Invisible in the background (but firmly holding the reigns): Astrid Witteveen, or by her married name:
Mrs. G.J. Snijders-Witteveen As the heading suggests, Astrid is not someone who likes the limelight. Yet she is not unimportant within the Berrico team. From Monday to Friday she is usually the first point of contact for the public and the spider in the rather large financial-administrative web. A web that has become a lot simpler and less timeconsuming thanks to automated processes than, for example, during her internship at Medicins sans Frontiers in Amsterdam, where the accounting was entirely done using paper, pen and carbon paper. Born and raised in the southern IJsselmeerpolders (nowadays Swifterbant), strong spirit was needed – just like the ‘polder’ pioneers – to escape from the polder as soon as possible, as far as Astrid was concerned! For four years she cycled 12.5 miles to and from Kampen in order to complete her secondary schooling. And alas if you bought a bus pass before the snow made the cycle paths impassable. You were made of sterner stuff!
investment bank, also in the capital and at a comfortable distance from the bare, dull polder. From collections and credits she developed via credit analysis to deputy head of the credit department. Her star was rising, until such time that her now husband – who worked for the same bank – made his move. She discovered a more important goal in her life – family. Within four years three boys entered Astrid’s life, and although the boys did not come with manuals, she has managed to raise them to become fine young men. Nonetheless Astrid hankered for a life outside the family and home, and bit by bit the 300% mother managed to build up another life too. From several part time admin jobs to a diverse role within an export marketing agency, Astrid eventually ended up with Berrico. And this role suits her just fine. With her academic background in languages, economics and marketing, Astrid is a perfect match for Berrico. And that polder? Well, she has been living back here happily for sixteen years now, after husband dearest accepted a job with a cooperative bank in Lelystad. Response?
Astrid, now 45, gained her love of numbers from Medicins sans Frontiers to an international French
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