Jean-Paul Savelkoul always wanted to do something practical that would have a tangible impact. It’s an interest that took him through his studies to a post-master’s internship at Procter & Gamble, followed by his first substantial consumer goods and retail role with the company. He’s been an advocate for the fast-moving consumer goods sector ever since.

“I like the fact that it’s all about products that are used on an everyday basis,” he says. “There’s such a wide variety of products and clients to work with, from producers to the retailers they’re selling to, to all the ingredients companies that supply them. There are a lot of moving parts, and there’s a lot of competition and investment in performance and innovation because few categories are truly unique. So it’s fast-paced and a good place to learn and share best practices and ways of doing things.”

After seven years at P&G, including two roles at brand director level, Jean-Paul joined Kearney in 2019. Based in Amsterdam and Brussels as a partner in the firm’s Consumer and Retail practice, his work today is primarily about helping clients transform their top line through growth strategies, commercial performance, and marketing and media. “I like to leverage everything I learned from my corporate career, along with my consulting experience of working with different CPGs and retailers, to give clients realistic advice and solutions that will create real value,” he explains.

Building trust and fostering long-term relationships with clients is also extremely important to Jean-Paul. “I won’t just go for what is easy or a quick fix or the recommendation that clients necessarily want to hear,” he points out. “My ambition is to provide guidance that prioritizes lasting impact over temporary convenience.”

Along with his client-facing work, Jean-Paul has another role at Kearney as the Brussels office lead. “I really like this because it’s about helping my colleagues to grow and find their platforms and getting the right support to them to do that,” he continues. “That combination of working on both sides is something I find extremely fulfilling.” In this and in his position as a partner, Jean-Paul has found other aspects of his industry experience working to his advantage. “Coaching a team over a longer duration of time, how to keep many balls in the air at the same time, how to delegate, how to communicate effectively at all levels, and playing a leading role in managing a business—these have all benefited from my pre-consulting career,” he adds.

Community is an important theme for Jean-Paul, both inside and outside of work. Along with working to build an environment of trust and collaboration in the office, he feels a strong connection to the local traditions in the village near Maastricht, where he lives with his girlfriend, and to the orchestra he plays saxophone in and is on the board of.

“It’s actually a family tradition,” he goes on. “My father, grandmother, and grandfather were also members of the orchestra, and my brothers and sisters and I followed in their footsteps. It’s something that has been with me my entire life.” One memorable experience was getting the opportunity to play for his colleagues, family, neighbors, and friends at Amsterdam’s famous Concertgebouw as part of a concert organized with Kearney. “I’m very grateful for getting the chance to bring both these worlds together,” he reflects.

Education

Master’s degree, international business (marketing and finance), Maastricht University Bachelor’s degree, international business (supply chain management and finance), Maastricht University