Sander Bongertman’s return | Home is where the heart is

From traffic jams to cycling, from fond memories to a renewed mission. Meet the returning chief commercial officer (CCO) of Schmidt.

When sitting down with Sander Bongertman, you notice he acknowledges the importance of calm. Someone who knows what matters. Not just in his role as CCO at Schmidt Global Relocations, but also in his personal life. “Walking and gardening – that’s what I enjoy,” he says with a smile. “Those are the moments that bring peace amidst the chaos of a workweek. Right now, there’s a cherry blossom tree blooming in my garden. It’s a small thing, but it brings me joy.”

Coming home to Schmidt

After years away –but always in the relocation industry– Sander recently returned to the place he never really let go of: Schmidt. “The long hours in traffic were draining. I was easily spending three to four hours on the road daily. Now, I cycle to work. That alone is a game changer,” he shares. But the decision was never just logistics. “I’ve always had great memories of Schmidt. The people here are wonderful. Coming back felt right. There’s always been so much potential here.”

As CCO, he now oversees all commercial activities within the company. “Furniture sales, private sales, agent sales – it all falls under my scope. The first month was mostly about observing: where do we stand? How are the teams performing? Where are the growth opportunities?”

Schmidt’s difference in the industry: control, quality and heart

According to Sander, Schmidt’s true strength lies in ownership. “While many companies in this industry moved to full outsourcing, Schmidt retained its own fleet of trucks, run by in-house teams. That gives us a lot of control over quality and keeps us cost-efficient and scalable.”

In his time away from the organization, changes have impacted operations, he continues: “Automation has evolved since I left. For example, the portal for agents now lets partners register containers automatically – it saves a lot of operational time.”

A borderless vision

Sander has a clear vision for the future: “I see Schmidt becoming one of Europe’s leading players in overseas relocations. Most opportunities lie in outbound business. We’re not afraid to explore new international partnerships or even set up offices abroad.”

This growth, he emphasizes, must always go hand in hand with quality. “Maintaining our high service levels while scaling up is a challenge. We’re investing in better processes, like reducing damage and claims, and listening closely to client feedback. Around 60 to 65% of our business is agent-based, so that specific feedback loop is critical.”

Distinguished in a competitive market

“Our authenticity lies in our fleet and our people. By streamlining our processes, we empower our Move Managers to handle more without losing quality. My mission is to put Schmidt firmly on the map as the go-to partner for high-quality, cost-effective relocations – within Europe and beyond,” Sander concludes.

Whether it’s helping expats start a new chapter or ensuring heirlooms travel safely across continents. Trust is the true currency of the relocation business. Schmidt embodies its business goals without losing the heart and quality that makes them who they are.