Jan-Bart Smits

Jan-Bart started his career in executive search in 1990 with Expand, a local search and selection firm based in the south of the Netherlands. After a stint of little over a year at a reseller of software, he returned to the search business with Nicholson International and, from 1997 onward, at Korn/Ferry International.

Based in Amsterdam, Jan-Bart ran the Technology and Professional Services Practice for the Netherlands, was a member of the e-Business Practice for two years (running the European e-Business Practice for one) and managed the European account relationship with several technology clients. In 2007, Jan-Bart moved to Dubai to join the Korn/Ferry Middle East and Northern Africa office, for which he ran the Technology and Professional Services Practice.

At Stanton Chase, he has held a number of leadership roles, including Global Practice Leader Technology and Global Practice Leader Professional Services.

During his career, Jan-Bart has worked on numerous high-level search assignments, including CxO and non-executive board roles.

Jan-Bart’s hobbies include golf and driving his Harleys. He holds an M.Sc. in astrophysics from Leiden University in the Netherlands. His mother tongue is Dutch, he is fluent in English, has a reasonable command of German and French, and speaks some Italian.