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The global smart sustainable building management software provider has announced that Peter Ankerstjerne will become its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June 2024.
Ankerstjerne will take over the reins from founder Pierre Guelen, who will step down as CEO after 42 years.
Guelen began his career as a structural engineering consultant, but soon realised the potential of developing his own software package for maintenance planning, which he called ‘Planon’. Under Guelen’s leadership, Planon quickly grew from a small maintenance consultancy to a market leader in the Netherlands, with customers such as PTT (KPN), Philips, Heineken, Shell, and many universities and municipalities. Guelen subsequently pursued an ambitious international expansion strategy, opening offices in Belgium, the UK, Germany, France, India, Singapore, Sweden, and the US, and acquiring other software companies along the way.
Planon’s software solutions are globally recognised as innovative and customer-oriented, and in the past two decades, the company has been repeatedly acknowledged as a global market leader by independent research and market intelligence firms, such as Verdantix, IDC, Frost & Sullivan, and Gartner. Planon today operates as a truly international company with offices in 16 countries and more than 1,100 employees.
Ankerstjerne joined Planon in February 2021 as Chief Strategy Officer and has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, strategy, and innovation roadmap. He has also strengthened Planon’s position as a thought leader and partner for customers and stakeholders in the smart building market. Prior to Planon, he held various senior positions at leading organisations such as ISS and JLL, where he gained extensive knowledge and experience in workplace and facility management. Ankerstjerne has also served on the IFMA (International Facility Management Association) Board of Directors for a seven-year period, including a two-year term as the Chairman of the Board. In addition to his contributions at IFMA, he has served on various committees and councils within the facility management, real estate, and outsourcing industries.
Speaking about Ankerstjerne’s appointment as CEO, Guelen said: “Peter is the ideal leader to take Planon to the next level of success. He has a deep understanding of our market, our customers and our technology, and a clear vision for the future of Planon. I have full confidence in his ability to keep driving Planon’s growth and innovation, while maintaining our core values and customer focus. I am proud of what we have achieved together at Planon, and I am excited to support Peter and the Planon team in this new chapter.”
Ankerstjerne commented: “I am honoured and extremely proud to take on the role of CEO of Planon Group. Planon has an outstanding reputation, a strong culture and a highly talented team that is dedicated to delivering value and innovation to our customers. I look forward to continuing to work with them and our partners to further grow our business, expand our global footprint and lead the digital transformation of the built environment.”
