McDermott + Bull Expands in Amsterdam
May 21, 2026 – Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has expanded in Amsterdam with the addition of Gerben van den Hout as managing director. “This strategic hire comes as McDermott + Bull continues to expand its executive search presence across Europe, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support organizations in identifying and placing high-impact leadership talent,” the firm said.
“Gerben’s appointment represents an important step in strengthening our presence across Europe,” said Milo Zegerius, managing partner. “His entrepreneurial mindset, deep expertise in executive search, and strong relationships within the Dutch market position him to make an immediate and meaningful impact. We are excited to welcome him to the firm and support our continued international growth.”
Mr. van den Hout brings over a decade of executive search and advisory experience, with a strong track record of partnering with leaders at the C-suite, vice president, and director levels. Most recently, he served as director of executive search at Newpeople, where he led senior-level placements across a range of industries while advising clients on talent strategy and organizational growth.
Prior to that, Mr. van den Hout founded his own executive search consultancy, through which he advised clients on senior-level talent strategy and leadership development. Before that, he gained broad experience across the industry, serving as an executive search partner at Hoek Consultants and as a leader in executive search strategy at BDO Netherlands. He built the foundation of his career at ING Netherlands, spending years in the financial industry where he spearheaded digital transformation.
In her new role, Mr. van den Hout will focus on delivering retained executive search services and strengthening McDermott + Bull’s relationships across key European markets. His appointment reflects the firm’s ongoing investment in top-tier talent and its commitment to supporting clients through periods of growth and transformation.
“I am excited to join McDermott + Bull at such a pivotal time in its international expansion,” said Mr. van den Hout. “The firm’s reputation for quality, partnership, and results is highly regarded, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success across Europe.”
As the financial and business capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is ranked as one of the best European cities in which to locate an international business. It is ranked fifth in this category and is only surpassed by London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Barcelona. Many large corporations and banks have their headquarters in Amsterdam, including Akzo Nobel, Heineken International, ING Group, ABN AMRO, TomTom, Delta Lloyd Group, Booking.com, and Philips. And now 21st century-facing technology companies are sprouting up; more than 100 international companies have opened offices since 2020.
Related: McDermott + Bull Expands in Texas
McDermott + Bull provides mission-critical permanent executive placement and interim solutions for a range of domestic and global clients. The firm serves private and public companies, private equity firms and their operating companies across multiple industries, including technology, financial services, biotech and life sciences, and professional services.
Recent Expansion
McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders (MBIL) recently added Chris Clarke as managing director, based in Chicago. “Chris joins the firm as McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders continues to expand its presence across the Midwest, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support organizations navigating leadership transitions, transformation, and time-sensitive business initiatives,” the firm said. “Chris brings a strong consultative approach and a deep understanding of how organizations leverage interim leadership to solve critical challenges,” said James Hickey, president and managing partner of McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders. “His addition strengthens our presence in the Midwest while enhancing our ability to support private equity sponsors and operating teams with the experienced talent they need to execute on strategic priorities.”
Mr. Clarke brings nearly a decade of experience in executive consulting, interim leadership, and enterprise talent solutions, partnering with senior leadership teams to deliver on-demand executive talent. He has extensive experience working with C-level executives and investors, including private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, supporting organizations through periods of growth, change, and complex operational initiatives across a wide range of industries.
Prior to joining McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders, Mr. Clarke served as a client service partner at Tatum, a Randstad company, where he advised C-suite leaders and investors on identifying leadership gaps, supporting transaction-related initiatives, and driving operational improvement through interim leadership solutions.
Related: McDermott + Bull Expands in Toronto
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
