Interim & Fractional Commercial Director · CCO · Advisor to the Board
I act as interim or fractional CCO, Commercial Director, or Board Advisor for international businesses that need to accelerate growth, restructure the commercial organisation, enter new markets, or integrate acquisitions. I bring 20+ years of experience across Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Asia in PE-owned, listed, and family-owned companies
Based near Utrecht, NL
20+ years
More than two decades of international commercial leadership
Scale-up & Restructuring
From hypergrowth to turnaround
Multi-country P&L
P&L responsibility for entities in several countries
3 languages
Dutch · English · German
5 continents
Commercial leadership experience in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia
HOW I HELP
Four situations where I take the lead
01
Turnaround & scale-up
Whether margins are under pressure or growth is outpacing the organisation, I build a commercial engine that performs: the right structure and cost base, a scalable sales model, partner programmes and a no-nonsense culture of ownership. CRM hygiene is non-negotiable: if it's not in the CRM, it didn't happen.
SELECTED CASES
Problem. Approach. Result.
2025–2026 · Belgium · Family-owned
Out of Use
Head of Market Entry, ad interim.
Problem: A Belgian circular-IT company wants to expand into the Dutch E-Waste & Recycling market from point zero.
Approach: Built the market-entry plan, the commercial network and the first partnerships.
Result: Launching customers and partners onboarded, M&A partners introduced for the Dutch market.
2024 · Netherlands
Forebel
Commercial Director, ad interim.
Problem: A growing sock brand in need of rebranding after a take-over, with a sharper market position and a structured sales approach.
Approach: Sharpened branding and positioning, and brought structure and focus to sales by restructuring and training the sales team.
Result: Access to new markets, including first responders, and a team with a clear commercial direction.
2024–2025 · Beijing, China
F-Racing
Strategy Advisor Post Take-Over, ad interim.
Problem: Following Corsair's acquisition of Fanatec, F-Racing, Fanatec's distributor in China, had to renegotiate its distribution agreement with the new US owner.
Approach: Advised F-Racing's board and guided the negotiations, bridging the cultural gap between the US and Chinese teams.
Result: F-Racing secured a multi-year distribution agreement with Corsair.
2023–2024 · Germany · Publicly listed
Fanatec
Sales & Marketing Director, ad interim
Problem: The world's largest sim-racing hardware company needed to restructure its sales and marketing department ahead of its acquisition by Corsair, while maximising sales and launching 5 new products in 6 months.
Approach: Restructured Sales and Marketing as member of the MT; aligned team, priorities and operating model.
Result: Delivered the most commercially successful six months in the company's history, and a clean transition to new ownership.
2019–2023 · Netherlands · PE-owned
Flex IT
CCO
Problem: Europe's largest circular IT hardware distributor had to get leaner and grow its position at the same time.
Approach: Led Sales, Marketing and Procurement (7 direct, 107 indirect). Full P&L for Added Dimension (UK) and Flex IT Rent (NL). Reorganised from 420 to 280 FTE and relocated 3 of the 7 international sales offices to Italy. Part of the M&A team.
Result: Annual EBITDA targets exceeded. German competitor MKCL acquired and merged. Positioned as the circular IT leader in Europe.
2015–2019 · USA · Family-owned
LION Haagen
Global Sales & Marketing Director.
Problem: The global leader in fire-safety training equipment needed growth in new regions and outside its core industry.
Approach: Built the global sales team from 7 to 14 FTE (NL and US), introduced an Agent Program and RSM model, set up go-to-market for the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Sold training systems directly into oil & gas and worked with EPC contractors.
Result: Won the Jaheziya project in Abu Dhabi ($25m+) and the NIMA project in South Korea ($6m+). Opened motorsport: FIA, NASCAR, IndyCar.
2007–2015 · USA
HVM Racing
Digital Media Strategist, ad interim
Problem: HVM Racing needed to boost media exposure for its partners.
Approach: Focused the digital strategy on the debut and career development of HVM driver Simona de Silvestro.
Result: Continuous growth in online presence for the brand, partners and drivers, establishing HVM Racing as the go-to team for new and exciting talent.
Worked with
Flex IT
Added Dimension
Fanatec
LION Haagen
Catawiki
Out of Use
Forebel
TomTom Business Solutions
Zideo Media
Testimonials
Frank helped us sharpen our market entry approach with a clear plan, the right priorities and a strong commercial network. He is direct, pragmatic and energizing to work with. Exactly the kind of interim leader you want when speed and results matter.
Out of Use, Belgium · 2025–2026
Jerry Ickmans, Commercial Director · Out of Use, Belgium
Frank's expertise was crucial in our renegotiations of the Chinese distribution contract for Fanatec products with Corsair. His intercultural communication skills and knowledge of the manufacturer/distributor relationship were important assets for us in the negotiation process, and helped build a trustful relationship with the new owners of the Fanatec brand.
F-Racing / Fanatec, Beijing, China · 2024–2025
Roger Wang, Owner · F-Racing
After a change of ownership and brand name Frank helped us sharpen our brand positioning. His coaching of the sales team, help with recruitment and input in product development have created a great platform for our further growth.
Leon Timmermans, Owner/CEO · Forebel, The Netherlands
Star Sock needed an improved sales strategy. Frank's input and guidance on CRM management, follow-up and lead creation made a big difference in our closing ratios and overall performance.
Eric Roosen, Owner · Star Sock, The Netherlands
Frank joined Fanatec at a critical moment and quickly brought focus to our go-to-market, product launches and team efficiency. He combines strategic clarity with hands-on execution, and the team trusted him from day one. He left the commercial organization stronger and ready for its next phase.
Fanatec, Munich, Germany · 2023–2024
As CCO, Frank led a €200m+ commercial organization through a major transformation, including a reorganization from 420 to 280 FTE, integration of sales offices throughout Europe and the integration of MKCL, while beating EBITDA targets. He makes tough decisions with care for people, and he delivers what he promises.
Frank helped us expand into new territories, demonstrating the ability to succeed in any international setting or culture, while guaranteeing commercial growth and reshaping the sales culture and sales team into an efficient unit focused on sustainable growth.
ABOUT
Direct, no-nonsense, accountable for the numbers
I have spent more than 20 years building and fixing commercial organisations for international companies: as CCO of a PE-owned €200m+ group, as Global Sales & Marketing Director reporting to a US board, and since 2023 as an interim executive for companies based in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and China. Along the way I build teams, distributer networks and sold projects across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
I build high-performance teams on transparency, trust and a strong work ethic, and I am as comfortable in a boardroom as on the sales floor. Whether it's building and scaling teams through hypergrowth or restructuring for profitability, I've led both sides of the growth curve. Areas of expertise: commercial turnarounds and restructuring, scale-ups, M&A and post-merger integration, and international market entry.
For years I have shared that experience as a guest lecturer at companies and at Windesheim, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Avans Hogeschool, De Haagse Hogeschool and Hogeschool Rotterdam.
Way of working
01
Diagnose
Define the challenge, preferred outcome and reporting lines so we sing from the same hymn sheet.
Followed by a short, board-ready view of what to fix first.
02
Lead & execute
I take the line role, own the targets and make the calls, with a fixed reporting rhythm to the board or shareholders.
03
Hand over
The organisation runs without me: successor in place or recruited, structure and KPIs embedded.
Typical mandate: up to 18 months
CONTACT
Facing a commercial challenge that can’t wait?
+31 6 10075520
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