Michel Van Hove

Introduction

Michel van Hove is recognised across industry and advisory circles as a leading authority on strategy-and-innovation for businesses operating in the United Kingdom and internationally. As Chief Executive Officer of Strategos, a global strategy and innovation firm founded with Gary Hamel. Michel van Hove’s profile is especially relevant to organisations seeking integrated approach to strategy and innovation. Michel van Hove leads multi‑disciplinary teams to help ambitious companies identify where growth will come from, build a portfolio of real opportunities, and develop the capability to keep innovating.

Professional Background & Credentials

Michel van Hove trained originally as an engineer at Delft University of Technology, where he completed an Ir. (equivalent to an MSc) in electrical, electronics & communications engineering, a foundation that informs his analytical approach to complex organisational problems. Michel van Hove has held senior roles across consulting and industry, including positions at Unilever, Quest International (now part of Givaudan) and Innovaro, before assuming leadership roles at Strategos. Over time, Michel van Hove progressed from partner and European lead to Chief Executive Officer, a trajectory that reflects both his consulting experience and his operational leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams. This combination of technical training and executive experience informs Michel van Hove’s approach to strategy, growth and innovation systems.

Scope Of Expertise

Michel van Hove’s practice focuses on translating strategic ambition into a managed portfolio of growth opportunities and durable innovation capability. Michel van Hove advises senior executive teams on “Future Back” strategy development, innovation portfolio management, capability design, and how AI is reshaping competitive advantage. His sector experience spans consumer goods, food & beverages, automotive, manufacturing, healthcare and technology, positioning him to advise clients facing both regulatory complexity and rapid technological change.

Notable Engagements & Outcomes

Under Michel van Hove’s leadership, Strategos has delivered high‑impact engagements for global clients. Michel van Hove played a leading role in developing FIFCO’s renewed growth strategy, a project that combined stakeholder insight, sustainability‑oriented ambition and concrete opportunity domains to align the business behind a triple‑bottom‑line agenda. The FIFCO engagement illustrates Michel van Hove’s ability to drive a strategy process that is aspirational yet operationally grounded. The work demonstrates his capacity to translate strategic intent into actionable initiatives that balance growth with social and environmental considerations.

Michel van Hove has overseen work with major industrial clients on strengthening innovation systems. In a collaboration with ZF Commercial Vehicles, Strategos helped redesign innovation portfolio management, governance and funnel mechanics to match rising expectations for enterprise innovation, an outcome ZF has described as the “missing link between strategy & innovation.”

Publications, Thought Leadership & Alliances

Michel van Hove contributes regularly to Strategos’ insights on strategy and innovation topics. He is co‑author of practitioner pieces such as “Customer Insight Alone Is Not Enough” and practical guides on developing an innovation strategy and embedding culture. He has also been involved in strategic alliances, including collaborations with crowdsourced innovation platforms, reflecting his interest in opening organisations to external sources of opportunity.

What Distinguishes His Approach

Strategos’ distinction lies engagements where growth strategy, innovation portfolios and capability building are part of the same conversation. The practice is built on the solid academic foundation from the work of Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahalad, finetuned by 30 years and over 400 client engagements.

Who Benefits From Michel’s Advice

Organizations seeking sustainable growth through innovation, from FTSE constituents and multinational corporates to ambitious mid‑market firms, will find Michel van Hove’s blend of strategy rigour and operational pragmatism valuable. His work is particularly suited for boards, CEOs, innovation leaders and in‑house counsel who need a partner that can translate strategic priorities into growth portfolios and innovation operating systems.

Conclusion

Michel van Hove brings engineering discipline, decades of consulting experience and executive leadership to the challenge of building future‑facing organisations. For UK businesses that need a trusted advisor, Michel van Hove offers proven methods, published thinking and a track record of transformational client outcomes. Michel van Hove’s work demonstrates how a mature strategy‑and‑innovation lens can drive sustainable, responsible growth.