Experience
Top Fine’s founder, Toon Sanders is an highly experienced independent consultant. He originally studied economics at the Tilburg University where he graduated cum laude. His professional career developed as follows:
Since 2010: CEO at Friends First Finance in Dublin
2009-2010: Risk Manager at Friends First Finance in Dublin
The Irish Financial Institution Friends First Finance in Dublin is a daughter of insurance company Eureko (holding Achmea).
1989-2008: De Lage Landen Int. BV: various senior management positions
De Lage Landen is an international financial services provider operating in more than 30 countries and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dutch Rabobank. Total balance sheet is EUR 28 billion with more than 5000 staff members worldwide.
Toon Sanders held various senior management positions, both internationally as well as within the Netherlands. Most recently he was President of the Business Unit Consumer Finance.
1981-1989: Managing Director NV REDE
Founder and first Managing Director of NV REDE, the Economic Development Agency of the Eindhoven Region. During that period responsible for the development and launch of the first Business Centers for innovative start-ups in the Eindhoven region: Business Center REDE in Valkenswaard and Business Center De Pinckart in Nuenen. In addition responsible for the development of Industrial Park Eindhoven Airport and Science Park Eindhoven.
1980-1981: Consultant at City of Eindhoven
Advising regarding Economic Development Plans for the City of Eindhoven. This resulted in the development and start-up of the Economic Development Agency NV REDE.
1972-1980: Tilburg University
Assistant professor for Business Economics.
1971-1972: University of Technology Eindhoven
Assistant professor for Economics of Developing Countries
Additional functions during his career:
- Advisory member of the Economic Council of the Dutch Association of Municipalities (VNG)
- Chairman of the Eindhoven-China Business Platform
- Member Supervisory Board Housing Corporation St-Joseph in Oisterwijk
- Member Supervisory Board Sanders Supermarket BV in Enschede
- Chairman Supervisory Board Ford Eindhoven BV
- Member Advisory Board AISEC University of Tilburg and Eindhoven
- Member Central and Eastern Europe Committee of Leaseurope in Brussels
- Member Advisory Board of Leasing Life in London
- President Unico Banking Leasing Group (Association of Co-operative Banks in Europe)
- Chairman Twice Eindhoven Foundation, which supports the development of high tech Business Centers in the Eindhoven Region
- Board member of VFN (the Dutch Association of Consumer Finance companies).
Toon Sanders’ experience with regard to strategy and business development is shown in the following list of initiatives and positions:
- Founder and first Managing Director of NV REDE (1981-1989).
- Founder of Business Center REDE in Valkenswaard (1983)
- Founder Science Park Eindhoven (1984)
- Founderand Board Member of Innovation Center REDE/IHBO (1985)
- Development Industrial Park Eindhoven Airport (1984-1989)
- Founder Business Center De Pinckart te Nuenen (1989)
- Managing Director of De Lage Landen Leasing (1989-1995)
- Managing Director of De Lage Landen Real Estate Leasing (1989-1995)
- Development and start-up De Lage Landen Truckleasing (1995)
- Start-up De Lage Landen subsidiary in Poland (1996)
- Managing Director De Landen Vendorlease (1996-1999)
- Marketing Director Europe Division De Lage Landen International (1999-2004)
- Preparing start-up De Lage Landen branch in China (2003)
- Strategy Director De Lage Landen International (2004-2006)
- President Business Unit Consumer Finance, responsible for Consumer Finance of the Rabobank Group (2004-2008)
- Development and launch of Freo, a new online-consumer finance brand of De Lage Landen (2007). In 2009 and 2010 Freo is chosen by Independer as the best Consumer Credit Company of The Netherlands.