"Entrepreneurship is a key part of my life. As far back as I can remember, from my early schooldays, I was wheeling and dealing, trying to trade and 'do business".
Ben Kolff, Group Managing Director
I've been working in fashion since 1982. That was the year that my business partner Jeroen Schothorst (whom I've known since school) and I set up a company called Cofex BV and built up the brand Bad Boys into a leading fashion brand with big success in Western Europe.
After the sale of Cofex to an English listed company, in 1993 we set up the Emergo Fashion Group BV and acquired the distribution rights to the McGregor brand in Europe. This was how the foundations of our present day company were laid.
I'm the group's Managing Director, and I lead the managers of the various divisions, with special emphasis on commercial affairs and marketing. Our company is in a constant state of flux. It's incredibly energizing, which is a good feeling. I find working with people and coming up with concepts particularly inspiring. That's how we build on the growth of our company – a company built up from the wholesale side, but with our own retail division, which runs the entire production and marketing chain. Our company value "Willing to confront" for me means facing challenges head-on. This inevitably leads to clarity and progress.
During my holidays you will find me somewhere in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This is why I am closely involved in all Gaastra’s sponsor activities which included several regattas in Italy, France and Spain.
