'I can pioneer again, that feels wonderful'

10 years of Kooi Security: CEO Pieter Kooi seizes European growth opportunities

CEO Pieter Kooi.

Pieter Kooi (36) started for himself at 26. Ten years later he is conquering the international market, together with his -by now- hundred employees. Time to look back and look ahead in an interview.

Ten years ago, how did the home front react to your ambitions to start for yourself?

"Very down-to-earth, because they kind of expected it. I come from a nest of entrepreneurs. My father was a farmer, but that wasn't where my passion lay. I turned out to be more of a chatterbox. That's why I had all kinds of different jobs where I interacted with people. Eventually I wanted to stand on my own two feet and that's how Kooi Security came into being. There I used the first three years to pioneer. I liked to stay in control, so I was still installing systems myself. After that phase, I finally came to the conclusion that I could no longer do it all by myself."

A confronting discovery for someone who wants to be independent....

"It's the only time in 10 years when I was literally at a loss for words. It was summer 2016. Cage Security was growing at 20% a year, but I thought it could be better. Other companies were flying past me and I saw opportunities in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. I couldn't do everything at once and had to make a crucial choice for the future: do I accept that the market around me is moving faster than me or do I opt for a solid growth phase? The latter would mean sacrificing a piece of myself."

Cage Security strengthens its position in the European market.

Do you make such an important decision alone?

"Follow your heart," said my wife Margot. On the French national holiday 14-7-17 at 2:07 p.m., our oldest daughter Elisa was born. Fifteen minutes after this magical moment, I received a phone call. A strategist offered me a great deal for the acquisition of Kooi Security. I thanked him for this. Selling my company completely, that didn't feel right. After a spirited process together with a team of financial advisors, I moved forward with Bencis, an independent investment company. I was willing to give up much of my independence to grow the company."

And then? 

Bencis brings money, knowledge and expertise which allows me to start all over again after ten years and that feels wonderful. I can pioneer again, but now on an international level." I no longer have to pass up opportunities. We are strengthening our position in the European market. We are expanding in Germany, France and the UK. We are also exploring growth opportunities in Scandinavia and in Central and Southern Europe. We now have a full, four-member board of directors, which gives me a lot of support. I no longer have to do it all alone."

Where do you want to go with the company?

"In 2019, sales have increased immeasurably compared to 2018. This will allow us to continue to grow, which is a dream come true for me! In the next three years, the focus is on European expansion. In addition to UFOs, we are now also betting on our R.E.D., Rising Early Detection. These are scalding detection systems that monitor the temperature of batches of scalding and fire-sensitive products. Furthermore, there is still a lot to gain internally. I want a good ratio of young talent to experienced employees. The right people in the right place."

Are you proud of what you have accomplished?

"Absolutely! Kooi Security operates internationally in more than 20 European countries. We have grown from an SME to a professional organization. In the beginning we were lucky that one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world became our customer. Now I seek my own luck internationally and make strategic partnerships there. Success is no longer a coincidence."    

10 years of Cage Security
2010: Establishment of Kooi Security
2013: Own alarm center and control room
2016: Start of financial strategic trajectory
2018: Investment company Bencis on board
2018: Official PAC (Private Emergency Response Center) certification.
2019: Turnover up 65% over 2018
2019: Full four-member executive team
2020: European expansion

Executive team Cage Security
Marco Banning | Chief Financial Officer

Erik Kort | Chief Operational Officer

Pieter Kooi | Chief Executive Officer

Kees van der Ley | Chief Commercial Officer