Alibaba appoints MD to head up new Netherlands office
Alibaba has appointed Roland Palmer as the managing director of Alibaba Group Netherlands. Palmer, who is also now a member of the Alibaba Group EU leadership team, will based in the new Amsterdam office. In a statement issued yesterday (11 May), Alibaba said that Palmer’s appointment and setting up the new Amsterdam office “rounds out Alibaba Group’s expansion in the European market” and provides a local contact for customers and partners in the Benelux region.
As part of its European push, Alibaba has already opened country offices in Milan, Italy, Munich, Germany and Paris, France as well as expanding its presence in the UK.
“The Netherlands is a nation that has been built on successful international trade and export, both characteristics that fit well with our European business objectives,” said Michael Evans, president of Alibaba Group. “In Europe, our top priority is to engage with existing local partners and help European brands, retailers, small businesses and government partners understand the opportunities China offers and how Alibaba can help them access this market. Roland has the experience and in-depth knowledge to successfully build teams and business capabilities for major international companies and we are fortunate to have him as part of our EU leadership team.”
The Netherlands country office will help identify the most suitable local products for the Chinese market, help merchants sell on Alibaba’s platforms, assist with outbound and inbound logistics, and facilitate online transactions for Chinese consumers and tourists.
Prior to joining Alibaba, Palmer was CEO of Blokker Holding – which under his leadership developed from being a traditional offline retail company into an omnichannel group. He previously worked as a strategy consultant for global managing consulting firm Bain & Company.
