Michael Kolk

Managing Partner

Global Practice Leader, Technology & Innovation Management

Netherlands

Michaël helps clients in the chemicals, life sciences and technology-intensive industries to identify, realize and sustain innovation-based growth and value creation.

Education

Radboud University
PhD Physical Chemistry
University of Amsterdam
M.Sc. Biochemistry

Past Experience

Shell
Workgroup Leader

Michaël is a Partner who joined Arthur D. Little in 2000 and has been based in the Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur offices. He leads our Global Technology & Innovation Management Practice and coordinates as well our Global Chemicals Practice.

His consulting focus finds itself in the areas of Growth and Innovation performance enhancement, primarily in the chemicals, life sciences, and other technology-intensive industries. He is a regular speaker at innovation conferences.

Michaël’s mission in his professional life is to help clients find and capture opportunities for sustainable growth and value creation. Very often this involves the “what” (strategy creation, opportunity scouting, business-case creation, etc.) alongside the “how” (innovation management, organization and process redesign, capability building, change management, etc.).

Before joining Arthur D. Little, Michaël worked for Shell Chemicals as a workgroup leader in its Amsterdam Technology Center, providing technical support to internal customers in downstream oil and chemicals.

Michaël holds an MSc in biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from Radboud University. In addition, he has attended the Executive Education program of Insead, France.

Michaël is married and has three young daughters. His other interests are literature, world politics, and popular science. In his spare time, he likes to run (regularly) and travel to the world’s more distant places (occasionally).

We need to talk about PFAS
We need to talk about PFAS
From ski wax to food wrappers, nonstick cookware, and semiconductors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” have impacted the world since the 1940s due to their unique properties, such as water and oil repellency. These synthetic chemicals persist indefinitely in the environment, raising concerns about their ecological and health impacts.
Opening the urban mine
Opening the urban mine
Creating circular supply chains is essential to the green transition, particularly when it comes to recycling and reusing rare materials. Yet, while many circular economy initiatives may be sustainable, they are not profitable, which hampers their wider development and holds back the achievement of sustainability goals.
The people-centric lab of the future
The people-centric lab of the future
As the world grapples with global mega-challenges, innovation[1] has never been more necessary. We need breakthrough innovation to solve pressing issues around energy, the environment, and social and health challenges. At the same time, and equally importantly, companies have to deal with a business world typified by increased complexity and accelerated time frames. Together these mean innovation must deliver more breakthroughs, rather than only incremental improvements, with more flexibility and responsiveness and at greater speed.

Michaël is a Partner who joined Arthur D. Little in 2000 and has been based in the Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur offices. He leads our Global Technology & Innovation Management Practice and coordinates as well our Global Chemicals Practice.

His consulting focus finds itself in the areas of Growth and Innovation performance enhancement, primarily in the chemicals, life sciences, and other technology-intensive industries. He is a regular speaker at innovation conferences.

Michaël’s mission in his professional life is to help clients find and capture opportunities for sustainable growth and value creation. Very often this involves the “what” (strategy creation, opportunity scouting, business-case creation, etc.) alongside the “how” (innovation management, organization and process redesign, capability building, change management, etc.).

Before joining Arthur D. Little, Michaël worked for Shell Chemicals as a workgroup leader in its Amsterdam Technology Center, providing technical support to internal customers in downstream oil and chemicals.

Michaël holds an MSc in biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from Radboud University. In addition, he has attended the Executive Education program of Insead, France.

Michaël is married and has three young daughters. His other interests are literature, world politics, and popular science. In his spare time, he likes to run (regularly) and travel to the world’s more distant places (occasionally).

We need to talk about PFAS
We need to talk about PFAS
From ski wax to food wrappers, nonstick cookware, and semiconductors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” have impacted the world since the 1940s due to their unique properties, such as water and oil repellency. These synthetic chemicals persist indefinitely in the environment, raising concerns about their ecological and health impacts.
Opening the urban mine
Opening the urban mine
Creating circular supply chains is essential to the green transition, particularly when it comes to recycling and reusing rare materials. Yet, while many circular economy initiatives may be sustainable, they are not profitable, which hampers their wider development and holds back the achievement of sustainability goals.
The people-centric lab of the future
The people-centric lab of the future
As the world grapples with global mega-challenges, innovation[1] has never been more necessary. We need breakthrough innovation to solve pressing issues around energy, the environment, and social and health challenges. At the same time, and equally importantly, companies have to deal with a business world typified by increased complexity and accelerated time frames. Together these mean innovation must deliver more breakthroughs, rather than only incremental improvements, with more flexibility and responsiveness and at greater speed.

More About Michael
  • Radboud University
    PhD Physical Chemistry
  • University of Amsterdam
    M.Sc. Biochemistry
  • Shell
    Workgroup Leader