Who will benefit?
Businesses with robust products/services and with aspiration to enter the EU market or expand their existing business within the EU market
Businesses that recognize they need not do this alone and can use the help of a capable, committed and trustworthy local EU partner.
Mission
There are numerous companies from outside the European Union that would like to grow their business in the EU. Many of these companies offer outstanding products or services that would do extremely well in Europe.
However, they are not in Europe today, or their presence is still limited - often because they lack the right local skills and contacts to plan and execute their go-to-market strategy for Europe.
To overcome these hurdles they need a competent partner from inside the EU to complement and reinforce their internal insights, skills and execution capabilities.
Leap2market offers a broad range of business development services, tailored to the specific needs and priorities of our client companies, with the aim to speed up their expansion of business in the EU and lower the level of risk involved.
Company
Founded in January 2004 and headquartered in London, leap2market is an international management consulting and professional services firm that specializes in business development, strategic sales and marketing for the European market. Every member of leap2market's European team has accumulated rich professional experiences in specific industries in different European countries. All of us have worked for prestigious global companies in senior executive positions.
We are business-oriented professionals. We know how to succeed in a specific industry in European countries. That's why we can work closely with our clients both on the strategic and practical implementation levels. We not only advise companies on their Europe expansion but we are also ready to work as their long-term partner and as part of their execution team for Europe.
Execution Networks
leap2market has over 50 partners and associate partners covering all the major markets in Europe, with over 1000 years of experience of international sales & marketing, business development, training and executive level business management.
We are familiar with the national markets, we speak the local languages, and we have a very extensive network with the major actors in our target industry segments. This gives us a unique capability for informed and effective execution of go-to-market projects for our overseas clients in Europe.
Management Team
Norman Terret
Norman is a founding partner of leap2market. He is also the non-Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board of a European Investment Bank, Chairman of Telecom Associates Executive Search and is a Business Advisor to a number of major international companies.
He has many years of top-level line management experience and was previously President and Chief Executive of the ITS/Scitor/Equant group of companies; the former subsidiaries of SITA, which is the world's largest telecommunications network provider. Before joining SITA, he held senior appointments with ITT and STC. His leadership within the SITA subsidiaries contributed to Equant (listed on the NYSE) enjoying a major IPO success in 1998, where it was capitalized at several billions of dollars.
He is recognized as a specialist not only in helping companies develop their business profitably, but also as a mentor to Management and Board Level individuals. By nature Norman is a Businessman who delivers results quickly and efficiently and who clearly understands the business issues within the sectors he operates. Furthermore, he is regularly approached to undertake specific assignments where organisations are facing difficulties and need a swift "turnaround".
Norman is a graduate and postgraduate from Strathclyde University where he studied Business Management, Finance and Law. He has been a Magistrate in London, England, and is a member of the Athenaeum Club which reflects his interests in the arts, sciences and travel. Although his home is in the UK, he is very much an international professional. He was the first UK citizen to be awarded the Compagnon de l'Europe.
Magnus Lund
Magnus is a founding partner of leap2market. He is a sales-oriented business professional with over 20 years executive management experience from the instrumentation, IT and telecommunications industries.
Between 1998 and 2002 Magnus was Managing Director of Global One in the UK and Ireland, a telecommunications company providing services to multinational corporate clients. In the UK and Ireland Global One employed 500 people with a turnover of circa $300 million. Between 1994 and 1998 he started up France Telecom Network services in Finland and was later Managing Director for Global One in the Nordic countries.
Between 1987 and 1994 Magnus started up and managed the Telecoms business unit of Cap Gemini in Finland. Before this he was Technical Director at Kone Corporation, where he also managed key sales and delivery projects in the US.
Magnus holds an MsC degree in Technical Physics.
Emile Weekers
Emile is a founding partner of leap2market. He is a seasoned executive in both the manufacturing and the professional services industries. He is an entrepreneur with a very extensive network in many EU countries.
Until 2002 Emile was President with Celerant Consulting in London, a global management consulting firm with more than 500 consultants active on 5 continents. He was the driving force behind the global growth of Celerant from a small UK-based business in 1996 to a truly global company by 2001.
From 1987 to 1994, Emile was General Manager of Sonoco Europe, at the time the world's largest industrial packaging company, where he managed several acquisitions and their integration.
From 1980 to 1987, Emile worked for Royal Dutch/Shell in research, and managed operations in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He is also author of the book "Fundamentals at Work".
Mr. Weekers holds a degree in economics and mechanical engineering.
David Chang
David is Partner of leap2market, managing the growing Asia activities of the company. He is a customer-centric sales professional with solid experiences in IT industry. With his keen perception in qualifying highly competitive Asian companies, leap2market is now advising some promising Asian clients.
Until 2004 David was the Vice President of a hi-tech start-up, Q6 Networks, in charge of its global expansion. Prior to this, he was Channel Sales Manager of Cabletron Systems, at the time the world's third largest network solution provider. During that period, two of its six channel partners went public because of their outstanding performance on selling the brand.
Until 1998 David was Sales Manager of Oracle, the world's largest application software company. At the time, he was managing large accounts in the tough government and military territories.
David holds an MBA degree from the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University (RSM Erasmus University) in the Netherlands, and a BBA in Information Management from National Taiwan University.
Earl Shik Yong
Mr. Yong is a Senior Advisor of leap2market Korea. He is also a founder and Chief Executive Officer of KDI and its subsidiary, Namduck Moolsan.
He has been in the business of import and distribution of chemical products since he founded KDI in 1964. He also founded Namduck in 1975 in order to expand distribution business. He began logistics business by founding Youngjin Tank Terminal Co. in 1979 and subsequently built 27 tank terminals near Gunsan port.
He serves as Vice Chairman of Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Prior to KITA, he served as Chairman of Association of Foreign Trading Agents of Korea (AFTAK). He also served as National President of Korea Junior Chamber (JC) and World Vice President of Junior Chamber International (JCI).He received Presidential Award in recognition for promotion of international trade.
