BNR podcast: Marcel Broersma | Flex Group

At the end of the 1990s, Marcel Broersma made a choice that many people aspire to, but few dare to make. He left behind a secure, successful career at Randstad and threw himself into entrepreneurship. Together with his partner, he founded Flex Group. Growth was explosive. Within a few years, the company had hundreds of employees. The market was favorable. Confidence grew. In 1998, Marcel even turned down a multi-million dollar offer. Not out of greed, but out of conviction: this could be bigger.

When everything changed

Then the playing field changes abruptly. The dot-com bubble bursts. The aftermath of 9/11 hits the temporary employment market hard. Banks become cautious. At the worst possible moment, the bank withdraws its financing. Marcel is completely invested in the business privately. The foundations for his new house have just been laid. Bankruptcy looms ominously close.

The company survives, but the crisis leaves its mark. From that moment on, Marcel looks at business differently. It's not growth, but cash that becomes the guiding principle. Not optimism, but scenarios. Not working harder, but thinking ahead.

From crisis to direction

Recovery is followed by a new phase. For the first time, Marcel and his partner consciously think about structure and future options. Not because a sale is planned, but to maintain control when the market moves again. That control pays off. A chance conversation on a French beach with a founder of DPA sets something in motion. What starts as an exploratory idea grows into intensive negotiations. Including doubts, tension, and a deal that almost falls through over details such as the company name. Ultimately, everything comes together. Not in a boardroom, but with a handshake at Café Loos in Rotterdam.

After the signature

The deal brings peace of mind, but it is not the end. Integration, earn-outs, and letting go prove to be at least as intense as the process that preceded it. Marcel learns that an exit is not a conclusion, but a new phase with its own dynamics. Today, he invests in other entrepreneurs, with one clear conviction: entrepreneurship without looking ahead makes you vulnerable.

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