Meet The Team – Bas Kersten

When did you join Oliver Wight?

In March 2023.

Tell us about yourself! What does your day-to-day role at Oliver Wight involve?

Like all Partners, it’s all about helping clients realize their strategy through better planning.

In day-to-day life that means I do diagnostics to determine a baseline of current capability upon which I design a program to transform the client’s business performance. The transformation usually starts with training, then design of the to-be and transitions over into coaching in the implementation as the client increases capability.

What attracted you to the role?

I’m a lifelong planning enthusiast and I’ve done two IBP implementations myself that have had real impact. Doing these projects gave me a lot of energy and that led to me think about a career at Oliver Wight.

Prior to joining the Oliver Wight team what did you do?

I’ve been in Supply Chain and Operations my whole professional life which now spans over 25 years. First as a Consultant and later as Manager of End-to-End Supply Chain and Operations in global companies both in consumer products and in heavy industry.

What three words best describe you?

Energetic, honest, and analytical.

What is your idea of a utopian workplace?

My vision of a utopian workplace is one where all are heard, no one is excluded, and everyone can work to their best ability while having fun doing so.

What emoji best represents you?

Perhaps cherry as this is my nickname. The first 4 letters of my last name mean cherry in Dutch, and I tend to get a red head when exercising.

What are your interests outside of work?

I like to be active, which includes sailing, hiking, and skiing. But I also enjoy culture and good food.

You’re an animal for a day – what are you and why?

Surely a cat. We have two and they are the most relaxed, elegant, and fun animals that you could ever imagine. Totally do their own thing, which is a lot of sleeping, eating and then some acrobatics as well.

Share with us the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

From my father: Life is short, so be sure to enjoy it.