Chris Martens stepped down as director of Smithers-Oasis Benelux on May 1 and has retired. His role has been taken over by Jeroen Swinkels, who was already serving as operations manager at the company.
floristry industry and played a key role in the further development of Smithers-Oasis in the Benelux. He DPK Floral Magazine also a dedicated partner to DPK Floral Magazine . In an interview in DPK 2025-3, he spoke with great enthusiasm about the future of the profession and the opportunities he saw for florists and floral designers.
Anyone who knows Chris knows that his commitment to the sector went beyond just his job title. He was a visible presence at events, contributed ideas on developments in the profession, and showed genuine interest in people within the industry. Over the years, this allowed him to build a large network and a great deal of goodwill.
With Jeroen Swinkels, Smithers-Oasis is opting for continuity. From his previous role, he knows the company and the market well. DPK thanks Chris for the pleasant collaboration over the years and wishes him all the best for the future. We wish Jeroen Swinkels every success in his new role.
From left to right: Julij Brinc (Vice President Europe), Jeroen Swinkels, Chris Martens, Robin M. Kilbride (President)
Photo: PSG – Kurt Dekeyzer
