Before Coaching: Beginning Phenomena and Journey into Coaching

Erik de Haan is the Director of Ashridge's Center for Coaching with over twenty-five years of experience in organisational and personal development.

He aims to support individuals in their search for what is right and just—for themselves and for others in their organizations. His expertise covers process consulting for organisational change, facilitating management teams, working conferences, executive and team coaching.

Erik has an MSc in Theoretical Physics and gained his PhD with his research into learning and decision-making processes in perception. He is a British Psychoanalytic Council registered psychodynamic psychotherapist with an MA in psychotherapy from the Tavistock Clinic; has (co-)authored more than 180 articles and 12 books; and sits on the editorial board of three journals including the Consulting Psychology Journal.

Erik has worked with universities, hospitals and multinational companies. He is currently Professor of Organization Development at the VU University Amsterdam. Erik is an Ashridge-accredited coach and supervisor and is qualified to deliver a range of psychometric instruments. He is fluent in Dutch, English, Italian, German and Spanish.

Marc is an experienced executive coach, mentor and consultant with a background as a senior leader in global organisations.

He specialises in supporting C-suite executives, technical experts moving into leadership roles and leaders operating in multi-cultural and diverse environments. Drawing on his own career in senior P&L leadership, strategy consulting and data science, Marc brings a rare blend of analytical rigour, business insight and human understanding to his coaching work.

Marc believes that energised leaders inspire higher performance, better decision-making and stronger cultures. His coaching style creates the space for clients to think deeply, challenge assumptions and explore fresh perspectives - leading to greater focus, resilience and purposeful action. Drawing on his global business experience, Marc combines insightful questioning with empathetic listening to help leaders access their own sources of energy and sustain them through change, uncertainty and growth.

Before establishing his coaching practice in 2015, Marc spent over 25 years in senior business roles. As the leader of Experian’s Global Consulting and Data Science business, he led international teams in supporting the automation and digitalisation of major financial institutions worldwide.

Earlier, he was a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company, advising leading banks and financial services organisations across Europe. He began his career as a Data Scientist with Experian, prior to which he served as a Bridge Officer in the French Navy Submarine Forces.

Marc holds an MSc in Engineering from École Centrale Paris and an MSc in Executive Coaching from Ashridge. He is also a Non-Executive Director for two fintech companies and continues to advise senior leaders internationally.