Aproveita Company
Robert J.C. Brouwer
Board chair and board advisor to PE-backed and founder-led scale-ups
At scale, inflection and exit moments
Confidential 45-minute strategic discussion
Focused on governance alignment, monetisation architecture and strategic outcomes.
I have worked closely with Rob for many years. He has been my trusted advisor on some of the most important strategic decisions in my professional life. Rob is consistently well prepared, thoughtful, and challenges me to look at issues from new perspectives, even beyond his immediate domain. He combines sharp strategic thinking with clear and convincing communication. His board-level perspective, shaped by years of P&L responsibility, makes him particularly valuable as a non-executive and advisor.
Roeland Krom
Founder & CEO, Cohelion
Experience
I work with founders, boards, and investors of digital marketplaces, SaaS platforms, and data-driven businesses at scale-up and transition points.
Most of my work has been in HR and Talent Tech, spanning recruitment advertising agencies, AI-led platforms such as VONQ, global marketplaces including Jobrapido, and earlier executive leadership roles at Monster.com across international markets.
I also work with data and SaaS companies such as Cohelion, delivering applied AI solutions in regulated environments.
My experience with applied AI spans commercial platforms, marketplaces, and data products. The focus is practical. Using data and AI to improve monetisation, go to market effectiveness, decision quality, and operational leverage.
I have worked extensively with private equity-backed companies, including large global funds such as STG and mid-market investors such as Capital D. This includes working with different ownership models, governance styles, and expectations across both the US and Europe.
Through Aproveita Company, I support companies as they scale, reposition, strengthen go to market execution, assess and build leadership teams, and prepare for institutional ownership or exit.
This is not consulting.
It is senior board support grounded in operating experience.
When I Am Most Relevant
I typically get involved at inflection points in the life of a company, including:
- Scaling from early traction to a repeatable, monetisable growth engine, including reassessment of product-market fit
- Repositioning the value proposition to support the next phase of growth
- Rethinking go to market strategy across channels, markets, or customer segments
- Aligning investment strategy to gated go to market plans and execution milestones
- Assessing leadership, commercial, and product teams for the current and next phase
- Supporting scale-ups as governance, complexity, and expectations increase
- Preparing the business for private equity involvement or exit
Sometimes this follows a setback.
Often it starts while the business is performing well but entering a new phase.
What Changes When I Am Involved
The work is pragmatic, data-informed, and focused on decision quality. Typical shifts include:
The objective is not to add process, but to improve decisions at the right altitude.
How I Work
I work as chair and board advisor to founder-led and private equity-backed companies, primarily in HR and Talent Tech, digital marketplaces, SaaS, and data platforms.
Engagements are selective and typically include:
- Chair or board advisory roles
- Strategic sparring with founders and CEOs
- Product market fit, positioning, and go to market reassessment at phase transitions
- Leadership and team assessment, including senior hiring decisions
- Support through scale-up, repositioning, and pre-exit phases
I work alongside management and the board.
Why This Background Matters
I combine three perspectives that are rarely present in one role:
- Operator experience scaling digital platforms, SaaS, and data businesses
- CEO and chair experience in private equity-backed environments
- Deep expertise in HR and Talent Tech, monetisation mechanics, go-to-market models, and applied AI
Over the past twenty years, I have operated at board and CEO level across international digital platforms, including more than a decade within private equity portfolio environments. I have supported multiple companies through scaling, repositioning, and successful exits, working closely with founders, boards, and institutional investors across the US and Europe.
This combination enables faster diagnosis, clearer prioritisation, and more robust decisions as complexity increases.
Board & Advisory Roles
Strategic leadership positions across recruitment technology, data management, and talent acquisition industries.
20+ years operating at board and executive level across digital marketplaces and SaaS platforms.
Current Board Roles
Selected Past Board Roles
Chief Executive Officer
Global job search engine aggregating opportunities across 58+ countries. Part of Symphony Technology Group portfolio.
Executing global marketplace transformation across 50+ markets to restore monetisation architecture and structural EBITDA resilience.
Non-Executive Chairman
Recruitment technology company empowering recruiters with efficient job and recruitment marketing technologies.
Guiding leadership through strategic repositioning and performance optimisation in preparation for exit process.
Board of Advisors
Global trade association for talent acquisition solutions, driving innovation in HR technology.
Shaping strategic dialogue across leading global talent technology platforms and investors.
Board Advisor & Investor
Data management company enabling organizations to harness the power of their data assets.
Advising on product–market optimisation and enterprise commercial scaling ahead of future strategic optionality.
Past Investments & Advisory Roles
Successfully exited board and investment positions
Board of Directors & Investor
Award-winning creative agency for employers. Repositioned for growth and acquired by Symphony Talent.
Led strategic repositioning resulting in acquisition by Symphony Talent.
Board Advisor & Investor
UK-based recruitment analytics and job market intelligence platform. Scaled and prepared for acquisition by eRecruit/Bullhorn.
Scaled analytics platform to strategic exit via eRecruit and Bullhorn.
Board Advisor & Investor
Brazilian employer review and salary comparison platform. Supported expansion and readiness for acquisition by Glassdoor (an Indeed company).
Supported pre-exit market expansion leading to acquisition by Glassdoor.
About Aproveita Company
Aproveita Company is my advisory platform for board and chair work.
The name Aproveita is Portuguese for seizing opportunity. It reflects a mindset shaped by experience across markets and cultures: recognising inflection points early, understanding what is changing around the business, and acting decisively to turn those moments into durable outcomes.
It reflects how I operate professionally: focused, senior, and outcome-driven. The platform allows flexibility today while leaving room to expand in the future if and when that makes sense.
Introductory Conversation
If you are considering board-level support, want to stress-test product market fit, positioning, or go to market strategy, or need an external view on leadership readiness, investment pacing, or the use of data and AI in your business, you can book an introductory conversation.
Confidential. No obligation. Senior, independent perspective.