Wijnand Peterse

Get to know your colleagues a little bit better. Our “5 questions for…” travels around the globe from one colleague to another. Every colleague will answer the same questions.

Tell us about your work environment. What does it look like? 

I work at the office in Weesp, where our Finance & Control team (with the occasional touch of IT) shares a ‘very gezellige’ workspace. We have nice views of the river the Vecht on one side and the factory on the other side.

What do you do in a day?

My days usually balance meetings with focused work. I deal with a wide range of financial topics, from internal matters like budgeting and business cases to external discussions with our accountant or bank. Whenever possible, I prefer meeting face-to-face. If I need something from a colleague in the building, I’ll walk over to them, otherwise I give them a quick call. Most mornings I also try to reserve time for analysis or for improving our processes.

Wijnand Peterse

Manager Finance & Control

What is your favorite leather item, and why?

My favorite leather item is a leather duffel bag I got from my friends for my birthday. It looks great and has exactly the right size and compartments for a weekend trip. The weight of the leather it makes it feel very sturdy (less suited for long walks though…).

What is your favorite project you have worked on so far? Or, if you have just joined the company: what drew you to working at Royal Smit & Zoon?

I joined Royal Smit & Zoon on October 1st. What attracted me most was the fact that we produce a tangible, high-quality product that contributes to a sustainable material that has been around since humans lived in caves. I also felt a strong, positive chemistry (no pun intended) with the people I met during the process and liked the family culture at Royal Smit & Zoon.

What sustainable actions are you taking, at work or in your personal life?

These days, I finish all our leftovers from dinner during lunch at work, so less food goes into the bin. We also have solar panels on our house and once the darker days are behind us I plan to get out of the car and start cycling to the office.

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