SAS appoints Phaedra Kortekaas as Managing Director Benelux

Kortekaas will use her knowledge of analytics and customer focus to help SAS further grow in the Benelux

SAS, market leader in analytics, appoints Phaedra Kortekaas as Managing Director Benelux. As of 1 May 2023, she will succeed Remco den Heijer, who has held various management positions at SAS since 2004. Kortekaas will be responsible for the further growth of SAS in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux). She will report to Bert Boers, Senior Vice President South West East Europe.

Kortekaas comes from IBM, where she worked for 23 years and in recent years has led IBM's Consulting organization in the Netherlands. Prior to that, she was responsible for the insurance industry and the Hybrid Cloud Services practice in the Benelux at IBM. She was Global Lead Account Partner for Royal Dutch Shell, Client Services Director in Financial Services at ABN AMRO and led the global implementation of the IBM Institute for Business Value. In all these consultancy-driven roles, she has shown that customer focus is always key to her.

In addition, Kortekaas has a proven track record in designing and implementing new technology-driven B2B business models, and a passion for creating value through data and AI. Data and analytics have always played an important role during her career at IBM.

"Kortekaas has demonstrable experience in general management in various roles and sectors and works according to a pragmatic and people-oriented style. She has extensive experience in the B-to-B market and expertise in the field of data and analytics. This combination of in-depth substantive knowledge of both the market and our business will have a positive impact on our customers and partners," says Bert Boers.

Kortekaas about her appointment: "My passion for analytics and creating value for customers through digital transformation are a common thread throughout my career. Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the spotlight like never before, both in the public debate and within companies. The opportunities in analytics and AI are endless, and that's exactly where SAS can help businesses and governments. Whether it concerns improving customer contact, detecting risks, optimizing the energy supply or setting up a data-driven business model. SAS provides a solid AI and analytics platform to address these challenges. I look forward to delivering on the promise of AI for our customers in my new role at SAS."