Véronique Schyns

Investor Relations and Communications strategist with more than 25 years of experience in Global Corporate, Brand, Financial Communications (including Chief Spokesmanship), Media, Investor Relations and Marketing Communications. Highly experienced at M&A communications. Provides strategic counsel at boardroom level help build successful, long-term connections with key stakeholders.

Started her career in-house in Sales and Marketing Communications, later shifting focus to Global Corporate, Brand and Financial Communications. Has held several Chief Communications and Media Relations positions over close to 3 decades, including at ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Robeco, Saxo Bank and The Heineken Company, where she established press offices and devised strategic communication programs. Former Head of Investor Relations & Communications at ASA International Group plc, a listed international microfinance organization. Volunteers as Marketing & Sales counsel South America for a Dutch NGO that globally advises small business entrepreneurs. Her professional sports background (Tennis) has served as a focal point throughout her career, enabling her to deliver results under pressure, and safeguarding resilience and the discipline to always keep aiming for improvement.

Were you troublesome or sweet as a child?

I was ambitious as a child and kept a very busy schedule. Already at a very young age, if I was not at school, I was either in the ballet studio, preparing for carnival performances or on the tennis court. From adolescence, my professional youth tennis career had my entire focus.

What drives you?

I always keep aiming for personal improvement. I also apply this approach professionally to help successfully position corporate C-suite, so they can reach their goals.

Is this an ideal profession?

It’s a profession that I happen to be good at and love. At the start of my career, I shifted from marketing communications to corporate communications because I am fascinated by corporate strategy and I still am today. An ideal domain to me, because I get to advise on the appropriate communications strategy for clients to be successful.

Are you an idealist or an optimist?

I am more an optimist in the sense that I am goal oriented and relentlessly strive for improvement in order to achieve goals. I am also a realist – I set challenging goals but keep them within reach. Without seeing the end goal, we are not motivated to get there.

What do you add to a team?

Many years of hard work have taken me where I am today. I bring seniority and experience to the table. I have closely collaborated with and advised C-suite and senior management on complex issues and challenging strategic projects such as acquisitions, reorganizations, investor lack of confidence, IPOs and so forth. Almost 30 years on, I am well positioned to assist clients with any strategic communication challenge.

Why are you a Friend of Stark?

I have collaborated with and admired the Stark Narrative professionals since before the firm existed. And I am a firm believer in the Friends of Stark proposition. It’s an incredibly efficient, effective and wonderful way to bring together star professionals, to benefit both client demand and communications expertise. Something that cannot be achieved in a traditional PR agency service offer format.