Anneke de Rooy: “Gerard and I make a strong team. I’m sure our dad would be proud of us.”
As the daughter of Jan and sister of Gerard, Anneke de Rooy can certainly be called a powerhouse in the male-dominated world she grew up in. For several years now, she’s been leading De Rooy alongside Gerard. Sadly, earlier this year, they had to say goodbye to their father, Jan. This loss not only had a huge impact on their family but also on the family business that Jan built many years ago.
What challenges have Anneke and Gerard faced, and how did they tackle them? What lessons did she learn from her father? And how does she, together with her brother, shape the future of the family business? Anneke shares it all in this interview.
The adventure began early
As the daughter of Jan de Rooy, it was almost inevitable that Anneke would be involved in the family business and the transport industry from an early age. Her father’s work always fascinated her. Anneke says: “As a child, I grew up in and around the company. It was one big adventure. Gerard and I played on the premises with our friends and we had all the freedom to entertain ourselves. Looking back, it was truly special.”
Jan de Rooy: more than a businessman
Her father’s influence has always been significant—not just as the entrepreneur he was, but also as a father. “My dad lived for the company, but family always came first. When he was at home, he was really present. Even though he was always busy, almost every Sunday was like a ‘dad day’. We’d go to Safaripark Beekse Bergen, take a trailer full of dirtbikes and quads to the heathlands in Oirschot, or put our Shetland pony in the back of the car to take it to the forest in Son for a walk. We had the best time together—these were special moments. At home, he was just our dad, and at the office, he was the businessman.”
Important lessons
And that was Jan: a tough, but fair businessman who left nothing to chance. “He was straightforward and always told me not to trust everyone so easily. He was always open to my opinion and sometimes even acted on them. He was very determined but also reasonably good at changing his stance when he dug deeper into a subject. That balance between his determination and openness was remarkable—it got him far. I’ve learned so much from him.”
Facing challenges
Anneke still applies those lessons in her work on a daily basis. When she and Gerard took over the reins, the company quickly faced major challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the global chip shortages, to name a few. “We always kept looking for solutions instead of dwelling on problems. That’s something I learned at home: keep going and don’t sit back.
For instance, we started storing trucks for one of our long-term clients who lacked storage space. It was a great solution for them and an extra source of income for us during tough times. This way, we helped each other, and it showed how much our clients and partners are true collaborators. In the end, De Rooy came out stronger and we learned a lot.”
A strong team
But alongside some setbacks, there have also been plenty of positive moments. “Gerard and I make a strong team and complement each other well. Gerard is more visible in the company and works in the workshop, while I focus on management behind the scenes. This division happened naturally, and it’s great that we have this collaboration.”
Of course, their father Jan is greatly missed, especially during special moments. “Recently, we signed a new multi-year contract with one of our long-term clients. It was quite a milestone. Those moments feel bittersweet because it was the first time our dad wasn’t there. But at the same time, I thought: we did this together—he would be proud of us.”
Innovating for the future
With that thought in mind, Anneke looks forward to the future, as she has clear goals for the coming years. The focus is on improvement, not growth, which, according to her, makes De Rooy stronger than ever. “You have to keep doing what you’re good at: stick to your knitting! For us, it’s important to continue providing the best service and listening to our customers. Sustainability, for example, is becoming increasingly important, and we are fully committed to it.
We’ve recently tested electric trucks because that’s where the future lies. A significant portion of our fleet has also been renewed, and our office has had a major makeover. We aim to create a warm, homey atmosphere for all our employees. That strong family feeling and authentic service are our strengths. That’s far more important to us than growth.”
Join our team!
Even though De Rooy may not expand much further, we’re always on the lookout for great colleagues to strengthen our team. Interested in working with us? Check out our job openings, and who knows—you might soon be part of our family!
