Onguard announces a change in its Managing Director leadership, effective 1 August 2026. Adriaan Kom, who led Onguard for the past six years, has stepped down to take on a new opportunity in Rotterdam, his hometown. He has been succeeded by Dennis Kromhout van der Meer, proposed by parent group Norvato, who has taken on the role of Managing Director.
Six years of customer-centric growth
Under Kom’s leadership, Onguard strengthened its position as a customer-first organisation, building a management team and culture centred on getting closer to the customer, and laying the commercial foundation the company continues to build on today. Kom and Kromhout van der Meer have worked closely together over the past month to ensure a smooth and considered handover.
A new phase for Onguard
Kromhout van der Meer joins Onguard with a 25-year career spanning telecoms, fintech and ICT, having led organisations through turnaround, scale-up and internationalisation across more than 20 countries. He combines hands-on ICT operations leadership with financial and operational discipline, and is well positioned to guide Onguard through its next chapter.
Under his leadership, Onguard will fully embrace AI developments to benefit its customers, working toward an AI-native software stack for credit management. This comes alongside the upcoming e-invoicing service and the broader shift toward Peppol-driven, cross-border credit management, as regulatory change accelerates across Europe.
Adriaan Kom, outgoing Managing Director of Onguard:
“Six years ago I joined Onguard with the ambition to put the customer at the heart of everything we do. Looking back, I’m proud of what we’ve built together: a team and a culture that genuinely lives that ambition, and one that has embraced AI adoption across everything we do, from how we work internally to what we deliver to our customers. The opportunity in Rotterdam came at a moment that felt right, both personally and professionally, and I leave knowing Onguard is in very good hands. I want to thank our customers, partners and colleagues for six wonderful years, and I’m excited to see where Dennis takes the company next.”
Dennis Kromhout van der Meer, incoming Managing Director of Onguard:
“Onguard has a strong foundation and a clear purpose: helping organisations get paid, faster and smarter. I’m looking forward to building on that, especially as the market shifts toward mandatory e-invoicing and greater regulatory complexity across Europe. My focus will be on giving our teams the clarity and ownership they need to keep delivering for our customers, while making sure Onguard is ready (operationally and technologically) for what’s ahead. I’d like to thank Adriaan for a handover that was thorough and generous, and I’m genuinely energised to get started.”
