The Path to Brutal Honesty Starts with Us
Brutal honesty is at our core because people only succeed when the context is right. Getting there means clients and candidates must be brutally honest about who they really are.
Beyond (interim) placements, we provide support and coaching at every step of the selection and onboarding process, ensuring seamless integration and long-term success.
Our Mission
&TBF helps organizations make the right leadership choices
Our Vision
&TBF helps organizations make the right leadership choices
Our Team
At & The Big Fish, our team is committed to driving exceptional results.
We work as a respectful, honest, and inclusive partner, always putting your goals at the forefront.
With deep industry knowledge, proven expertise, and years of experience, we're here to help you achieve your objectives.
Ben, former owner of Newpeople, has built his career by defying convention and embracing brutal honesty to deliver real results—driven by a relentless commitment to building impactful, future-proof leadership teams that go beyond the superficial.
Ben Holewijn
Founding Partner
+31 (0) 6 54 23 32 12
Jurriaan leverages his extensive HR experience to ensure leaders align with a company’s true culture and DNA. Having witnessed the ripple effects of leadership changes, he’s committed to preventing mismatches that derail success by fostering open, realistic expectations for both candidates and companies.
Jurriaan Graaff
Founding Partner
+31 (0) 6 10 27 25 99
Celeste embodies openness, directness, and a touch of brutally honest charm. "Interim is her middle name”, drawing on 17+ years of interim management experience in coaching large commercial teams through transformation and change. A natural connector, she thrives on bringing people together.
Celeste Duyts
Founding Partner
+31 (0) 6 20 58 25 09
Annelie brings 20+ years in executive search and relationship-driven work, combined with a sharp instinct for true fit. Delivering a human, context-driven and brutally honest approach that creates matches that last.
Annelie van Loon
Partner
+31 (0) 6 22 40 98 44
Floris brings over 20 years of experience as a tech entrepreneur and C-level executive to the Technology, AI & Media ecosystem. Having successfully built and scaled digital platforms himself, he knows exactly what kind of leadership is needed to drive real transformation. A natural connector, Floris applies a brutally honest, entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur approach to match visionary leaders with innovative organizations.
Floris van Altena
Partner
+31 (0) 6 34 42 99 60
As a Research Consultant at &The Big Fish, Floor is involved in research and a broad range of operational activities, contributing to market research, ongoing projects, and administrative processes.
Dries Steinmeijer specializes in executive search and leadership development, connecting leaders with organizations where they can thrive. With a focus on aligning leadership with culture, he ensures authentic matches and fosters collaboration through transparent, realistic expectations.
Dries Steinmeijer
Partner
+31 (0) 55 88 30 00
Godelieve combines a sharp eye for talent with a genuine interest in people. She connects talent and opportunity, builds strong teams and believes sustainable growth happens when people, culture and ambition truly align.
Godelieve Barkmeijer
Senior client & search consultant
+31 (0) 6 48 17 57 37
Carla keeps The Big Fish running smoothly. As Office Manager, she looks after our marketing, from the website and LinkedIn content to presentations, our house style, and relationship gifts.
She's also our go-to person for events, taking care of the planning, invitations, and everything else needed before, during and after. On top of that, she keeps our database accurate and up to date, and makes sure the office runs smoothly day to day.
Carla Olminkhof
Office Manager
+31 (0) 6 15 90 81 64
Eva Meijer drives Community & Tech at &The Big Fish. Her focus is on building a strong community where C-level executives can connect, exchange ideas and create meaningful opportunities together.
Eva Meijer
Community & tech
+31 (0) 6 46 73 48 89
As a Research Consultant, Floor focuses on market research, project support, and a variety of operational and administrative tasks. She supports the team across different projects and helps ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly.
Floor Maathuis
Research Consultant
+31 (0) 6 21 47 23 20
We’re expanding our team of partners in The Netherlands,
and eventually across Europe.
Experienced leaders who share our vision of brutal honesty, are welcome to join us!
Our Beliefs
Be Real
Authenticity is key: Embrace your true self, present your unpolished image, and create space for vulnerability and growth.
Integrity First
Honesty above all: Speak the truth with courage and take responsibility for the impact of your words, fostering trust, inclusion and respect.
Grow Together
Growth occurs when leaders and teams face their realities. We empower clients and candidates to show their true selves, fostering lasting connections.
Our Posts
