“People choose based on the relationship they have. That is why we always want to be close to our customers.”

When the very first UFO in the field caught an intruder in 2010, on the second day after its installation, founder Pieter Kooi knew he was onto something promising. Now, 15 years later, Kooi Camera Surveillance protected over 55.000 locations with camerasurveillance all over Europe. More than 300 employees give their love and devotion to keep them up and running. Time for some reflection and looking ahead with Board members Peter (CEO) and Tsjalling (COO) in this anniversary year.

“I still remember the management visit to Italy recently,” Tsjalling starts. “There, I experienced first-hand how proud the Italian team is to build the Kooi brand there. They are the face of Kooi in a new market, and when you feel how much energy and commitment they put into it, it automatically makes me feel very proud. It is special to be able to pass on our culture to new countries.”

Feeling at home

Clearly both Peter and Tsjalling are thrilled to be part of the Kooi-adventure. They joined Kooi about four years ago but still feel that family vibe that characterized the company 15 years ago. Former CEO at Securitas Peter still knows exactly when Kooi crossed his path for the first time. “At Securitas we had the largest control room in the Netherlands, and when I heard that there was a small control room for video towers only, I called Pieter Kooi to ask why he didn't subcontracted that work to Securitas. That must have been about six years ago. I went to Drachten and Pieter explained to me why the control room had to remain under Kooi’s management. It was a nice conversation and at the end I headed back west... one experience richer, one nice conversation further, but without an opportunity for our control room at that time.”

Kooi as game changer

Who would have thought that Peter would become CEO of that same company a few years later.  How did that happen? “Securitas is a fantastic company, with over 7000 employees at the time and lots of great colleagues. I had many wonderful years there, but at a certain point, it became more and more routine: trade unions, tenders, consultations with the Swedish head office. I noticed that it was time for a change. It is always better to take the initiative yourself, so I resigned, selected the successor and left in really good spirit. I wanted to do ‘something completely different’, although I didn't know exactly what that would be. Then Pieter called me and offered me the job at Kooi. At the time, Kooi had 85 employees, which was a big difference from where I came from. The visit to Drachten was the game changer; I met a team of enthusiastic people who simply wanted to work hard to build this wonderful club.”

Family atmosphere

Peter shares Tsjallings view and adds: “We are increasingly becoming a European company, but our Frisian roots remain firmly intact. For me, the trick is to maintain that family atmosphere, especially in times of growth. Growth is necessary for our long-term vision and our position troughout Europe. It’s necessary to keep people genuinely committed. In general, people don't just work for growth. We also want to work in a company where we feel at home.”

-‘And that even justifies a daily 340 kilometers from your home in Heemstede to Kooi?’

Peter: “Yes, my work is my passion, and putting in a few extra hours has never been a problem. If you don't enjoy it, you need to look for something else. That has always been my philosophy. After all, you are the director of your own life. The most essential thing is that you have to be convinced that you really add something as a manager. It is my personal ambition to be marketleader with Kooi in every country where we operate. If I have to drive a bit to achieve that, it's only a small sacrifice.”

Enormous commitment

For Tsjalling it’s just a 44 kilometers drive to the Kooi headquarters but he shares the same dedication. Two characteristic highlights of the last years immediately come to mind. “The first moment was during Storm Eunice on Friday, 18 February 2022, the worst storm since 1990. In the Netherlands alone, 53 systems had fallen over and many construction sites had suffered serious damage. There was also a lot of damage in Germany and Scandinavia. What struck me most was how natural it felt for everyone to jump into action right away. The team was on standby throughout the weekend. Our BNL team, transporters... everyone moved to action-mode without hesitation. We assessed the damage, set up systems and ensured that security was back up and running as quickly as possible. That enormous commitment and decisiveness, without anyone having to ask, was impressive.”

Caparis

The second moment is the process in which Kooi managed to have the UFO Prime produced at Caparis. Tsjalling: “That process took six months and there were many questions: should we do this, does this suit us. In the end, it was a great success. During a recent coffee break with the dedicated people on the shop floor at Caparis, their pride was clearly visible. The fact that we were able to guide them and transfer knowledge gives people in society an opportunity that they might not otherwise have had. That makes this process very valuable to me.”

Peter: “I believe that both now and in the future, people want to do business with people and that they choose based on the relationship they have. That is why we always want to be close to our customers.”

Tsjalling: “What also sets us apart is that we are there for you in difficult times too. If something goes wrong, we don't look the other way. We don't come up with a contract, we come to help. That's when you show your true value. This attitude ensures that you build long-term relationships with customers, based on trust and cooperation.”

And… are we innovative enough? Or can we accelerate our efforts in this area?

Tsjalling: “I think we are certainly innovative enough within the possibilities we have. The latest products, such as the UFO Titan, the Green Energy Box and the UFO Solar Prime, clearly demonstrate that we are capable of launching new, relevant solutions that directly meet demand and are therefore immediately rented out.”

And what are you most proud of?

Peter: “At Kooi, we truly achieve success together. The commercial teams and project managers on the front line, but certainly also all the people behind the scenes in inside sales, the Kooi Alarm Center, production, logistics, marketing, HR and all the other support services.”

Tsjalling: “I am also proud that we continue to grow as an organization every week, time and time again, together. Despite our busy schedules and challenges, we always manage to take steps forward and realise our ambitions. Initiatives such as Train the Trainer (I Am Proud) and the development opportunities we offer one another also make me proud. They show that we invest in our people, that we help each other and that we are working towards a future in which everyone can grow with Kooi.”

The last words are for Peter. “We really can't do without anyone! Everyone is important for the ultimate customer experience, and I would like to emphasize that.”