ECRM names CEO of European division

ECRM has named John van der Valk CEO of its European Business. The Solon, Ohio-based company has tasked Van der Valk — a global business-to-business marketing veteran — with building the portfolio of products that can streamline buyer-seller interactions as part of ECRM’s European expansion. 

“John’s wealth of industry experience and relationships makes him ideal for creating an
authentically European business that best serves local markets and maximizes buyer and
supplier engagement,” said Greg Farrar, ECRM CEO. “He has a track record of building high-performance teams and establishing a culture of excellence within them. We’re thrilled to have him leading the charge in Europe.”

Van der Valk most recently led Informa Market’s digital division, where he led the expansion of the company’s digital products and services, as well as the expansion of its advanced analytics within the Informa Intelligence division. Prior to that, he served as director of UBM Amsterdam, where he led global trade exhibitions and online activities in the food and pharma markets. He has held senior management positions at VNU/Nielsen in the United States and Europe. 

ECRM launched its European business unit in 2017 in an effort to assist the region’s retailers and distributors in discovering new and emerging global brands in food, health, beauty care and general merchandise. It is headquartered in Utrecht, The Netherlands. 

“For years I have tracked the development of ECRM as an innovator in boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of buyer-seller relationships, both in the U.S. and abroad,” Van der Valk said. ““The ECRM Connect platform is the latest example of this innovation, enabling its customers to conduct meaningful business discussions in the face of travel restrictions. I’m looking forward to helping them accelerate the growth of its programs in Europe.”