Interview with Peter Korver

Peter Korver, Managing Partner
, +31 613 907 223

We are thrilled to welcome our Partner from The Netherlands, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to our ever-growing team.

Peter Korver is a highly accomplished professional with a stellar background in business administration. With extensive experience as a managing director and sales director at renowned companies like Nike and Puma, Peter has consistently excelled in diverse environments. His expertise spans the dynamic industries of sports, fashion, outdoor, and lifestyle, covering sales, marketing, finance, operations, and HR.

How did you join ISG?

I have been looking for the next step in joy career. Executive Search and HR services have always been part of my job as MD and for this I have used several different HR companies.  Based on my own experience I have seen a lot of things that can be done better to attract the best talent and to better the clients. A good friend worked with ISG in Austria and Germany and this triggered me to find out more about ISG.  After some good conversations I have decided to join as managing partner for The Netherlands.

In which sectors have you worked before?

I have worked in sports, outdoor fashion and lifestyle. In wholesale and in retail. The specific needs for talent in  a branded environment I know very well.  People have to somehow fall in love with a brand to perform at their best.

What do you like the most about working in the HR sector?

Business is still about people. Great companies have great employees and a culture that allows employees to make the difference.  I have always been fortunate to work with the best people in the business, most of developed into leading roles. Helping my clients to find the right talent for their business is what really drives me.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I like to spend time with our modern family with 5 kids. I am also a fanatic sports enthusiast; cycling, sailing, playing golf and most recently I started playing Padel. A few years ago I picked up playing Alto Saxophone again, learning to play better each day teaches me a lot about discipline and perseverance.

How would your colleagues describe you with three adjectives?

I think that my colleagues really describe me as a people manager, always honest and dedicated to success.

Name one thing that no one teaches you but you should definitely learn in school.

Kids should really be reached to be an entrepreneur and start a company.  All competences needed for this will help them to be successful in their own way in the future.  Teamwork, open mind, creativity, finding solutions, falling and standing up again, sharing failures and successes.

Which language would you like to be able to speak fluently?

I still would like to speak Spanish. Because of my work for international companies I am fluent in Dutch, English and German, but Spanish being one of the big languages in the world would really be an addition.

How do you visualize overcoming challenges ahead?

There will always be challenges ahead, that’s what makes life so interesting and beautiful. Challenges not just in our daily (professional) life but also on a larger scale in the world. I always try to focus on the things that I can personally influence by e.g. ask the right questions to people that know better, or work together with other people. I always compare this with racing my sailboat. On a race course there are few things that you cannot influence yourself:, the weather, the wind and the start line and the finish line or destination are out of my control. You can however do a lot to win: find the right people to sail with, prepare the boat and the team, train, communicate, change course when the wind changes, take down sail when the wind increased , try to avoid to make mistakes twice and evaluate when you finish to do better next time. This is how I also approach life and the business.