ARCUSplus specializes in transatlantic business development support.
From our location in the Netherlands and the USA we provide businesses and economic development agencies in Europe and North America with a portfolio of services ranging from transatlantic marketing strategy support to lead generating programs.
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 Edgar G.M.J. Kasteel
Partner Europe
email: ekasteel@arcusplus.com
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Edgar is an international business development expert and has many years of experience advising American and Asian businesses in establishing or expanding business in Europe. |
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| 2000-2005 |
| Vice President, Holland International Distribution Council (HIDC) |
HIDC supports North American and Asian companies in establishing pan European distribution through partnerships. Consultancy and matchmaking are the key activities. Before being promoted to Vice President in 2002, Edgar served as the General Manager of Logistics and was responsible for the North American market. In this capacity Edgar traveled frequently to the US and Canada to speak at seminars, participate in shows and meet with companies to discuss opportunities in Europe. Edgar was responsible for all North America and Asian activities |
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| 1994-2000 |
| Senior Consultant, Twynstra Gudde Management Consultants |
Twynstra Gudde Management Consultants is one of the most respected management consulting firms in The Netherlands. During his tenure there, Edgar developed and implemented business concepts and strategies in the field of distribution, among others:
Developing a methodology for the identification of business opportunities to strengthen the economic position of the Netherlands in the field of international logistic operations (including pilot studies on the situation in South East Asia and Germany).
Analyzing, developing and implementing distribution channels throughout Europe for a telecommunication services company.
Supporting three technical wholesale companies with the integration of their three distribution networks into one
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1990-1993 |
Consultant, NEHEM Consulting Group |
During his career with NEHEM Edgar managed projects regarding distribution including:
Strategic market research for a group of international logistic service providers to identify possibilities to increase the number of value added services offered (including pilot studies on the situation in South East Asia and Germany).
Developing a business plan for a distribution centre in Hungary
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1988-1990 |
Consultant, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) |
During his military service Second Lieutenant Kasteel was stationed at the RNLAF Headquarters in The Hague. He conducted performance audits on several operational units and HR and administrative departments and was involved in several projects in the field of quality control. |
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Education: |
Bachelors Degree in Business Administration of the Hogeschool Eindhoven, TheNetherlands. Additional courses on Financial Management, Account Management, Consulting skills, Physical Distribution Management, Strategic Information Planning and Project Management.
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| Language proficiency: English, Dutch and German |
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| Edgar currently resides with his family in Leidschendam, The Netherlands. |
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 Paul J. Kleijne
Partner Europe
email: pkleijne@arcusplus.com |
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| Paul is an international business development expert with many years of experience advising American businesses in establishing or expanding their operations in Europe. |
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| 1997-2005 |
| Various Positions, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) |
Appointed as Area Director and later as Marketing Director at the agency’s Chicago office, mandated to target North American companies to locate overseas expansion in the Netherlands. Worked closely with some 250 companies in all possible industry sectors helping to find the right business location in the European market. Developed an extensive network with North American and Dutch intermediary organizations, and in recent years a comprehensive marketing, marketing communications and public relations strategies for six NFIA offices in North America. Back in the Netherlands, Paul has set up an account management program for current investors in his country, and was able to increased exposure and awareness for the NFIA as an organization that is able to add value to existing foreign operations. |
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| 1990-1997 |
| Business Development Manager, Multiplan and Starke Diekstra |
Developed marketing and public relations strategies for (inter)national markets, and implemented additionalbusiness development strategies for these two project and construction management consultancy firms. Did frequent traveling to North America to visit prospective clients and visit relevant tradeshows and speak at conferences. |
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| 1988-1990 |
| Consultant, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) |
| Appointed as Second Lieutenant during military service at the RNLAF Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, responsible for financial planning of construction and infrastructural projects at all Dutch air force bases. |
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| Education: |
Bachelors Degree in Engineering at the Higher Technical College in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, and a Masters Degree in Dutch Business and Real Estate law at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Additional courses in Business Administration (Nyenrode Univerity, the Netherlands), Business Marketing Strategy and Communications Strategy (both at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management), and Financial Analysis (University of Chicago). |
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Language proficiency:
English, Dutch and German. |
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Paul used to live in Chicago, IL for 8 years, but currently resides in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. He is married with two sons.
