Emelia Hjortenholt

Location	Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group Headoffice , Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands
Position	Project Manager Commercial Excellence
At Van Leeuwen since	2014
Age	34

The development of a new pricing strategy, a better digital connection with customers and the rollout of SAP S/4 HANA. Project Manager Commercial Excellence Emelia Hjortenholt is involved in different innovation projects at Van Leeuwen. ‘I enjoy contributing ideas about how we can continue to make progress to even better serve our customers.’

‘I form part of the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group’s Commercial Excellence team and find working together with my colleagues to investigate how we can improve business processes very inspiring. This is how, as a company, you can continue to be successful and continue to add value for your customers,’ says Emelia Hjortenholt, Project Manager Commercial Excellence. ‘Setting goals together and then pursuing these goals. This gives me lots of energy. So Van Leeuwen is the perfect place for me. I am given every opportunity to do what I am good at and to get the most out of my talents.’

Pricing is key

Emelia has been with Van Leeuwen for about eight years. Heléns, Sweden is her home office, but she currently works at the head office in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands on various international assignments, including the development of a new, improved pricing strategy. Emelia: ‘We are working on the development of a new methodology, including a digital solution, that colleagues throughout Europe will be using in the near future. A methodology that provides more structure and offers more options to better anticipate market developments. Pricing is key in our business.’

At Van Leeuwen everything revolves around excellence in entrepreneurship, notes Emelia. ‘In my view this, above all, is what typifies the company. What can we do to even better serve our customers, what are their needs and how do we help them advance even better? These are questions that we constantly give thought to and respond to. When you come up with a good idea and put forward a solid, well-supported plan, you are given the room you need to try it out. This way you continue to grow professionally and you also help the company move forward.’

Drive and commitment

‘I consider the international aspect of my job to be a major plus. I work closely together with colleagues from every Van Leeuwen branch in Europe and am given the opportunity of working at different locations in Europe, thus enabling me to expand my contacts and network. This year I am working on a six-month project at the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group’s head office in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands. By intensively working together we also learn a great deal from each other. Working and living in another country is enriching, professionally as well as personally. Of course, at times we also intensely debate our ideas. But such debates primarily arise from everyone’s drive and commitment. Time and again it strikes me that at Van Leeuwen we all want to do everything to the best of our ability. Because of this openness we also help each other move forward and come up with the best solutions together.’