Name: Tom van Maldegem
Age: 24 years old
Job title: Business Development Manager

How long have you been working for Damen?
I started working at Damen in June 2021. At that time, I was still studying Industrial Engineering & Management. After work placements at Lamb Weston, Van Oord and Anglo Eastern, I graduated in July 2021. I was hired by Damen Schelde Marine Services to strengthen the Singapore office. Due to Covid-19 measures, it was not possible to leave for Singapore immediately. So, in the meantime, I first received an accelerated internal training in Vlissingen and left for Singapore last October.

What does your job involve?
As Business Development Manager, I am responsible for the expansion of our services in Singapore. I am therefore purposefully looking for partners in Singapore/Asia who have a workshop. We want to be able to offer our customers the complete package. This means that, in addition to our spare parts, we also offer (engine-related) services. Besides expanding our external services, Damen Schelde Marine Services also wants to strengthen the connection between the offices in Vlissingen and Singapore. I am investigating, per department, how a higher efficiency can be achieved. The office in Singapore is currently almost completely supported by our office in Vlissingen, and we are trying to scale this back. We want to make Singapore an independently operating office. Besides these activities, I support our Sales Team.

Tom and his girlfriend in Singapore. Tom and his girlfriend in Singapore.

What do you like most about your job?
The best part is my freedom and the opportunity to develop. We have a huge potential in the Asian market that we can tap into and we are working hard on that at the moment. I think it is great to be part of a growing company/office.

What can we wake you up for at night?
Raw tuna! I would love to eat this every day. In sushi, poke bowl or as sashimi, I can’t get enough.

Finish the sentence: I will not be truly satisfied until…
…there is a real one-stop-shop in Singapore, a Damen office where we have an answer/solution for all the customer (diesel-)engine related questions.

This or that?
Coffee/Tea
We have to stay awake!
Morning person / Evening person
Both of them! I like to sleep in, but I’m most productive in the mornings. I don’t need much sleep (luckily), so going to bed late at night is no problem.
Android/iPhone
A loyal user since the iPhone 3G!
Netherlands/Singapore
For now, it’s Singapore. If I am here too long, I will really start missing my girlfriend, friends and family.

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