In this series, we shine a spotlight on our members. This time, it’s Boer & Croon. As a partner in leadership, transformation, and execution, Boer & Croon helps organizations achieve their growth ambitions. From strategic improvement initiatives and interim management to finding the right leaders—always with the goal of ensuring that plans are actually carried out.

Our Focus
The Dutch high-tech sector ranks among the world’s best and is simultaneously poised for a massive leap in growth. Companies are expanding internationally, production volumes are increasing, and developments in semiconductors, AI, photonics, quantum technology, robotics, and defense are unfolding at a rapid pace.

But technology alone does not determine whether an organization can scale up successfully. The question is increasingly whether the organization can keep pace with growth. Is the leadership ready for the next phase? Is the supply chain robust enough? And can the organization actually translate its strategy into results?

Boer & Croon supports high-tech companies with these types of challenges. Sometimes by implementing strategic or operational improvements, sometimes by bringing in experienced leaders on a temporary basis to accelerate change, and sometimes by finding the right executive or manager for the long term. It is precisely this combination of disciplines that makes it possible to drive organizations forward in a sustainable way.

The Challenges in Our Field
Many high-tech companies face the same challenge: How do you grow from a technologically successful company into a professionally scalable international organization?

This requires not only stronger processes and structures, but often also different forms of leadership and new organizational capabilities. At the same time, companies are facing a shortage of both technical and management talent, geopolitical uncertainties, vulnerable supply chains, and increasing pressure to produce faster and more efficiently.

We regularly see organizations that realize their existing way of working no longer fits their current size or ambitions. The biggest challenge in such cases is not defining the strategy, but organizing its execution. What needs to change today to achieve tomorrow’s goals? This may involve operational excellence, supply chain improvement, or project management, but it may also involve strengthening a management team or bringing in new leadership. It is precisely this connection between strategy and execution that is becoming increasingly important.

In addition, we strongly believe in the power of collaboration. The Dutch high-tech ecosystem is successful because OEMs, suppliers, research institutions, and specialized partners are able to connect and reinforce one another.

Real-world examples
One topic we’re currently working on with various industrial and high-tech companies is how organizations can scale alongside rapidly growing market demand: from a startup, through a scale-up, to a robust international player.

A good example of this is a fast-growing technology company that is rapidly evolving from an innovative product company into an international player. Based on a single, integrated growth strategy, we support this organization on multiple fronts simultaneously. For example, we are helping to professionalize the production and supply chain between Asia and Europe, ensuring that delivery, quality, and scalability keep pace with commercial growth. At the same time, an experienced interim manager is helping to build a customer loyalty program to foster long-term customer relationships with the organization and encourage repeat purchases.

In addition, we support the expansion of the management team by actively seeking out leaders who are a good fit for the next phase of growth and professionalization. Precisely because we view strategic objectives, operational challenges, and leadership issues in context, we develop an approach that goes beyond a one-off solution and helps organizations effectively implement their strategy.

Our Contribution to the
Network Within High Tech NL, our primary goalis to share knowledge and practical experience related to leadership, transformation, and execution.

Our people not only have a background in consulting, but have often led organizations and complex change initiatives themselves. As a result, we combine subject-matter expertise with real-world experience. Topics we’re eager to discuss include scaling up organizations, operational excellence, supply chain issues, leadership, and building effective management teams.

With approximately 160 colleagues and a network of experienced interim specialists, we have extensive experience across a wide range of industries and growth stages. At the same time, we are eager to learn from other members. Many organizations face similar challenges, but the solutions can vary. By sharing experiences, successes, and lessons learned with one another, we generate valuable knowledge that strengthens the entire industry.

Why High Tech NL?
For Boer & Croon, joining High Tech NL was a logical step toward becoming an active part of the Dutch high-tech ecosystem. We don’t just want to get involved when a specific request for help arises; we also want to understand what’s going on within the sector. What challenges do companies face as they grow? What new capabilities are needed? And which solutions prove successful in practice?

Our interests include semiconductors, photonics, quantum technology, robotics, and the broader manufacturing industry. But ultimately, our curiosity is focused primarily on the organizational aspects of growth: leadership, talent, operational excellence, internationalization, digitalization, and AI. That is precisely why we look forward to conversations with other members. After all, the biggest challenges in high-tech are often not just technological in nature, but revolve around how organizations can grow in step with their ambitions. We’d love to discuss this further.