Gijs Millaard

Within Top of Minds, I focus on commercial leadership and place C-level and director positions for SME portfolio companies of private equity investors. Clients range from trading companies and manufacturing businesses to B2B SaaS, including Hendi, Worldstream and BizzDesign. The common denominator is that these are all companies where investors have come on board with an ambitious growth agenda.

In PE portfolio companies, entrepreneurship, professionalisation and value creation come together. The dynamics that result from that appeal to me enormously. I understand the calibre of the ideal candidate and the pace at which they need to be found. Personality and sharpness are often more important than sector experience. What I enjoy most is presenting candidates the client had not thought of themselves, and then watching them land in an organisation where they make a real impact."