Petr Salz
Managing Director, Strategyn Netherlands
Locale: Heeze, Netherlands
Biography: Petr has more than 20 years of business-to-business marketing and sales experience. Since joining Strategyn, he has helped the firm grow from an unknown entity into a recognized innovation consultancy in the Netherlands and Belgium.
As a consultant, he has assisted Philips Consumer Electronics, Philips CFT, Belden Wire & Cable, CQM, and other companies in the development of effective marketing and business development strategies. He has helped ICT and technology start-ups find their first customers. And while working with multimedia companies, Petr has pioneered various innovative broadcasting, Internet, and mobile applications that enhance the viewing experience of sports fans.
Prior to joining Strategyn, Petr worked in international technology companies in senior marketing and sales positions. He started his career as a scientist at TNO – The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research.
Petr earned a degree in physics at the University of Leiden and has built up extensive marketing and business experience throughout his career.
Personal: I am married. My son is 20 and studies mechanical engineering. I like video editing, skiing, and tennis.
One Thing People Don’t Know About Me: Sleeping can be a real problem for an astronaut. Almost 20 years ago, I was in charge of a project to develop a sleeping bag that would make astronauts feel like they were sleeping in a bed. Not easy in zero gravity. The sleeping bag, however, went to space on a successful space shuttle mission in 1985.
Best Country to Visit: Italy. Great food, excellent weather, wonderful cities, lively people. I really have to learn Italian!!
Pet Peeve: It is frustrating that companies usually work with yearly budgets. It prohibits them from taking advantage of opportunities in a rapidly changing world. I was told that yearly budgeting was introduced by Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of France in the 18th century. Who will come up with a more flexible system?
Favorite Podcast: It’s an entertaining review of the world called, The Bugle. You may have seen John Oliver on John Stewart’s The Daily Show (I highly recommend it).