NetRom Software continues to grow and appoints Jaap Merkus as new CEO

NetRom Software, leading nearshoring partner specializing for over 25 years in developing high-quality, tailor-made software solutions, has appointed Jaap Merkus as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Over the past decade, NetRom Software has seen significant growth in Western Europe and the United States and foresees strong international expansion opportunities in the years ahead. To lead the company through this next phase, NetRom has appointed Jaap Merkus as its new CEO. He succeeds founder Han in ’t Veld, who is stepping down after 27 years and joining the company’s Supervisory Board.

Founded in 1998 by Han in ’t Veld and Mircea Negrila, NetRom’s vision has always been to help companies achieve their IT objectives with the support of nearshore software development teams. Today, NetRom is a market leader in nearshoring, with multiple offices in the Netherlands and Romania. At its Romanian campus, more than 500 university-trained IT specialists deliver a full portfolio of services, including software development, consultancy, testing & quality assurance, cybersecurity, AI, and cloud development.

Han reflects proudly on his time as CEO: “After more than 27 years, it is time to hand over the reins. Jaap is an experienced and capable leader who has quickly embraced the NetRom DNA. I am confident that he will not only build on NetRom’s successes, but also bring fresh momentum to the entire organization. I wish Jaap every success for the future and look forward to working with him in my new role as Supervisory Board member.”

NetRom’s majority shareholder, Investcorp, also expressed its appreciation for Han’s contribution: “NetRom is an exceptional company; the result of decades of hard work, dedication, and passion from the founders, who have always fostered an ‘employees first’ culture. We thank Han for his invaluable contribution as co-founder and CEO and are delighted that he will continue to support the company in his new role,” said Georg Knoflach, Managing Director at Investcorp.

Jaap Merkus brings extensive leadership experience and international expertise in IT consultancy, innovation, and digital transformation. He began his career in consultancy at Accenture and McKinsey, later holding various international management positions at Philips. He subsequently served as CEO of Koninklijke Gazelle and CEO of Valori, a software QA & testing consultancy.

“It is a privilege to work with such dedicated and passionate professionals in a fast-growing organization that serves its clients in a truly unique way. I am honored to follow in Han’s footsteps and lead NetRom into its next phase of growth, together with Mircea, CTO and co-founder. My focus will be on further expanding our international market position, strengthening our partnerships, and continuously innovating our service offering.”