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This year, ARV Group celebrates its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a conversation with two colleagues: Ted Abrahamsen, senior consultant at ARV Consulting, who has been with the company since its inception, and Matthias Petri, who has been working as a consultant at XTR Operations for over two years.
1. What’s your first memory of starting at ARV Group?
Ted: “Until 2000, we worked in a department of Akzo Nobel with a team of six process technologists. Our work—mainly analyzing international companies—no longer aligned with their core activities. That’s when we were given the opportunity to continue as an independent company. We chose the name ARV Group, based on the initials of the three people who decided to take the entrepreneurial step: Abrahamsen, Rutten, and Verheijen. In the first year, the work simply continued, but we also had to set up ARV Group from scratch. Think of very practical matters like dividing roles and responsibilities, creating a website, arranging a pension plan, and finding office space. The market was difficult at first. Later, we landed our first major contracts from companies in the process industry. From that point on, we steadily grew over the years. Initially, we focused on operations & supply chain and continuous improvement. Today, we have a much larger team with broad expertise, which we’ve structured under the labels ARV Consulting, XTR Operations, i4o Interim for Operations, and Ontwikkelingspartners.”
Matthias: “I was doing my Master’s in Management at Nyenrode when I got in touch with Bartelt Blankenberg, managing partner at ARV Group. We talked about my interests and where I saw my future. Gradually, I saw exciting opportunities at ARV Group. So I started working three days a week at XTR Operations while writing my thesis. What I appreciated right away was that you're not just placed behind a desk at the office to work remotely. You go straight to the client. That’s energizing. You get to know the client’s company quickly and from the inside out. Plus, you immediately see and feel the impact you’re making. I do this as a consultant at XTR Operations, where we provide temporary operational support to companies in the process industry.”
2. Why did you decide to commit yourself specifically to ARV Group?
Ted: “For me, it was a chance to combine my passion—strategic thinking at the management level about production, technology, and maintenance—with entrepreneurship. We were driven and truly wanted to make improvements together with our clients. Over time, I developed in all kinds of business environments and challenges. Nowadays, I focus on complex management issues at the site or plant level, such as improving OEE, reducing material losses, or managing reorganizations. I always pay attention to the people involved—coaching, motivating, and inspiring management teams. Getting better together was, and still is, the best part of our work.”
Matthias: “I had already done some projects in the food processing industry. Here, I got the chance to apply my knowledge more broadly and engage in dialogue with clients and colleagues. I’m now working with my second client, in a project where I’m collaborating with an interim manager serving as interim operations manager. We move from one challenge to the next—implementing 5S in operations, organizational change, software implementation—you name it.”
3. How do you experience the age difference between you?
Matthias:“Of course, people sometimes ask about it. But as soon as I demonstrate my added value and people experience the results, that perception changes quickly. And that’s great to see. I don’t really feel the age difference otherwise, not even in interactions with colleagues. With all the experience of those around me, I can continue to grow. There’s a lot of room for that.”
Ted: “I recognize that. I know I’m considered one of the ‘seniors’ in the company, but I don’t feel that way. I find the new generation at ARV Group—and at our clients—very inspiring. They bring fresh energy and are incredibly curious. They need to have knowledge across many disciplines, as clients increasingly demand that. They’re capable of learning something new quickly and immediately applying it in practice. They do this at a high pace and keep up with new technologies and trends closely. You can bet that keeps me sharp, too.”
4. What do you think the future of ARV Group looks like?
Matthias: “I think we’ll continue on the path Ted just described. With that, we truly make a difference for our clients time and again. Personally, I hope to contribute to greater visibility and recognition for XTR Operations. I feel right at home here. I see new opportunities and challenges for my own growth, which makes me part of the future of ARV Group. Our field will continue to evolve over the years. I’m particularly curious about what increasing automation in the process industry and the role of AI will mean.”
Ted: “ARV Group will adapt flexibly in this new digital world. We’re going to have access to more and more data from processes and systems. That enriches our work, giving rise to deeper, more detailed insights. Based on that, we’re uniquely positioned to develop strategic change and improvement plans—and support their execution. The role of people within organizations will change, but remain essential. I also trust that we at ARV Group will keep passing the baton to a new generation. As for me, I’m not stopping anytime soon. I still enjoy our work far too much!”