Chris IJsbrandy | Managing Partner
I founded UCPartners in 2005 to meet a growing demand for specialised consulting services addressing the challenging issues faced by utility companies and energy end users in today’s energy markets.
I started my professional career in retail, where between 1979 and 1992 I worked in marketing, supply chain and senior management roles for HEMA, one of the Netherlands’ largest retail companies. After HEMA I changed the direction of my career to consulting, aiming to broaden both my industrial and international experience. I joined Gemini Consulting in Germany where I managed many large projects throughout Europe, mainly in the oil, gas and chemicals sector. In 1997 I joined the Benelux practice of Gemini Consulting and started to focus on energy and utilities. In 2000 I was made responsible for business development and consulting in the Energy & Utility sector for Capgemini Benelux.
In this role I was privileged to work with an outstanding team of energy and utility consultants in the Netherlands and elsewhere. As liberalisation of utility markets swept across Europe and beyond, many insights were developed and translated into specific service offerings for our clients. In this role I was involved in some major change programmes at large national and international energy companies.
I combine a strong, content-driven, analytical and strategic focus with the ability to develop practical solutions and manage change processes within large organisations.
In 1979 I graduated from the University of Amsterdam as a Master in Social Sciences, majoring in sociology, research methodology and economics.