Ellen
Ellen is a very experienced senior communications manager. Thanks to years of experience in the (international) corporate world, she knows the ins and outs of the strategic and practical aspects of - especially - internal communication. Ellen is characterized by great involvement in the organizations she works for, an unending curiosity and strong empathy. Her power lies within her practical approach to complex issues and her affinity with coaching employees. In Ellen’s vision, a strategy has to 'work' in everyday working life in organisations and therefore she likes to coordinate the implementation of communication plans. Ellen is a member of the agency management team.
Personal Data
- Name: Ellen van den Haak
- Hours available to clients: 40 hours a week
Education
- Various professional training courses.
- Master's degree in English (Modern Linguistics). Minors: Public Relations; Art History, University of Amsterdam/Utrecht
Working Experience
August 2008 - present: Senior Communications Manager Involve
- Managing and coaching Involve’s professional team
- Supervising outsourced activities
- Recruiting and developing freelance network
- Product development (lecturer and coach at Master of Internal Communication)
- Partnerships and new businesses
Assignments for clients:
- Ernst & Young Belgium and the Netherlands
- Developing first phase of a corporate story, combined with a strategy implementation process
- Developing communication/change plan for Corporate Responsibility.
- Leading development of new internal magazine for both countries.
- Co-managing IC team and coaching team in producing new magazine (Language: English)
- A large network company:
- Project management line communication, incl. development of training.
- Interim manager team internal communications advisors
- Greenpeace International:.
- Supervising development/writing of internal communications plan for strategic issue.
- Internal communication audit.
- Developing plan for Greenpeace International's internal communication policy, processes and discipline.
- ILEIA - Center for information on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture (international NGO)
- Repositioning ILEIA. Leading the development of a new visual identity and new formula for ILEIA’s international magazine, including coaching the editors (language: English).
- Master IC Van der Hilst/Involve
- Co-developer and teacher Master Internal Communication (cooperation Van der Hilst and Involve).
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
- Internal communication audit, incl. managing Involve audit-team.
- Developing audit report and recommendations for improving internal communications.
- Philips (Global Human Resources)
- Audit of GHR internal communications (Language: English).
May 2006 – August 2008: Head Internal Communications and Editorial Services Ahold
- Managing internal communications and Editorial Services team
- Establishing (online/print) infrastructure internal communications from holding and network IC consultants supermarket chains.
- Developing and managing execution of internal communications on new Ahold strategy
- Leadership communications (a.o. Editor-in-Chief Management Magazine)
- Internal Communications Corporate Center
- Consultancy for supporting departments
- Project leader relaunch Internet
2000– 2006: Senior Communications Consultant Philips
- Advising on and implementing internal communication strategy, corporate values and internal branding.
- Co-development and -responsibility for online discussions Board of Management with senior management en establishing Philips News Network (narrowcasting).
- Responsible for IC of launch brand promise Sense and Simplicity in 2004.
- Advising on and coordinating internal communications Human Resources (including introduction online Employee Motivation Survey) and Global Brand Management.
- Chair network internal Communications managers worldwide.
- Speeches management CEO.
- Streamlining staff magazines worldwide including establishment shared content system.
- Editor-in-Chief English language management magazine.
1987– 2000: Communications manager Koninklijke Hoogovens (noa Tata Steel)
- Advising on and coordinating execution internal communications about merger Hoogovens/British Steel (1999).
- Developing new internal/external communications structure.
- Advising on and coordinating execution internal communications of various disciplines (esp. for Environmental Management, Investor Relations, Safety, Human Resources).
- Account manager communication business unit Packaging Steel.
- Editor-in-Chief multilingual internal corporate magazine and Packaging Steel magazine.
- Developing 1st Internet Hoogovens.
- Developing corporate identity brochure.
- Speech writing for Chairman Board of Directors.
- Developing and implementing multilingual internal annual report and financial newsletter.
- Editor-in-Chief multilingual external magazine.
- Developing videos for internal audiences and media.
Ellen’s business card
In Ellen's view, connecting people is at the heart of internal communication – whether top-down, bottom-up or horizontally. The image of a firm handshake represents this connection. `Truly firm, so you feel the pressure of the handshake after letting go and remain connected to the other as an individual. That is how internal communications should work. Like a handshake that helps you understand what it essential to your organization and helps you perform better in your own job.
