From 4 January, Olav de Lange will , together with Robbert Geluk, be responsible for the management of CreditDevice. In this new position, he will take over the duties of Hans-Peter Vloemans, who will focus entirely on CreditDevice International from January.
Let me introduce you
As I write this piece, storm Bella is raging across our land and that damned corona crisis still reigns. It is dark and autumnal outside – I would prefer a white and cold Christmas and some picturesque Anton Pieck pictures. But as bad as the corona crisis is and as much as I would like it to be my ideal weather, I sit and look outside with a smile and think ‘one more week and I get to start at CreditDevice’.
In January 2021, I will start a very nice new challenge. I will be working at a great company! I am proud to have been given the opportunity to join CreditDevice. It is an honour and incredibly energising to work with everyone at CreditDevice to start working together and be able to be part of the success.
Perhaps it would be nice to tell a bit more about me personally. My name is Olav de Lange and I was born and raised in Amsterdam. I have lived there for 52 years. In Amsterdam, I raised our two sons with my beloved, who are now out of the house and studying at the University of Amsterdam.
Besides reading autobiographies of great leaders, good food and my volunteer work at the Children’s Telephone, I get happy from cycling. And especially climbing famous mountains from the Tour de France. I also like sailing on Dutch waters or international seas. Last but not least, I enjoy when my favourite club can add 3 points at the weekend.
My career started when I started looking for a job after studying political science and I joined my first credit management company as a salesperson. The first years there were a great experience. I got the chance to develop myself there as a salesperson and later as a manager. The experience and ‘style’ I gained and acquired there have always remained a guideline for my actions in my career and forms the basis for my later business successes. Incidentally, it is nice to mention, that this first job was also my first introduction to Hans Geluk.
Having been active in the world of credit management for almost 25 years, CreditDevice will be the fourth credit management organisation I will work for.
Finally, I’d like to share a life motto with you. One of my favourite bands is Supertramp and one of my heroes is Winston Churchill. Supertramp’s song ‘Fool’s Overture’ incorporates a snippet from a famous speech by Churchill. Certainly on a commercial level, CreditDevice can expect me to act in line with these words.
“We shall go on to the end.
We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on the beaches, We shall fight on the landing grounds,
We shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
We shall fight in the hills;
We shall never surrender”
