Marcel Boekhoorn

The key approach of Boekhoorn's investment strategy is to place emphasis on adding value to the revenue side of the business equation, rather than exclusively focusing on cost reduction.

HEMA had been struggling for years under an unsustainable debt burden resulting from the aggressive financing techniques under previous ownership.

Boekhoorn, who made it clear from the outset that his top priority was to drastically cut HEMA's debts and the associated huge interest payments, was welcomed by the retail chain with open arms.

He succeeded in resolving a long-running conflict with franchisees and forged important partnerships for HEMA, for example with supermarket chain Jumbo.

When the situation at HEMA started deteriorating rapidly as a result of the coronavirus crisis Boekhoorn found himself on a collision course with a group of creditors.

The retail chain expressed its gratitude on its website and for example with a full-page advertisement in Dutch influential daily newspaper De Telegraaf and a video message from HEMA CEO Tjeerd Jegen.

As part of the agreement, Boekhoorn makes an annual contribution of $1 million to the preservation of the panda species and the conservation of its natural habitat in China.

[citation needed] Boekhoorn was also executive producer of the successful Netflix series 'Human playground'[3][4] based on a photo book by Flemish photographer Hannelore Vandenbussche.