I am a results-driven sales and partnerships leader with a track record of building revenue, opening new markets, and improving commercial execution across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australasia. I’m the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Aegance, where I work directly with founders and executive teams to bring clarity to growth challenges, design intelligent operating models, and apply AI in a practical, commercially grounded way to improve decision-making, efficiency, and scale. Alongside Aegance, I have held senior commercial roles at Houst, Grove Group, and Lobster Ink, leading partner acquisition, managing full sales cycles, building and coaching high-performing teams, and executing go-to-market strategies across Benelux, DACH, and key African markets. I bring a principled, structured approach to my work, combining commercial judgment, operational rigour, and strategic thinking, and I’m known for delivering outcomes that are both ambitious and defensible. I work best when there is a clear standard to aim for and the space to take real ownership. I’m disciplined, dependable, and take my responsibilities seriously, particularly when it comes to delivering on commitments and doing work properly, not just quickly. I tend to lead by example, whether that’s in how I run deals, support teams, or follow things through when the pressure is on. I’m comfortable making hard calls and staying objective, even when situations get messy. I care about structure and clarity because they make performance repeatable, and I’m strongest in environments where high expectations are the norm. I don’t cut corners, and I don’t shy away from accountability; if my name is on something, I stand behind it. People who work with me usually describe me as steady and reliable, someone who brings calm and focus rather than noise. I’m demanding of myself and conscious of quality, but that comes from wanting the work to stand up to scrutiny.

Lawrence Hollander

I am a results-driven sales and partnerships leader with a track record of building revenue, opening new markets, and improving commercial execution across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australasia. I’m the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Aegance, where I work directly with founders and executive teams to bring clarity to growth challenges, design intelligent operating models, and apply AI in a practical, commercially grounded way to improve decision-making, efficiency, and scale. Alongside Aegance, I have held senior commercial roles at Houst, Grove Group, and Lobster Ink, leading partner acquisition, managing full sales cycles, building and coaching high-performing teams, and executing go-to-market strategies across Benelux, DACH, and key African markets. I bring a principled, structured approach to my work, combining commercial judgment, operational rigour, and strategic thinking, and I’m known for delivering outcomes that are both ambitious and defensible. I work best when there is a clear standard to aim for and the space to take real ownership. I’m disciplined, dependable, and take my responsibilities seriously, particularly when it comes to delivering on commitments and doing work properly, not just quickly. I tend to lead by example, whether that’s in how I run deals, support teams, or follow things through when the pressure is on. I’m comfortable making hard calls and staying objective, even when situations get messy. I care about structure and clarity because they make performance repeatable, and I’m strongest in environments where high expectations are the norm. I don’t cut corners, and I don’t shy away from accountability; if my name is on something, I stand behind it. People who work with me usually describe me as steady and reliable, someone who brings calm and focus rather than noise. I’m demanding of myself and conscious of quality, but that comes from wanting the work to stand up to scrutiny.

Available to hire

I am a results-driven sales and partnerships leader with a track record of building revenue, opening new markets, and improving commercial execution across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australasia. I’m the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Aegance, where I work directly with founders and executive teams to bring clarity to growth challenges, design intelligent operating models, and apply AI in a practical, commercially grounded way to improve decision-making, efficiency, and scale. Alongside Aegance, I have held senior commercial roles at Houst, Grove Group, and Lobster Ink, leading partner acquisition, managing full sales cycles, building and coaching high-performing teams, and executing go-to-market strategies across Benelux, DACH, and key African markets. I bring a principled, structured approach to my work, combining commercial judgment, operational rigour, and strategic thinking, and I’m known for delivering outcomes that are both ambitious and defensible.

I work best when there is a clear standard to aim for and the space to take real ownership. I’m disciplined, dependable, and take my responsibilities seriously, particularly when it comes to delivering on commitments and doing work properly, not just quickly. I tend to lead by example, whether that’s in how I run deals, support teams, or follow things through when the pressure is on. I’m comfortable making hard calls and staying objective, even when situations get messy. I care about structure and clarity because they make performance repeatable, and I’m strongest in environments where high expectations are the norm. I don’t cut corners, and I don’t shy away from accountability; if my name is on something, I stand behind it. People who work with me usually describe me as steady and reliable, someone who brings calm and focus rather than noise. I’m demanding of myself and conscious of quality, but that comes from wanting the work to stand up to scrutiny.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Chief Strategy Officer at Aegance
June 1, 2025 - Present
Founder and CSO steering the firm's strategic direction, business development, and client delivery; shaping AI adoption roadmaps, organizational change, and revenue expansion for mid-market and enterprise clients. Facilitates advisory sessions, designs transformation frameworks, and aligns leadership around operational clarity and competitive positioning. Oversees go-to-market, content strategy, and partnerships, including revenue-share arrangements, to broaden service offerings.
Partnership Sales Manager at Houst
July 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025
Drove international expansion and cultivated strategic partnerships across UK, Ireland, Dubai, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Built scalable partnership programs, led cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and product teams, and managed onboarding and performance metrics to ensure a healthy pipeline. Led a high-performing sales team and represented Houst at industry events to support growth objectives.
Regional Sales Manager at Grove Group
November 1, 2019 - June 30, 2024
Drove revenue growth across Benelux and DACH; managed full-cycle B2B sales, including outbound campaigns and pipeline management. Built strategic account plans, identified upsell opportunities, and strengthened client relationships through pilots and QBRs. Led internal product adoption initiatives and managed a team of BDMs, with forecasting and board-level reporting.
Client Success Manager at Lobster Ink
May 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Drove commercial performance and deepened client engagement across eight markets in Africa and the Indian Ocean region. Developed regional growth plans, led product rollout and adoption, and delivered bi-weekly reporting to leadership on budget, performance, and outcomes. Executed targeted sales campaigns and identified upsell opportunities to sustain growth.
Regional Sales Manager at Lobster Ink
February 1, 2015 - May 31, 2019
Led eight markets in Africa and the Indian Ocean, driving demand generation and managing the full sales cycle from outreach to close. Built and prioritized a high-volume pipeline, collaborated with regional leadership on growth strategies, and conducted regular forecasting and performance reviews.
Sales & Marketing Manager at Bo Kega Family Wine
June 1, 2011 - January 31, 2015
Managed trade and private client relationships across South Africa, delivering high levels of service, identifying new opportunities, and planning events to boost brand visibility. Led marketing collateral development, brand messaging, and digital presence to support regional revenue growth.

Education

AI: Implications for Business Strategy Certificate at MIT Sloan School of Management
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Operations Management Certificate at University of Cape Town
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Strategic Business Management Certificate at University of Cape Town
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
The South African Wine Certificate at The Cape Wine Academy
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2011
Photography Diploma at The Photography Institute
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Culinary Arts Diploma at The Institute of Culinary Arts
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2007
Cambridge A-levels at Diocesan College (Bishops)
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004
Senior Matric Certificate at Somerset College
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Professional Services, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education, Travel & Hospitality