Arnout Dijkstal
Haarlem
Summary
Operations and growth leader with a strong history of driving double-digit revenue growth, expanding globally, and achieving operational excellence in the tech, enterprise software, and SaaS industries. Skilled in scaling operations across Europe & Asia, implementing transformation strategies, and fostering multicultural teams to excel operationally. Successfully managed regional revenue operations for markets exceeding $700M annually at SAS Institute, consistently achieving double-digit growth since 2015. Instrumental in launching new business ventures at TomTom as part of the innovation taskforce under direct CEO supervision, resulting in the development of multi-million dollar concepts from inception. Recognized for engaging leadership style, strategic commercial focus, emphasis on cross-functional alignment, and fostering high-performance team cultures. Passionate about transforming innovative ideas into tangible and successful outcomes.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Languages
Work History
SENIOR DIRECTOR Revenue OPERATIONS – EUROPE
SAS INSTITUTE
01.2021 - Current
- Leading revenue and operations for SAS Europe with ~$700M+ total annual revenue (incl. $200M new business), consistently delivering double-digit YOY growth.
- Delivering >95% customer success rate annually, driving long-term client satisfaction and retention.
- Spearheading strategic initiatives (e.g. BASE sales performance program, Revegy CRM rollout) and modernized forecasting processes, redesigning end-to-end sales operations to improve pipeline visibility and forecasting accuracy.
- Influenced C-level decisions with data-driven insights on pipeline and forecasting. Aligned strategy with corporate goals to unify targets and clarify KPIs across regions.
- Redesigned the org structure from siloed country units to a matrix model. This boosted cross-functional collaboration and improved information flow and resource efficiency.
- Built high-performance teams and alignment: Established rigorous performance reviews and KPIs, cultivating clear communication of targets at every level and fostering accountability and execution excellence.
- Managed 20 direct reports (Rev Ops team) and 180 indirect reports (Sales teams)
REGIONAL DIRECTOR SALES & BUSINESS OPERATIONS – SOUTHWEST EUROPE
SAS INSTITUTE
01.2015 - 01.2021
- Managed $300M ($90M new, $210M recurring), leading sales and operations across South & West Europe to exceed targets and drive sustained revenue growth.
- Led unified commercial planning by aligning annual business plans and pipeline management across countries. Standardized performance tracking, boosting forecast accuracy.
- Enabled cross-border collaboration: Facilitated best-practice sharing and joint account strategies among country organizations, streamlining account and opportunity reviews with country leaders to optimize resource allocation.
- Optimized deal execution: Drove regular regional pipeline reviews and KPI scorecards, partnering with country heads to identify gaps and redirect efforts, boosting win rates and uncovering incremental revenue opportunities.
- Coached and developed teams: Mentored a diverse team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and aligning local goals with overarching regional strategy.
DIRECTOR GLOBAL GROUP BUSINESS DEV., STRATEGY AND INNOVATION
TOMTOM
01.2011 - 01.2015
- C-level innovation leader: Served on the CEO’s global strategy task force, defining growth targets and entering untapped markets. Formulated corporate innovation strategies.
- New market and venture creation: Identified high-potential global opportunities through market research and competitive analysis, translating them into executable business cases.
- Led cross-functional teams to launch new offerings, each generating multi‑million dollar revenues in their early stages.
- Strategic partnerships & GTM execution: Forged key partnerships and developed go-to-market models for new ventures, aligning product strategy with customer needs and streamlining commercial launches.
- Innovation and growth: Drove the lifecycle of new product concepts, from ideation through business planning and early-stage implementation. Contributing to TomTom’s portfolio diversification and driving significant new revenue streams.
SENIOR MANAGER COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS - EMEA & APAC
TOMTOM
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Drove commercial strategy development for TomTom’s Consumer Products division across EMEA and APAC, driving market expansion and delivering €150m+ growth.
- Directed regional market analysis, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization to ensure product availability and cost efficiency.
- Managed end-to-end commercial operations, aligning cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives and, ensuring target delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
SENIOR MANAGER SALES STRATEGY OFFICE - EUROPE
TOMTOM
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Founded and scaled TomTom’s Sales Strategy Office for Europe, building core processes and strategic frameworks from the ground to support sales excellence.
- Developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies, refining price positioning and go-to-market plans to capture new segments.
- Structured non-standard deals and managed pricing strategies across Europe, standardizing deal frameworks.
MANAGER CHANNEL CONTROL
TOMTOM
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Established and led a new Channel Control finance team, driving global strategy through financial controls, pricing models, and incentive programs.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
VERIZON / MCI WorldCom
01.2000 - 01.2005
- Led strategic business development for Verizon, securing key partnerships, negotiating high-impact contracts, and aligning offerings with market needs.
Education
MSc - Business & finance
Vrije Universiteit
INSTITUT SAVOISIEN - undefined
Université de la Savoie
Stedelijk Gymnasium -
Luzac College
Skills
Revenue Operations & Mgmt
Interests
Travel: For work and fun
Cooking: My go-to way to unwind and clear my head
Tech: Into AI, ML, and more
Sports: Padel, fitness, cycling, skiing
Volunteering: Mostly sports-focused
Timeline
SENIOR DIRECTOR Revenue OPERATIONS – EUROPE
SAS INSTITUTE
01.2021 - Current
REGIONAL DIRECTOR SALES & BUSINESS OPERATIONS – SOUTHWEST EUROPE
SAS INSTITUTE
01.2015 - 01.2021
DIRECTOR GLOBAL GROUP BUSINESS DEV., STRATEGY AND INNOVATION
TOMTOM
01.2011 - 01.2015
SENIOR MANAGER COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS - EMEA & APAC
TOMTOM
01.2009 - 01.2011
SENIOR MANAGER SALES STRATEGY OFFICE - EUROPE
TOMTOM
01.2007 - 01.2009
MANAGER CHANNEL CONTROL
TOMTOM
01.2005 - 01.2007
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
VERIZON / MCI WorldCom
01.2000 - 01.2005
INSTITUT SAVOISIEN - undefined
Université de la Savoie
MSc - Business & finance
Vrije Universiteit
Stedelijk Gymnasium -
Luzac College
Similar Profiles
Jonathan MassantJonathan Massant
Senior Account Executive - Commercial Accounts at SAS InstituteSenior Account Executive - Commercial Accounts at SAS Institute
Jeffrey A. SimpsonJeffrey A. Simpson
Senior Systems Engineer - SMB Financial Sevices at SAS InstituteSenior Systems Engineer - SMB Financial Sevices at SAS Institute
DeMarcus MillsDeMarcus Mills
Sr. Account Executive at SAS InstituteSr. Account Executive at SAS Institute
Baris BaskilicBaris Baskilic
Admin Procurement Officer at TCS (Tata Consultancy Services Netherlands B.V.)Admin Procurement Officer at TCS (Tata Consultancy Services Netherlands B.V.)
Anee DasAnee Das
Data Quality and Data Governance at Accenture Solutions Pvt LtdData Quality and Data Governance at Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd