February 2021 – Present: Business Development Manager, RMA Hydromet

In February 2021, I started a new company, RMA Hydromet, together with a partner in The Netherlands. My role is Business Development and product development. RMA Hydromet (www.rmahydromet.nl), among others, represents the complete product range of OTT Hydromet. We deliver sensor technology for modern water management. With over 30 years of experience, we help water managers to collect reliable hydrological and meteorological data within the water cycle. Together with our customers, from our office in Hellendoorn, we devise the most convenient total solution for the everchanging management of a precious asset on earth, water. Because our solutions work simply and reliably and provide high-quality data, we go a step further than the obvious solutions.” Our focus is on the region of the BeNeLux, but we are also present in UK and Ireland.

2016 – February 2021: Business Development Manager, OTT Hydromet GmbH In 2016, I started at OTT Hydromet (www.ott.com) as Business Development manager for the region The Netherlands and Belgium (Flemish part). I was responsible for all product ranges within the OTT Hydromet group, Lufft, OTT, Adcon, Seabird, Hydrolab, Sutron. I was also an internal consultant on product development for the hydrological market. The hydrological market in The Netherlands is a difficult one, you have to compete on price, which seems to be challenging, using products Made in Germany. Nevertheless, I grew the yearly turnover from less than EUR 100k, to EUR 800k, with an average YOY growth of 10%.

I was part of the German speaking sales team, including Austria and Switzerland. I can understand German in word and writing 100%, speaking and writing German is ok, but not perfect. Due to a reorganization of the EU sales network, OTT decided to stop direct sales in some of the EU countries. Unfortunately, The Netherlands was one of these countries. This is the main reason I started a new company.

2001 – 2016: Sales & Marketing Director, Observator Group In 2001, I joined Observator (www.observator.com) as a Sales manager. Soon I was promoted to International Business Development Manager. During this period, I was responsible for the design of a new product line of GPRS data loggers, data buoys and Data Collection Software. The last 3 years I was the worldwide Sales and Marketing Director. I was responsible for the Sales & Marketing of the Observator Group worldwide. Observator Group has business units in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Australia and Singapore. The total number of employees was app. 100. During my period at Observator, I have been traveling through EU, the Middle East and Africa meeting distribution partners and customers always trying to find the best solution meeting the local circumstances.

1989 – 2001

Head of department water management, Waterboard Groot Salland

I worked for 12 years for Dutch water authorities (waterboards) and was responsible for some big complex projects (like new build pumping stations and dikes). I lead a department of 10 employees and was in charge for the water management and project management of some multimillion projects. I started the automatization of water management and initiated a new way to control the water level using weather data and forecast.

I lead the digitalization of all the maps and registers they used in the past. I introduced Geographical Information Systems (GIS) into the water management. This system has been used to manage flooding events and in situation with high water on the river IJssel in combination with North West wind.

1986 – 1989: Software programmer at Witteveen & Bos Software

After my study, I have been working for Witteveen & Bos, one of the major consultancy companies in the Netherlands, for 3 years.

LinkedIn profil https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-ter-brake-8b336064/

Education

I have a degree in civil engineering.

Several management training-courses and specific product training

Languages

Dutch : Native language

English : Understanding, writing and speaking

German : I can read and understand German perfect, writing and speaking ok, but not

perfect.

Hobbies

Designing, building and flying of model Radio Controlled airplanes

Sailing

Ice (speed)skating

Personal data;

Name of Birth:Robertus Stephanus Maria

First name: Rob

Last name: Ter Brake

Date of birth: 25 September 1963

Place of birth: Borne

Address: Erve Nijenhorst 8, 7447 MA, Hellendoorn, The Netherlands

I am married and have 3 sons in the ages of 23, 26 and 29