Richard Vincent

Richard is a seasoned board and leadership advisor with three decades of expertise in leadership, strategy, and management. Operating from the Benelux region, he collaborates with investors, boards, and CEOs to elevate organisations through executive and board searches, leadership team effectiveness, organisational design, M&A integration, and culture transformation.

For Richard, business success revolves around Leadership, Finance, and People. Leaders set purpose and strategy; financial metrics provide a foundation; and the right people capabilities ensure objectives are achieved. As Partner & Head of Global Expansion, he guides organisations in navigating complex challenges and seizing global growth opportunities.

Most of Richard’s clients at VALPEO are private equity-driven, with initial client engagements often focused on upgrading C-level capabilities (CEO, CFO, COO, CCO, CHRO). Examples include:

• A Dutch food manufacturer pursuing an ambitious buy-and-build strategy across Europe.
• A European market-leading consumer company with international growth objectives.
• A Benelux-based investor launching a second fund, a software & AI fund targeting healthcare, Industry 5.0, and financial services.

Prior to VALPEO, Richard held senior management roles across 27 countries in the EMEA and APAC regions with privately held, NYSE, S&P 500, and LSE-listed companies such as Korn Ferry and Robert Half. His strategic and operational leadership experience includes P&L responsibility, business turnarounds, M&A integration, and market expansions in emerging economies.

Richard has advised boards of Fortune 500 companies, mid-market investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, leading over 500 projects in executive search, leadership assessment, and culture transformation. His work aligns boards and leadership teams, fostering collaboration across geographies and driving growth through strategic empowerment and execution.

A Dutch national with Eurasian roots, Richard has lived in Singapore, Germany, and Switzerland, and since 2023, has been based in Belgium and the Netherlands. He holds an MSc in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of Amsterdam and enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.