Who is Peter van der Linde
Peter van der Linde MBA graduated from the Higher Economic School in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 1982, specialised in commercial economics. Whilst completing study, Peter also enjoyed a valuable experience as an active semi-professional soccer player at Feyenoord Rotterdam, from 1978-1982. An injury and the graduation meant the start of a business career in summer 1982. After an initial period of 4 years in International Insurance Brokerage in Rotterdam (incl. 1 year in Germany), Peter entered into a marketing role at Kimberly-Clark Benelux. In 1991 Peter obtained his MBA Masters degree after a 2 year part-time study (NIMBAS / Bradford University), and was appointed Director for Kimberly-Clark Nordic Operations. The family moved to and lived in Copenhagen till 1994 and Peter returned to his base in the Netherlands and was rewarded with an European marketing management role.
In 1995 Peter changed career and became Divisional Director at Berendsen Textile Services, Garment Division. In 1997 Peter was recruited to become Chief Executive at DOX International, an international textile trimmings company. In 1998 Peter became part owner of this company after a Management Buy-Out. In 2001 during a merger process Peter stepped down and returned to Kimberly-Clark where he accepted a 2 year assignment (Industrial Skincare) at their European headquarters in Reigate, UK.
Peter founded BusinesSense Europe in 2003 and decided to become independent. After 3 years, and having completed various projects for primarily US counterparts, Peter and family took the challenging step to explore new avenues by moving to the South of France. Businesswise the same concept could be exploited but being closer to key but also more difficult markets to enter like France, Italy and Spain. Climatological aspects (health) and international education opportunities for the children were other motivators to make this step. At that time a key assignment was related to an American manufacturer of suncare (NO-AD®) for which Southern Europe was a key area of development. Here Peter gained knowledge and experience in (Disney) licensed product concepts and exploited this new phenomenon to a next major assignment for an Italian pharmaceutical company with Disney and Hello Kitty licensed concepts in personal care and cosmetic products.
As of 2010 BusinesSense Europe is a multi-oriented, multi-task partner for executive management and board members of small to medium sized International companies that have the strategic desire and commitment to enter, develop and grow business in Europe, Middle East, Africa or other parts of the world. We offer access to distributors and business partners in ‘dozens’ of countries, not only in the wider European marketplace but also in the Middle East, (South-)Africa, USA, Canada and Asia-Pacific region.
Specific expertises are within B2B as well as Consumer goods environments. In its business relations transparency, honesty and trust are key ethical values.