Former top hockey player
Teun de Nooijer is the latest
addition to the Dutch Sport
Tech Fund

Former top hockey player Teun de Nooijer has joined the Innovation Committee of Dutch Sport Tech Fund. After his career as a top athlete, De Nooijer worked in the corporate world. He is currently a partner at McDermott + Bull Europe, an organization specialized in Executive Search and Interim Leaders. In this interview, he shares what he learned in business and top-level sports, and how he applies that knowledge and experience for Dutch Sport Tech Fund. “I see it as a great challenge to strengthen the Dutch Sport Tech Fund team; together we can make a valuable contribution to sport and vitality.”

De Nooijer is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He played more than 450 international matches for the Dutch National Team and became World, European, and Olympic champion. With his club Bloemendaal, he also won the Dutch championship nine times.

After his career as a player, De Nooijer focused on creating winning teams. He did this as a coach in sports, as a keynote speaker, and now as a partner at McDermott + Bull Europe. In addition, De Nooijer is involved in various social initiatives aimed at promoting sports and health. His experience in both sports and business makes him the ideal addition to the Innovation Committee of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund.

“At McDermott + Bull Europe, we search for the right talent, usually at management level, for our clients. It is rewarding and challenging work to help your clients find the person who will make a real difference for them. In some ways, it reminds me of the experience I gained in sports and in the business world, namely: contributing to winning teams. It’s worth mentioning that hockey players are encouraged during their professional careers to start thinking in time about their ‘second career’, the period after top-level sports. During my hockey career, I started my own company, which focused on the development of individuals and teams. I guided leadership programs and cultural processes for various groups, from trainees to management. In that role as well, I was able to contribute to building winning teams and helped people get the best out of themselves.”

“The great thing about working at McDermott + Bull is that with every search, we immerse ourselves in our client and, certainly, in the culture of the organization. It’s not just about CVs, profiles, or salaries, but above all about whether someone ‘fits the culture’, the so-called ‘cultural fit’. In my view, that is essential for maximum performance.”

“I am a member of the Innovation Committee. Together, we assess whether it is wise to invest in startups and scale-ups that are seeking investment from the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. In addition to considering whether I believe in the idea or product, I naturally focus primarily on the human capital aspect. We look at the team or entrepreneur(s), engage in conversations, conduct assessments, and thus map out whether everything is in place on the human side to enable the organization to take the next step. If that is not the case, additional support may be needed to achieve the ambitions. My experience in the field of human capital is very useful in this regard.”

De Nooijer’s experience in elite sports also helps contribute to the success of the Innovation Committee. “I may be able to assess whether a product will catch on in a particular market and whether elite athletes are actually waiting for a certain solution. In that respect, my experiences in elite sports and the business world come together nicely in this role on the Innovation Committee.”

“The mission of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund is to make a positive contribution to sports and vitality by investing in sustainable sports, technology, and data companies. I fully support that mission. I look forward to helping organizations that contribute to development, sports, and vitality, for example by providing input in the area of human capital. That’s why I am so pleased to have been asked to strengthen the Dutch Sport Tech Fund, because together we can truly serve sports and vitality.”

“In addition, sports and vitality deserve more attention in today’s society. Sufficient physical activity—and therefore our health—is under pressure. It’s not just about elite sports. Being active is also about ‘feeling good in your own skin’, performing well, and is a matter of vitality. I am happy to commit myself to this, so that even more people can perform sustainably. I believe that as Dutch Sport Tech Fund, we can be very ambitious: there is enormous growth potential, as the numbers show. I see a lot of potential in investing in sports technology.”