Name: Michiel van Ginkel
Age: 66
Job title: Manager Naval Sales Support

How long have you been working for Damen?
“In November this year, I will have been working for Damen Naval for ten years. Before joining Damen Naval, I served in the Royal Netherlands Navy for 31 years, of which almost 14 years were spent sailing on large and small surface ships. My last job within the Ministry of Defence, from 2009 to 2012, was Defence Attaché in Chile with co-accreditation to Brazil and Argentina. The military network built up there has come in handy for my work at Damen Naval in the Latin America region.”

What does your position entail?
“I support Damen’s Marketing and Sales organisation in the Maritime Safety domain. With my colleagues, I am jointly responsible for the optimal execution of our Sales Support Strategy. This includes maintaining an (inter)national network that is important for Damen Naval. In addition, with my operational background, I try to support the Sales organisation and the Product and Proposals department in translating military questions and customer wishes into a military product that is marketable and interesting.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?
“The best part of my job is that an intensive team effort can result in an actual contract, ultimately delivering a tangible product for a satisfied and proud customer. Knowing that these kinds of ships will sail the world’s oceans for more than 30 years after delivery and contribute to safety on and from the sea makes the work interesting and rewarding. Another aspect I have found enjoyable and instructive is, after more than thirty years as an operational user (as part of the government) of the ships, I have now also been able to experience the production and commercial aspects of naval construction up close. All in all, a nice and instructive circle thus completed. Yet another, not insignificant aspect that makes the work fun are the conversations with and visits to our (inter)national customers and all the cultural aspects that come with that.”

What can we wake you up at night for?
“For my new-born grandson and of course for anything that contributes to a good atmosphere both privately and within work.”

Complete the sentence: I am not truly satisfied until….
“When teamwork in its optimal form comes into its own. The famous 1 + 1 = 3.”

This or that?

Morning person/Evening person
Take-aways/Cooking at home
Book/Film
Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter
All the seasons have something special.
Beer/Wine

To overview