Frans Otten
Frans Alexander Otten is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a diverse international career spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Born into the Philips family, Frans has been exposed to the world of business and innovation from an early age. He spent his early childhood in Barcelona and later lived in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2022. Throughout his career, Frans has demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead teams and companies through innovation, early adoption of new technologies, and sustainability-focused business models.
Career Summary:
- 1994-1998: Started as a lawyer at Nauta Dutilh, the largest law firm in the Netherlands at the time.
- 1998-1999: Manager at Corporate Finance, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., responsible for legal counsel within deal teams.
- 1999-2001: Assistant Director at Equity Capital Markets, ABN AMRO Rothschild, contributing to notable transactions, including multi-billion Euro share offerings and IPOs.
- 2002-2012: Founder and partner of Tendris Holding B.V., a venture fund focused on cleantech and sustainability. Under Tendris, Frans co-founded and scaled businesses such as Oxxio, Xximo, and The New Motion, all of which were sold at high valuations.
- 2005-2014: Founder and CEO of Lemnis Lighting B.V. and subsequently Lemnis Lighting Asia Ltd in 2010.
- 2014-present: Majority owner and CEO of Ellipz Lighting Holding Ltd., a company focused on sustainable lighting solutions.
Other Investments and Interests:
- 1996-2002: Financial advisor to the Otten family for a €10 million investment portfolio.
- 2008-present: Angel investor in Qube Financing (Fintech).
- 2014-present: Investor in Mosaic, a company focused on renewable energy financing.
Key Capabilities:
- Leadership: Proven ability to lead and inspire teams in both the Netherlands and Asia.
- Vision: Adept at defining strategic visions and translating them into actionable goals.
- Early Adoption: Skilled at navigating the challenges of adopting new technologies and business models early.
- Motivation: Currently seeks opportunities to leverage over 20 years of leadership experience in innovation-driven businesses within larger teams, investment firms, or institutions.
Personal Interests: Frans enjoys sports, travel, art, and music.