GHENT - On October 13, Maarten Bosmans took over the general management of The Reference from Isabel Donvil. The Reference is a full-service digital agency with a multidisciplinary team of 160 digital experts. As the trusted digital partner of both national and international clients, The Reference specializes in everything from digital strategy to technology and marketing.
The Reference welcomes new Management Team
October 18, 2023 | Maarten Bosmans, Head of BU at The Reference
Isabel Donvil, a key figure within The Reference for almost ten years, successfully navigated the company through challenging economic times in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis. She is now passing the torch to a new team. At the helm of this team is Maarten Bosmans. He joined The Reference 11 years ago and has been part of the management team as CFO for the past few years. As Isabel Donvil's right-hand man, he also played a key role this past year in streamlining the takeover by EPAM.
A Management Team of four
Going forward, The Reference will have a Management Team of four:
- Maarten Bosmans, as Head of BU, takes over the general management and is responsible for achieving the company objectives and aligning all teams and activities of the company.
- Arnaud Geyskens, as Head of Technology and with 9 years of experience at The Reference and over 20 years in digital agencies, is responsible for the company's technological strategy and offerings.
- Pieter Van Londersele, Head of Sales, and with 8 years of experience in the company, oversees the sales management and commercial strategy of The Reference.
- Frederik Taevernier, Head of Strategy, and a steadfast presence in the company for 13 years and with 23 years of experience in software and data companies, will focus on developing and managing the overarching digital strategy and service offerings of the company.
Maarten Bosmans: "On behalf of the management team and the entire company, I would like to thank Isabel Donvil for the way she has led The Reference in difficult times. Without her vision and management, we wouldn't be where we are today. That we can celebrate our 30th anniversary this year in a market that is changing at the speed of light, is thanks to our DNA and our people. We have top experts on board who work cooperatively to ensure that we stay ahead of the competition and make a difference in the market. I am incredibly honored - along with my colleagues - that we have been entrusted to lead these amazing people and to create an environment for them in which they are fully supported to continue to support our customers and to keep reinventing themselves and our company."
The new management confirms the continuity of the strategy laid out, which focuses on the broad possibilities of a composable MACH architecture in a B2B context. This strengthens the position of The Reference in the marketing technology sector, as demonstrated during the latest successful customer event "Transforming your data into a real user experience."
Solid track record
Isabel Donvil began her career at The Reference 9 years ago as Client Services Director, later as Strategy Director, and became Managing Director of the company in 2020. She successfully steered the company through the challenging COVID period, integrated the company within EPAM, and prioritized a stronger data-driven approach at The Reference.
Isabel Donvil: "The accomplishments of The Reference are the result of the co-creation between 'the Reffers' and the company's clients and partners. The team at The Reference is dedicated, creative, and excels day after day. I am very proud of each and everyone. Going forward, together with Maarten and the new management team, they will continue to tackle challenging projects successfully."
