Function: Director Online and Software Business Europe (LTR)

Prior to Joining Wolters Kluwer, Rene van Erk spent 17 years in the software and online world. He has worked across multiple continents (Asia, US and Europe) and worked both for large companies such as Microsoft, as well as launching start-ups with a focus on software and the Internet.

Why did you choose for Wolters Kluwer as an employer? 
The convergence of the Media Industry with technology in general, and with Online & Software particularly, is an incredibly exciting area. Most of the companies in this area though are start-ups with innovative ideas but limited scale/scalability. After having worked in global roles at Microsoft I had joined a startup in the online area, but quickly decided that I would prefer to lead and grow an online business that has a significant scale already. That scale allows me to build a much deeper understanding of Online Media, from business models and pricing models to DRM, from organizational impact/requirements to underlying technology challenges. Additionally the worlds of content and Software are more and more converging; helping to shape how software will evolve into fully integrated solutions while exploiting our content-position is exciting.

What are the challenges and opportunities for personal growth in your current function at Wolters Kluwer?
Our key challenge is how to ride the Internet Media & Technology wave, managing the evolution of our products in such a way that we benefit from that wave. As the internet evolves on a daily basis, so does my role. As our Online Business & Product Portfolio grows, so does the organization both leading and supporting that growth. In general it is clear that a large part of Wolters Kluwer’s future growth depends on success in the Online and Software area, so for anyone in these businesses there will be ample career opportunities.