Next step in growth ambitions: Valori appoints Jaap Merkus as CEO

Next step in growth ambitions: Valori appoints Jaap Merkus as CEO

Utrecht, 11th of November 2019 – Software Testing and Quality Assurance Specialist Valori announces that Jaap Merkus will be appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective December 1, 2019. With the arrival of Merkus, the management team strengthens itself with a very experienced general manager. The appointment of Merkus perfectly fits the ambitious growth strategy of Valori.

Jaap Merkus (50) has a technical and business administration background. He has held various general management positions at Philips in recent years and was CEO at Royal Gazelle. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Valori, as an Associate Partner at EY, he was responsible for, among other things, the IT portfolio at the tax authorities.

“We are very enthusiastic about the appointment of Jaap Merkus,” say Jelle Schutte (CTO) and Jordi Hompes (CCO) from Valori. “His extensive strategic experience is of great value for the development of Valori. We look forward to working with him. He shares our passion to truly act as a partner to our customers in meeting their needs. In addition, he prioritizes the continuous development of the Valori employees, just like us.”

Growth ambitions
The appointment of Merkus is a next step in the realization of the ambition to grow both organically and through an active buy-and-build strategy. Merkus’ international experience as a director will intensify C-level customer relationships with the aim of becoming a strategic partner on the subject of quality.

Jaap Markus states: “Being part of Valori, in the current growth phase, I find enormously inspiring. It is an honor to be a Valoriaan from now on. I look forward contributing to the growth and further professionalization of Valori from my own knowledge and experience.”

Valori is the biggest independent Software Testing and Quality Assurance player in the Netherlands
Valori, founded in 1989 and located in Utrecht, is the biggest independent Software Testing and Quality Assurance player in the Netherlands. Valori supports its customers in the field of architecture, management and automated testing and monitoring of software applications. Valori currently works together with dozens of companies active in wide-ranging industries including financial services, government, telecom, insurance, utilities and other large corporations. Some of Valori’s biggest customers include: the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Justice & Security, ING Bank, Rabobank, Philips, Engie, and GreenChoice.

With over 200 specialized professionals and high-quality solutions, Valori supports clients active in wide-ranging industries. Valori is also known as the Quality Assurance specialist on low-code platforms such as Pega, Outsystems or Salesforce.