As of January 1, 2025, the Stichting Digitale Samenwerking Tweewielerbranche (DST) has appointed Harmen van Es as interim DST platform manager. He succeeds Gijs Hoff, who has stepped down from his position to focus entirely on other activities within his company.
Harmen van Es looks forward to his new role with enthusiasm: “With the introduction of DST platform 3.0, a new era has begun in which high-quality product data is available to retailers. I see that more and more parties in the chain realize how important the DST platform is as an indispensable link in digital communication between suppliers and retailers. I look forward to continuing to build on this collaboration together with all those involved and to giving direction to the further international growth of the platform.”
Harmen is a recognized expert in the field of digital collaboration and the integration of data within the sector. In addition to his current position as IT Project Leader at Dynamo Retail Group (DRG), where he will continue to work, he will work part-time as interim platform manager at DST. He brings a wealth of experience to his new role. With his experience as a project leader, he knows the challenges and opportunities of brands, wholesalers, and retailers alike regarding digitalization in the bicycle industry. Furthermore, he has since built up extensive knowledge of the DST platform, which now contains more than two million products and over sixty brands and companies. This product data covers more than 80 percent of the assortment in point-of-sale systems.
Positive feeling
Gijs Hoff looks back on his time at DST with a positive feeling and sees Harmen van Es as an excellent successor: “I am pleased that Harmen was found willing to continue my work. He has the knowledge and experience required to take the DST platform to a higher level. I am convinced that DST is in good hands with Harmen.”
Worthy successor
Remco Tekstra, chairman of the board of DST, also expresses his appreciation: “We are enormously grateful to Gijs Hoff for the extensive work he has performed to bring the DST platform and the DST product standard to where it is today. His contribution has laid an important foundation for the future. At the same time, we are delighted that Harmen van Es, with his knowledge and experience, is now taking over the reins. Harmen is the expert in the field of digital collaboration, and we are convinced that he is a worthy successor to Gijs. With Harmen as interim platform manager, DST has the space to search for a permanent solution in the coming period.”