Annelies Rechsteiner joined as Associate Partner at Boer & Croon

Amsterdam, 23 December 2024 - Annelies Rechsteiner has joined Boer & Croon as an Associate Partner. Annelies is an experienced all-round HR Director of People & Change with proven leadership qualities in large organisations. In her interim assignments, based on her precise analysis, she quickly sees what is needed. She knows how to convert this into concrete, organisation-wide steps that lead to the intended result. With her integral view, Annelies is a strategic sparring partner at the board level. She inspires trust through her connecting leadership style, but also through her clear communication when a less pleasant message needs to be delivered. With her experience and broad HR knowledge, Annelies ensures that the HR organisation provides maximum added value to the business.

Annelies started her professional career at Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). Annelies: ‘This organisation has been an enormous school for me, both in personal development and in my professional field. I was allowed to lead at a very young age. I was also trained in change management and leadership development. I have managed countless reorganisations and transitions. NS has really shaped me as a leader and in my approach to organisational issues.'

After her time at NS, Annelies decided to work as an interim manager. Interim management offers me the opportunity to help organisations in transition. My legal background helps me quickly grasp the essence of a problem and provide structure. At the same time, I find it essential to analyse and realise. Boer & Croon's ´Get it done´ mentality suits me; it is deeply embedded in my work.

As an interim manager, Annelies has worked in sectors as diverse as construction and real estate, healthcare, and the public sector. These are completely different environments with one thing in common: large, dynamic organisations and people who work for their customers and profession out of passion and drive. I enjoy the interplay between innovation and practical implementation, between the various staff departments and operations.

'One of my most meaningful assignments was during the corona crisis at Ziekenhuisgroep Twente. When there was still a shortage of vaccines and decisions had to be made quickly about which healthcare providers would be vaccinated first, my team and I were faced with the task of developing objective, explainable criteria. This required transparent communication, close cooperation with medical specialists and decisive decision-making. The result was a smooth process in which we encountered relatively little resistance.'

Annelies has seen the HR profession change over the years. 'The challenges facing HR have become much bigger and more complex. Think of issues around diversity and inclusion, social safety, the tight labour market, and increased laws and regulations. The hardening of society also affects organisations; just look at the increased aggression against healthcare personnel or civil servants. You have to have an answer to that from HR as well.'

Organisations often get stuck in their ambitions because they treat all the changes as separate projects. An integrated approach is better; it also considers how the organisational structure and processes facilitate change. Invest in managers and their teams and discuss obstructive patterns in culture. Regularly remove the day's issues to reflect on what is needed. By doing so, you increase the organisation's adaptive capacity.

Annelies sees the labour market changing at lightning speed. Due to automation, robotisation, and AI, about 50% of current jobs will disappear or change dramatically in the next few years. This calls for a fundamental review of how we think about work. The labour shortage is coming at us like a tsunami. Organisations must anticipate this by embracing AI and investing in technology. The human aspect, such as customer and patient contact, remains indispensable.

As an interim manager, I can help with transition issues and its integrated approach. Managing the enormous challenges of our time requires leaders with vision and guts.'