After leading IMAGEM for more than 20 years, founder Wouter Brokx is handing over the management to Eric-Jan van Alten. Wouter will remain actively involved and focus fully on innovation, strategy and product development. A shift that matches the current phase: a mature, growing company full of ambition to tackle social issues with deep domain knowledge, powerful technology and a proven approach.
Why this step, and why now?
Society is changing rapidly. Municipalities, water boards and ministries are under pressure due to challenges in the areas of livability, climate, housing and safety. There is an increasing demand for knowledge partners who don’t just offer advice but actively participate and contribute to implementation. At IMAGEM, we see this reflected in the demand for innovation, scalable solutions and support for navigating and optimizing our increasingly complex environment.
To respond well to this need, we are structurally enhancing our organization. By transferring the daily management Wouter will focus fully on strategy and innovation, such as the new proposition around policy-aware digital twins.
Founder Wouter Brokx: The Creative Mind Behind Innovation
Wouter has been the face of IMAGEM from day one. As founder and content-driven innovator, he built the company from a clear passion and vision: Advance technology for a better, more sustainable world. Not a listed tech giant chasing quarterly growth numbers, but a Dutch family business driven by social commitment and long-term vision.
“Large-scale innovation and day-to-day operations are hard to combine in this stage of fast growth,” says Wouter. “Both deserve full attention. Handing over the day-to-day management creates space for me to fully focus on innovation and propositions such as Planspace, and accelerate growth. This is where our renewed focus lies, and where IMAGEM can truly make a difference.”
How does this translate into practical action?
This next step boosts continuity, focus, and speed. We’ll keep developing strong tech solutions tailored to today’s complex challenges—like balancing housing growth with quality of life, tackling climate impacts, enhancing public safety, and ensuring knowledge transfer as experienced staff retire.
Amidst this growing complexity, the need for clear choices are crucial. IMAGEM is committed to strengthening daily operations while accelerating innovation to solve the complex challenges in society, together with our partners and stakeholders.
Meet Eric-Jan van Alten
The daily management of IMAGEM will be in the hands of Eric-Jan van Alten. An experienced CEO with a background in IT, project management, support, sales and marketing. He held several similar positions, nationally and internationally, and knows better than anyone how to make an organization scalable without losing the human aspect.
“I believe in the value of structure and discipline evolving into a strong, sustainable routine,” says Eric-Jan. “And in the power of listening — truly understanding what matters to the customer and responding to it with precision.”
With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, he knows what it means to get his hands dirty. Eric-Jan is a true team-oriented leader — someone who thinks proactively, collaborates closely, and draws energy from engaging in conversations to build concrete solutions together.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Eric-Jan embraces life with enthusiasm. He prefers to spend his free time with the people he loves most: his family of four daughters. They can regularly be found together on a sunny terrace, in a cozy theater or at a concert. Soon a new chapter will occur in his life, as he will become a grandfather for the first time, a prospect he looks forward to with great anticipation.
Eric-Jan is also an avid sportsman. Whether it’s a brisk morning run or an intense session at the gym before dawn, he takes every opportunity to keep moving. For him, sport is not only a way to stay fit, but also a moment of mental rest and reflection.
His curiosity and hunger for knowledge never stop. He loves to be inspired, whether by compelling historical novels, thought-provoking podcasts, documentaries or in-depth conversations with friends and colleagues.
Moving forward together
With this step, we are entering the next phase of our journey. IMAGEM remains what it has always been: a dedicated, independent, and Dutch knowledge-driven company. Now, however, we stand on an even stronger foundation, ready to accelerate growth, drive innovation, and deepen our societal impact.
We believe this change will enable us to operate in a more forward-looking and impactful way. We’re excited to meet you, get to know you better, continue our collaboration, and explore new opportunities together.
Planspace - a policy-aware digital twin
A policy-aware digital twin is a digital model that not only maps the physical environment, but also incorporates current policy goals and regulations. This integration creates a powerful method and tooling that allows organizations to become adaptive and make better informed decisions in a rapidly changing world. Consider the evaluation of spatial interventions, the planning of measures, or the testing of scenarios, all aligned with applicable policies. The result: a more transparent, efficient, and adaptable way of working for governments and their partners.