Bert-Jan Woertman new Managing Director of Mikrocentrum

Bert-Jan Woertman new Managing Director of Mikrocentrum

Bert-Jan Woertman will be the new Managing Director of Mikrocentrum. He succeeds Geert Hellings on August 16, who will then have been Managing Director of the knowledge and network organization for the high-tech and manufacturing industry for over 18 years.

"Now that the organization is ready in all respects to enter a new phase, I am happy to leave the writing of that new chapter to my team and successor." With these words, Geert Hellings announced his farewell on March 1, 2021. With this new chapter, Hellings is referring to the repositioning that Mikrocentrum has initiated in recent years. The coming years Mikrocentrum will focus on the further development of the ambition to be the prime meeting place for the high-tech and manufacturing industry, in which the unique combination of Training, Meeting and Entrepreneurship is key. In Bert-Jan Woertman a successor has been found to further lead this growth process. Roel Fonville, Chairman of the Board of Mikrocentrum: "We are proud of the strong organization that Geert and the team have built in his 18 years as Managing Director. Also on behalf of the board I would like to thank Geert for all his efforts and for the results achieved. We have every confidence that Bert-Jan will continue to Mikrocentrum grow further and we look forward to a good collaboration."

Familiar face within the Brainport region and industry

For many in the Brainport region, but also beyond, Bert-Jan Woertman is a familiar face. He started his career as HR manager at Philips and was subsequently associated with the High Tech Campus Eindhoven for over 11 years. As Director of Marketing Communications he was responsible for the international expansion of the High Tech Campus brand. As co-initiator, he built the start-up accelerator program HighTechXL into one of the top 5 high impact programs in the world. After his time at the High Tech Campus, Woertman was Commercial Director of the TU/e campus and was involved in the start-up of the Brainport Industries Campus as Managing Director. In recent years he has used his experience in building innovative ecosystems at the start-ups SocialMachines and AlphaBeats and as Liaison Manager at TU/e Innovation Space.

Years of collaboration with Mikrocentrum

Woertman is no stranger to Mikrocentrum. Geert Hellings: "We have known Bert-Jan Woertman for many years. This goes beyond the time when we had an annex at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven; we have also worked together on various projects. So, Bert-Jan knows Mikrocentrum very well and we know him very well. I am very pleased that he will succeed me. Bert-Jan is a real community builder and connector. I have every confidence that, together with the fantastic Mikrocentrum team, he will continue to develop the Mikrocentrum ambitions and, with our many partners, build on the technology of the future."

Mutual trust and common sense

Woertman can rely on a healthy, stable knowledge and network organization that has been connecting people in the high-tech and manufacturing industry for more than 50 years. Bert-Jan Woertman: "After 20 years of experience in international innovative environments, I have experienced that working together in smart networks makes the difference. By exchanging people, experience and ideas, knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship are better utilized. Mikrocentrum plays a central role in this. As the new Managing Director, I want to contribute with the team to new joint successes for clients, partners and the high-tech and manufacturing industry as a whole."

Farewell and introduction early autumn

In the autumn, Mikrocentrum will organize a meeting to thank Geert Hellings for 18 years of inspiring leadership and to get acquainted with Bert-Jan Woertman. This is also a good moment to meet again, after a long period, and to network. Announcements about this will follow.