HeadFirst Group, market leader in HR services and platform for professionals, appoints Marion van Happen as its new CEO as of 1 February 2022. Marion takes over the role from Han Kolff, who will mainly focus on  the international growth ambitions of the company in his role of Chairman of the Board. Marion will lead the group activities in the Benelux.

Leading platform
In recent years, HeadFirst Group has experienced major growth becoming the market leader in HR services on the Dutch labour market. The acquisitions of intermediary Between and recruitment specialist Sterksen in 2020 and 2021 have further strengthened the position of HeadFirst Group as a full-service HR service provider. The platform of HeadFirst Group has recently been extended with additional services for professionals and partners, such as a learning & development platform and tailor-made financial services. For clients, the platform is enriched with targeted talent pools and direct sourcing.

Marion, CEO: “I am really looking forward to this new challenge. First of all, my focus is on getting to know all colleagues and important relations. Next, my attention goes to the strategy for the coming years, which is unchanged: to roll out the tech roadmap, grow into a fully data-driven organisation, offer next-level services, become the leading platform in the Netherlands and realise European expansion.”

International growth
Han, Chairman of the Board: “We are very pleased that Marion is joining us. With her track record in our sector, she is ideally placed to further expand our position as a technology- and innovation-driven labour market platform. Her arrival gives the Board the opportunity to further focus on the ongoing  expansion of HeadFirst Group in Europe. We are looking forward to roll out our growth strategy with Marion.”

Marion has over twenty years of experience in HR services, staffing and recruitment in various commercial and managerial positions in the Netherlands and abroad. Her last position was Chief Operating Officer at RGF Staffing the Netherlands, formerly known as USG People. Marion was previously General Manager of Unique. She also brings highly relevant expertise in digital transformation, innovation and operational performance management.

About HeadFirst Group
HeadFirst Group is a leading international HR service provider and the largest platform for professionals in the Netherlands. The organisation offers a diversity of HR solutions: Managed Service Providing (MSP), Recruit Process Outsourcing (RPO), intermediary services (matchmaking, contracting) and HR consultancy. On a daily basis an average of 15,000 professionals work for over 400 clients in Europe, with which HeadFirst Group realises an annual turnover of more than 1.5 billion euros. The main brands of HeadFirst Group are the intermediaries HeadFirst, and Between, MSP Staffing Management Services and RPO and recruitment specialist Sterksen.