Arno Witvliet: entrepreneur with impact
Although Arno Witvliet does not see himself as a traditional entrepreneur, he does consider himself an entrepreneurial leader. His leadership style is focused on employees and customers. ‘Our mission is to help our customers continuously improve their performance with reliable and industry-leading services.’ he says . ‘We do this together with over 750 committed colleagues, but always for the customer.’ This customer-centric vision is at the heart of his approach, with Witvliet's leadership style at the same time strongly committed to business development and sustainability, which has contributed to Odin Group's organic growth.
Sustainability as a pillar
‘Sustainability is not a buzzword for us, it is an essential part of our business model,’ he stresses. Under his leadership, Odin Group has embraced a host of green initiatives, such as the waste heat exchange project at one of its data centres. Here, hot cooling water is reused as a residual product by a nearby company, which in turn supplies cold water as a residual product to the data centre. This partnership significantly reduces Co2 emissions. This project symbolises the way Odin Group puts sustainability into practice.
Besides these technical developments, Odin Groep also focuses on broader sustainable business operations, such as deploying a green vehicle fleet and working with environmentally conscious suppliers. Witvliet sees this not only as a responsibility for the company itself, but also as something with which they support their customers. "We help our customers achieve their own sustainability goals through more efficient IT solutions. This is how we make the impact bigger than just our own company," he says.
‘Sustainability is not a buzzword for us, it is an essential part of our business model.’
Strategy as growth engine
Witvliet understands better than anyone the power of technology and how it can help companies grow. ‘I am not a techie, but I see what IT can do to make companies better,’ he says. This has led to continuous investment in new technologies and process automation within Odin Group. Under his leadership, the focus on technology development is stronger than ever, with a focus on security and expanding the product portfolio. These developments enable Odin Group to better serve customers while remaining at the forefront of the IT market.
Brabants entrepreneurship
In addition, business development and targeted acquisitions play a central role in the company's growth strategy. A good example is the acquisition of Global-e, a Brabant-based IT company with a strong base that, according to Witvliet, is ready for further growth. ‘In Brabant, you see a real “us-citizens” culture,’ he explains. "People know each other, recognise each other's norms and values and enjoy working together. This creates a practical way of doing business, where trust and cooperation are key." According to Witvliet, medium-sized companies in the region in particular benefit from these close-knit networks and strong customer relationships. These strategic acquisitions contribute to Odin Group's (inter)national ambitions and support the scalable growth Witvliet strives for.
People as investment
Witvliet looks to the future of Odin Group with confidence. His vision revolves around sustainable growth, supported by technological advances and maintaining the human approach. ‘We invest not only in technology and our services, but also in the well-being of our people,’ he says. Odin Group offers various programmes to promote both the physical and mental health of employees, which is an integral part of their sustainable business model.
The commitment to sustainable growth runs like a thread through Witvliet's leadership. ‘We continue to grow and innovate, but always with an eye on our people and the world around us,’ he says. Under his leadership, Odin Group continues to innovate not only in the field of IT solutions, but also in the field of social responsibility , increasing its impact both inside and outside the organisation.