Achieving more by working together

The Executives team works with C-level managers at listed companies – we help them with all kinds of needs, depending on their personal situation. They generally have lots of questions about finance and investment; they’re also closely monitored by the financial markets authorities, and we need to make sure they’re not at risk of insider trading or conflicts of interest. But they’re very busy people who don’t have much time, so sometimes things need to be done quickly.

I’ve seen first-hand that we can achieve more for our Executive clients when we work with our colleagues in other departments like Kempen Merchant Banking. For example, one of my private clients might work for a listed firm that’s a client of Kempen: we serve both the individual and the company better when we work together. Plus, all our new digital apps make us a more integrated wealth manager, able to offer more solutions to our clients.

As you can see, one of the big additions to my life during the coronavirus pandemic was our Labrador puppy – we got her in April during the first lockdown. I’m not sure why I thought that working a full-time job, home schooling my three kids and looking after a puppy was possible – but since it was hectic anyway, why not? Because of Covid-19, it sometimes feels like I’m always working and always being a parent – and of course I want to be good at both. But I’d rather be busy than bored, and the puppy has brought us a lot of positive energy.

Jacqueline van der Voort – Commercial Director for Executives, Van Lanschot Private Banking