Eindhoven, August 25, 2025 – Karima van Zadelhoff-Charrat (48) has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Works, the national and international HR service provider based in the technological heart of the Netherlands at Strijp-S in Eindhoven.
Blue Ocean Works, through its brands Baanbreed, iSprout, Orcatech, Special Ops, Tech Seals, and Techsharks, is a strategic partner for organizations facing workforce challenges. The group provides specialized talent for sectors such as engineering, process and manufacturing industries, energy, infrastructure, and finance. Sourced both locally from the Netherlands and internationally through knowledge migrants from South Africa and South America.
Van Zadelhoff will focus on increasing brand awareness, strengthening collaboration between the brands, and expanding the company’s portfolio. Over the past 25 years, she has built an impressive track record in various roles within business services, most recently as a board member at Team Eiffel. In the past couple of years, she played a pivotal role in transforming Eiffel from a small consultancy into one of the largest staffing firms in the Netherlands. With Van Zadelhoff, Blue Ocean Works welcomes a CEO who brings a wealth of experience in building bridges between teams and organizations.
Building for the future
Roy Daemen, founder of Blue Ocean Works, looks forward to working with Van Zadelhoff: “As an ambitious and entrepreneurial organization with six successful brands, we were looking for someone who could create connections and take the company to the next level. With Karima, we found that person. She is the right leader for our organization thanks to her people-centric approach, entrepreneurial spirit, and the positive energy and decisiveness she brings.”
Strategic partner
Van Zadelhoff sees significant growth potential for the group: “Blue Ocean Works has a solid foundation,” she says. “At the same time, I see opportunities to deepen collaboration and shape further ambitions and plans. The various specialized brands have already proven themselves and serve a wide range of clients. They retain their individual identities but gain strength and direction by working together as a unified group. This way, Blue Ocean Works oversees the entire value chain and purposefully builds growth, innovation, and sustainable impact.”
An agile and powerful fleet
According to Van Zadelhoff, Blue Ocean Works’ strength lies in the balance between collective power and specialist focus, and in the way the brands complement and reinforce each other. “We often use the metaphor of a fleet,” Van Zadelhoff explains. “Our brands are like agile ships that can quickly respond to changing circumstances, chart their own course, but always share a common goal.”
Blue Ocean Works thus forms an ecosystem where professionals, clients, and brands continuously enrich and strengthen one another – a platform that allows for both collaboration and individuality, connecting talent, knowledge, and opportunities. “With the right people, mindset, and timing, anything can flourish. With our strong foundation and focus, I believe Blue Ocean Works can create lasting value, both within and beyond our organization. I look forward to realizing this ambition together with our colleagues and partners.”
