Steering Phenna Group's ascent as a market leader in the TICC landscape, my tenure as Founder and CEO has been marked by strategic M&A execution and fostering over 6,500 skilled professionals across multiple continents. Our team's efforts have cemented our presence in the Infrastructure, Built Environment, Industrials, Food & Life Sciences and Compliance/Certification sectors. Transitioning to Executive Chairman, I now guide our high-performance teams toward sustained international growth. Our focus remains on operational excellence and strategic acquisitions, leveraging my extensive B2B experience to enhance our global footprint in the TICC industry.

28 years in leading positions at DEKRA, amongst other leading diversification and growth beyond automotive into industry verticals. Earlier career steps in Consulting and Finance at ALCATEL.

With over 25 years of experience across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., Ian has built, led, and grown businesses in business assurance, consulting, and sustainability. Prior to becoming CEO, Ian was instrumental in shaping LRQA’s growth as Chief Growth Officer and Assessments Business Director, and he played a key role in setting the strategy behind the company’s Full Potential Plan. This ambitious plan is driving LRQA’s growth, allowing the company to remain a proactive leader in managing risk, not merely responding to it. Earlier in his career, Ian held senior leadership roles at Sears Holdings, KPMG, and BSR, and later founded ELEVATE, a world-class risk and sustainability solutions organization acquired by LRQA in 2022. Today, Ian leads LRQA’s execution of its Full Potential Plan, positioning the company to deliver innovative, comprehensive risk management solutions across 150 countries to more than 61,000 clients. By focusing on proactive risk management and driving innovation across certification, inspection, advisory, cyber security, and data, LRQA is enabling clients to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Paul Hesselink has been the CEO of Kiwa between 2003 and 2023. In that period, Kiwa expanded from a local not-for-profit certification institute into an advanced global TIC organization. After a cultural change, the expansion implied broadening the service portfolio, strong organic growth combined with c. 75 acquisitions, some transformative incl. 5 refinancings. By this, the 200 FTE staff size and €19 m revenue ‘Dutch’ Kiwa of 2005 developed into today’s 12,000+ FTE international organization generating over € 1.5 bn of revenues with its footprint in 40 countries on 5 continents. Early 2024, after 20 years of being CEO, Paul passed the baton to his colleague Luc Leroy and to continue as Kiwa strategy advisor himself. On top, Paul fulfills several Board roles in professional services companies at present. Between 1995-2002, Paul was the National Chief Executive of SGS in the Netherlands as well as executing some corporate SGS and ‘think tank’ roles in Geneva. Before, Paul worked as a scientific researcher at Dutch contract research organization TNO with a focus on Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Environmental Sciences from 1988-1995. Numerous international projects, reports, several publications and a few patents were produced in this period. Professional side activities include(d) Board roles in Industry and Science Associations incl Fenelab and TIC Council, Supervisory roles of RvA and Dutch and EU Research Programs (selection). Paul Hesselink holds a PhD in Biotechnology (1989), an MSC in Biochemistry (1983) and BSc in Chemistry from the University of Groningen. Post-doc research at GBF in Brunswick, Germany (1988).

A former CHIEF EXECUTIVE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR with a proven track record in building enterprise value in public, private and third sector companies. Expertise in business development, effective operational performance, turnaround, change management and team leadership in the B2B Business Services sector, with a strong international background in Europe, Asia, Middle East and N. America. Now acting as an Advisor to Private Equity firms on pre-deal evaluations, due diligence and investment cases across Business Services, specifically in the assurance & compliance, education & training, energy and logistic sectors. Seeking to build a broader portfolio of Non-Executive positions in related areas.

Experienced at leading and shaping global organizations: Ian El-Mokadem has over thirty years’ experience of working in and leading large, multinational service businesses. His past roles span a range of functions from strategy and marketing to holding full profit and loss accountability in a series of Chief Executive and Managing Director positions. Focused on delivering growth: Ian brings a keen focus on meeting and exceeding the needs of customers. He has extensive experience of delivering organic growth and completing a large number of successful acquisitions through his past leadership roles at RWS Group, V.Group, Exova Group, Compass Group and Centrica. His positions have often involved the delivery of large, complex, technology-enabled business transformations. Passionate about building high-performing teams and companies: Ian is committed to diversity and the wellbeing of colleagues and is focused on setting and maintaining high standards of safety, quality and business conduct across an organization. With broad experience of interacting with a wide range of shareholders, Ian has held Board and Executive level positions in both listed and private equity backed businesses. Today Ian is a Non-Executive Director of Diploma plc, United Utilities plc and Serco Group plc. He also acts as an adviser to private equity funds.