Xavier van Leeuwe, today Director Consumers at Mediahuis Netherlands, will take up the role of CEO Digital Marketplaces at Mediahuis group from 1 September. Van Leeuwe succeeds Paul Verwilt who, in his existing position as COO of Mediahuis group and member of the executive committee, will focus even more strongly on the further development of new business models via Mediahuis Ventures, as well as on future acquisitions.
The market for digital marketplaces has evolved greatly in recent years. Global players have entered the market, technological innovations follow each other rapdily and data and its smart use have become an important part of the business model. Within this challenging context, Mediahuis’ Digital Marketplaces were able to build strong positions in the jobs and recruitment market (including Jobat.be, Jellow.be, Jellow.nl), the housing market (including Zimmo.be, Jaap.nl) and automotive market (including Gaspedaal.nl, AutoTrack.nl, CarsIreland.ie, Cartell.ie).
Paul Verwilt, COO Mediahuis group: “Digital Marketplaces make a significant and growing contribution to our group’s operating profit and the market potential is huge. It is an opportunity that we want to take maximum advantage of with the appointment of Xavier van Leeuwe. At both NRC Media and Mediahuis Netherlands, he pioneered new strategies that led to a sustainable increase in the number of paying subscribers. Xavier’s rich expertise in the field of data and customer centricity, as well as his knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in digital innovation, is of great added value for our Digital Marketplaces.”
Xavier van Leeuwe has been with Mediahuis group since 2010, originally as Director Marketing & Data at NRC Media and since 2017 as Director Consumers at Mediahuis Netherlands. As CEO Digital Marketplaces, he will report to Paul Verwilt, COO Mediahuis group.
Xavier van Leeuwe: “I would like to thank Mediahuis for the trust they have placed in me. Paul Verwilt and his team have left Digital Marketplaces in great shape. We are well positioned to continue and accelerate the growth of, among others, CarsIreland, Cartell, Jaap, Jellow, Jobat and Zimmo.”