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 Michael J. van der Woude
Partner North America
email: mvanderwoude@arcusplus.com |
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| Michael van der Woude is an international business development expert and has many years of experience in developing business in the USA and Europe. |
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| 1999-2005 |
| Area Director South-Central USA |
| Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |
As area director for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, based in Austin, Texas, Michael developed marketing and networking programs in search of US companies with plans to expand into the European market. During this period, he provided counsel on the benefits, values and challenges of setting up a European office in the Netherlands. Michael has specific expertise assisting US companies with setting up their European business by facilitating the process of establishing a legal entity, hiring key employees, finding an office location and/or warehouse, etc. |
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| 1995-1999 |
| Manager North America |
| Vanderwood Enterprises |
Michael’s primary challenges were establishing distribution channels and organizing (contract) manufacturing and (outsourced) warehousing of a consumer product designed for the North American and European markets. Sales & marketing activities included exhibiting at trade shows, interviewing & appointing distributors and manufacturer’s rep firms, and working with buyers of large retailers and home shopping TV networks. |
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1989-1995 |
| Several “Business Development & Marketing” positions |
| AEGON Group |
Michael was recruited into the “management development program” of the AEGON Group, a leading multinational financial services company. He began his tenure in the corporate development department at AEGON’s worldwide headquarters in The Hague, The Netherlands, where he was involved in European business development and acquisition projects. Later he joined the Sales & Marketing division of one of AEGON’s US subsidiaries in Clearwater, Florida, where he was responsible for building and supporting a new sales rep organization. Activities included speaking at sales meetings throughout the US and organizing marketing & sales support at the home office. |
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| Education : |
Master’s Degree in Business Economics from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
“Young Management Program” at the business school INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
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| Language proficiency : |
| Fluent in English and Dutch (native) |
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| Michael lives with his family in Austin, Texas. |
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Ardi Eleveld
Project Manager North America
email: aeleveld@arcusplus.com |
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| Ardi is an international business development consultant with experience in assisting investment promotion agencies with their international marketing and lead generating activities and in advising American businesses with plans to locate in Europe |
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| Experience: |
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| 2006 - 2007 |
| Vice President, International Affairs |
| International Partnership of Greater Austin |
n her role, she welcomed international delegations, compiled a benchmark report on Austin 's international competitive position and put together a marketing plan on the City of Austin which was used for the commemorative book of the World Congress on Information Technology. Additionally Ardi organized and promoted business seminars for Texas companies interested to expand internationally |
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2005-current |
| Representative |
| US South Region, Greater Zurich Area |
The Greater Zurich Area is the Investment Promotion Agency for the region of Zurich. , Switzerland . Ardi initially started working for the Greater Zurich Area in New York City and was later appointed to represent Zurich in the US South region. Her business development activities include organizing lead generation and promotion campaigns as well as assisting companies in the development and implementation of their international expansion strategy, providing information on the European business environment and assisting companies with information on establishing an European office, including taxation, location search, real estate, work permits etc |
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| Education : |
Bachelors Degree in Business Economics of the University of Amsterdam , the Netherlands . Bachelor's thesis on City Marketing in Amsterdam .
Master's Degree Cum Laude in Urban Economics from the University of Amsterdam , the Netherlands . Specialized courses in Marketing, Branding, International Communications and International Economic Relations.
Master thesis titled ‘Europe's most wanted business cities: an economic, social and communicative analysis of modern European cities' was nominated for the University of Amsterdam 's best thesis in 2005. In the course of building her thesis, Ardi conducted interviews on the city marketing campaigns of European cities, gathered qualitative and quantitative data on economic and social factors and did a statistical analysis to project future potential European business cities.
Minor in Italian language and Culture. Semester abroad at University degli Studi di Siena , Italy .
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| Language proficiency : |
| English, Dutch, German and working knowledge of French and Italian |
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