Grass is not always greener
By the time Bridgepoint sold ALcontrol in 2004 to Candover,
Baalhuis had had enough. `All those years I had only worked for
ALcontrol; two or three times a week I was out the door by 5am
forthedrivetotheairport.I'dhadmyfill.Ilookbackwithprideat
what we've achieved and built up.
When I started, turnover was 10 million guilders; today that has
reached 150 million euros. The downside is the pressure you
feel during a management buy-out, a price war or working for
private equity owners. I can honestly tell you that the grass is not
always greener on the other side.'
My running technique is truly terrible, but when I start,
I finish
At 54, Baalhuis now has time to pursue his other interests,
particularlyrunning.``I'vealwayskeptthisup,andI'vefinished
eightmarathonssofar.Inmyfirst,theRotterdamMarathon,
Icameinlast,afterfivehoursandonesecond.Myrunning
techniqueistrulyterrible,butwhenIstart,Ifinishonsheer
grit alone.' Any plans of carrying on with his career? `Who
knows? I keep in touch with Maarten Wolleswinkel, and maybe
something will materialise from that. We had some really good
chemistryduringallthoseacquisitions',reflectsBaalhuis.And
coming from a chemist, that certainly says something.
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