so with a great and inspired team.” Van Herck: “For me, that 700% was taking our Learning & Development department to the next level, and then being even closer to the partners and helping them optimally with their challenges in the sector. But also raising Harmony’s international profile. 1 am also proud that Harmony has become highly professionalized in sa les and marketing. With the entire team, we have put Harmony on the map as a creative intermediary with lots of energy!”
What does the future look like for you?
Van Herck: “Over the past three years, 1 have accomplished a great task, which is to provide the company commercially with very nice growth through short-term and long-term projects.”
“I can check offthis wonderful mission as accomplished and therefore open myself up again to new challenges where I will be able to unleash my passion and motivation.” Van Weelde: “I am proud of what we have built at Harmony over the past ten years and will now take it easy for a few months first. 1 have no idea yet what I want to do after this.”
“Harmony is ready for the future and it is with great confidence that we hand over the helm to Paul de Schipper. With Paul, a very experienced director and manager on board, Harmony will be further built through growth and innovation after the
bui Id-up phase of recent
years.”
Paul, how do you see Harmony’s future?
De Schipper: “Being able to offer suitable insurance products for expensive purchases is a service that is valuable for both
consumers and retailers.
A service, which, at the same time, is subject to rules of which you must be well aware. That is why we will continue expanding our investments in securing product knowledge on the shop floor. We will experiment more actively with technica! innovations in order to make handling damages even easier in the future. And this will enable us to relieve our policyholders and retail partners even more.”
“I am looking forward to getting to know all our partners personally together with Jef in the coming months, and then take over his duties as of September. From Ronald, 1 have now taken over the day-to-day management of Harmony; whereby he will remain involved in the handover to financial partners and regulators until the end of October.”