The Global Arena Team

We are a fast growing team of senior business managers and consultants with different Industry backgrounds. Together the team has over 200 years of senior global business experience.

Our team is already spread over 7 countries and we continue to expand our global footprint. To bring our Global Arena capabilities close to your organization and market, we are implementing a global network of Certified business partners through our FDIworld partner program.

We offer our clients turn-key solutions for global expansion working with our FDIworld business partners.

 
Peter Storm - CEO

Peter Storm founded Global Arena in 2008. Prior to Global Arena Peter was Director of Consulting for HP Switzerland and internal consultant for HP’s EMEA headquarters management, where he worked on the planning and management of HP’s global footprint. These positions followed over 20 years of achievement as an international professional, manager and leader with Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq and HP. Capitalising on his familiarity with HP, Peter worked together with them to develop a services portfolio specifically designed to simplify and modernise complex global IT organizations and infrastructures, driving the development of the global ICT architecture capabilities.

Peter’s global perspective, customer focus and well-seasoned judgement are prime assets in Global Arena’s innovative strategy as it makes the transition from start-up to a profitable, internationally recognised enterprise. A native of The Netherlands, Peter moved to Switzerland in 2001 while working for Compaq. He and his family are based in Zürich, one of the top-ranking global business locations.

Kris Mattens - Chief Scientific Officer    

Kris Mattens is responsible for economic and statistical knowledge of Global Arena’s business, along with supply of macro-economic advice for its corporate and governmental clients. Kris was previously engaged by the Association Ghent University in Belgium as an academic researcher working on the scientific development of the GlobalArenaRank™ solution.

At Ghent Kris specialised in advanced statistical methodologies, optimisation techniques, location analysis for multinational corporations and advanced macro-economics and development.

Kris holds a Master Degree in Commercial Engineering in Information Management from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and is fluent in Dutch, English, French and German.

Ruud Storm - partner

Ruud Storm is responsible for serving the needs of Aerotropolis & Aerospace business. Ruud is an experienced pilot with extensive insights into the needs of companies active in this sector. Currently employed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as a pilot on intercontinental flights, Ruud was previously Director of Flight Operations for KLM Cityhopper (a 100% subsidiary of KLM), serving KLM’s regional network with over 50 Fokker jets and turboprops. Ruud trained as a pilot while in the Royal Netherlands Navy, for whom he flew helicopters from frigates in tactical operations and shore-based search and rescue missions. His primary professional training took place at the Nautical College in Amsterdam, where he specialised in navigation and cargo handling on merchant ships. Ruud's long experience in a customer-driven, operational environment is helping establish Global Arena as an innovative organiser for the Foreign Direct Investment marketplace. His board-member responsibility for our internal quality assurance procedures maintains our focus on providing maximum customer value, a stable IT platform and a constant flow of well tested innovations. Ruud is born and living in The Netherlands.

Pieter van de Watering - CFO

Pieter van de Watering is responsible for financial planning and risk management in Global Arena. Prior to Global Arena Pieter was VP EMEA at Givaudan, responsible for sales and profit throughout the region. Since 2002 he has been a successful informal investor for start-up businesses, helping with financial, legal and organizational aspects. Pieter is also a member of several supervisory boards in a range of industries including IT service, Food and Logisics, among others. Pieter is native to and still lives in The Netherlands.

Ed Naberhuis - partner

Ed Naberhuis is responsible for sales and marketing. Before Ed started his own business in Austria, he used to work for SRAM Corporation as Global Market Analyst and Customer Service Manager for Europe. Ed holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from both The Nyenrode Business School in Breukelen, the Netherlands as from The Simon Business School in Rochester, New York, USA and a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering. Being a native dutchman, Ed is living in Reith bei Seefeld, Austria

Global Arena Advisory Board

Michiel Weimar is co-founder and chairman of the Advisory Board

Michiel Weimar is a co-developer of the GlobalArenaRank™ solution, having worked on it together with Kris Mattens, Martine Goossens and Peter Storm. Michiel brings over 30 years experience in HR to Global Arena, having worked in fine chemical and the steel industry before entering the IT sector in 1997. In addition to his HR work, Michiel also has experience in sales and production planning. Retired since 2007, Michiel’s most recent position was that of Director of HR at HP’s EMEA Headquarters. In that position he was the executive sponsor for the GlobalArenaRank™ solution within Hewlett-Packard. Michiel lives in Leutasch, Austria.

Martine Goossens - co-founder

Martine Goossens is co-founder of Global Arena. She was the driving force for the GlobalArenaRank™ solution, the core technology of Global Arena. Martine Goossens draws upon over two decades of experience in business and executive coaching in a diverse range industries including Technology, Fashion, Construction, Finance, Retail, Manufacturing and Social Security. As a Senior Manager and Executive Coach, she has advised companies and coached CEOs and senior managers in how to lead their businesses through changing environments and economic cycles such as integration, turnaround, fast growth and significant downturn.

Martine’s extensive knowledge and understanding of the requirements of different businesses and her ability to create objective solutions that integrate well with complex situations lead to the development of the GlobalArena Rank™ solution.