Frank Smeekes serves as Managing Director Europe and is a member of DHR International’s Board of Directors. After thirteen years conducting executive search in the United States, Frank has returned to Europe and is based in Amsterdam. His clients are national and international companies in transition, non-governmental, public, and private organizations, as well as private equity or venture capital-backed companies. He specializes in senior-executive positions (CEO, COO, President) and board assignments.

Mr. Smeekes brings with him more than 15 years of international search experience and over 200 successful placements in the United States and Europe. Prior to joining DHR, Mr. Smeekes was Managing Director at executive search firm, Russell Reynolds Associates. Earlier in his career he worked in Management Consulting, Industry and Financial Services with various companies, such as: AT Kearney, Fokker Aircraft, ANWB, Unigarant and the KNMG before leaving for the United States.

Mr. Smeekes clients included: Booz Allen, BP, Baker McKenzie, EDS, Black and Decker, Diamond Castle, DSM, General Motors, ING, Kraft, Lear, Lease-plan, National Grid, Novartis, NSK, Philips Electronics, Platinum Equity, Philip Morris, Robert Bosch, Sara Lee, Scotts Company, Siemens, Sun Capital, ThyssenKrupp, Tesla, Volkswagen, United Nations and The World-Bank.

Mr. Smeekes holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Business Administration.

Mr. Smeekes serves on the Board of Directors of Orchard Village (www.orchardvillage.org/). He is actively involved in World Business Chicago, a not-for-profit economic development corporation that is responsible for helping international companies enter and grow in Chicago.  He is frequently quoted in National and International Publications on topics related to leadership and governance. Frank recently (2009) co-authored an article for strategy+business (http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00103?pg=all), which discusses the leadership competencies needed in the executive suite to overcome adversarial relationships, a topic relevant in a downturn market.
 
Mr. Smeekes is fluent in Dutch, German and English. He also has a good understanding of French and Spanish.

European HQ DHR International
Atrium Building, Ground Floor
Strawinskylaan 3031
1077 ZX Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T: +31(0)20-572-0730
F: +31(0)20-572-0739
fsmeekes@dhrinternational.com