Harold Goddijn

Harold Goddijn (born April 23, 1960) [1] is the CEO of the Dutch consumer/business electronics company TomTom since 2001.[2]

Harold Goddijn
Born23 April 1960 (1960-04-23) (age 60)
Oegstgeest, Netherlands
Alma materUniversity of Amsterdam (attended)
Years active1986–present
EmployerTomTom (1991–present)
Known forCo-Founder and CEO of TomTom
TitleCEO at TomTom
Spouse(s)Corinne Vigreux
Children2

Early life and education

He studied Economics at the University of Amsterdam from 1982 till 1986.[3]

Early career

Goddijn started his career with a venture capital firm.[2] He then founded Psion Netherlands BV in 1989 as a joint venture with Psion computers Plc. In 1998 he was appointed Managing Director of Psion Computers and served on the Board of Psion Plc from 1998 to 1999.[3] In 1999, Harold Goddijn left Psion and joined Palmtop Software.

TomTom

In 1991, Goddijn's wife Corinne Vigreux left her position as sales director for Psion to help found Palmtop Software; a company that specializes in creating applications for portable pocket computers.[4] Goddijn invested in Palmtop Software, building a partnership with the co-founders Peter-Frans Pauwels and Pieter Geelen (who are still running the company with him today).[5] Palmtop Software completely changed their name and their image and is now known as TomTom.[6]

In 2001, Harold was appointed Chief Executive Officer of TomTom, a role he has held ever since.[7] During this time, he focused the business on developing navigation software, launching the TomTom Navigator in 2002. Next, Harold made the decision to move into manufacturing hardware solutions, launching the first TomTom GO in 2004.[5] TomTom has gone on to sell more than 75 million navigation devices globally. Today, more than one billion people use TomTom technology every day.

After licensing its digital maps to Apple (company) for its in-house maps app and signed a multi-year deal with Uber to provide it with digital maps,[8] the company has been building up its map making tech that will work in conjunction with the numerous sensors appearing on cars today to enable autonomous driving cars.[9][10]

Other Commitment

He is chair of the Comité Ondernemerschap en Financiering,[11] advising the Minister of Finance.

Personal life

Goddijn, who now lives in Amsterdam, is married to Corinne Vigreux who is Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Consumer Business Unit since 2008 at TomTom. The couple have two children studying at universities.[12]

Sources
  1. Harold Goddijn at bestuurdersnet.nl
  2. "Stocks". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  3. Garside, Juliette (24 November 2011). "Harold Goddijn: TomTom's founder needs his business to turn the corner". Retrieved 31 August 2017 – via The Guardian.
  4. "TomTom, still trailblazing after a decade". Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  5. "TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn over 25 jr ondernemen". jouwTomTom - Forum. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  6. Harold Goddijn: TomTom's founder needs his business to turn the corner; Juliette Garside; The Guardian; November 24, 2011
  7. "TomTom - Management Board". corporate.tomtom.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  8. "Google couldn't kill TomTom, now it is poised for a driver-free future". 26 January 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  9. "Digital map-maker TomTom looking to secure its future in the world of autonomous vehicles". 5 May 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. "TomTom CEO says its maps destined for use in self-driving cars". 4 May 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2017 – via Reuters.
  11. "wetten.nl - Regeling - Instellingsbesluit Nederlands Comité voor Ondernemerschap en Financiering - BWBR0035598". wetten.overheid.nl. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  12. "La nana du Tomtom". Retrieved 31 August 2017.
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