Ruben's work
About Ruben
Managing Director & Production Executive | Market entry, P&L and global teams | Now focused on AI-enabled operations and workflow transformation
I build creative businesses, teams and capabilities that work across borders. For 15+ years I've operated where creative, production and business leadership meet, across Europe, the US and Asia: opening markets, restructuring and scaling teams, building production ecosystems, and leading businesses through growth and change.
I've sat on both sides of the table. I understand the ambition behind a creative idea, the complexity of making it happen, and the commercial reality that makes a business sustainable, and I keep all three in balance without compromising one for another.
That has meant leading the European expansion of a US marketing agency and building its Amsterdam content hub; improving the profitability of a VFX studio in Shanghai; restructuring ZORBA's operations in Shanghai and Singapore after a major reorganisation; and building a global in-house live action and CG studio, with work for brands including Apple, Volkswagen, Nike, Lancôme and Dior.
Much of my career has been about connecting worlds: US and European businesses with Asian markets, global ambition with local talent, strategy with execution. International growth works best when you build something local that is stronger for its culture and talent, not when you export a model.
I'm currently taking time for family. I'm open to conversations about general management, operations and growth roles in creative, content and technology-driven (Ai) businesses. At the core, I'm a builder. I bring people together, create the conditions for great work, and build the businesses behind it to last. I'm also studying AI strategy and adoption and testing it on real (production) workflows.
I build creative businesses, teams and capabilities that work across borders. For 15+ years I've operated where creative, production and business leadership meet, across Europe, the US and Asia: opening markets, restructuring and scaling teams, building production ecosystems, and leading businesses through growth and change.
I've sat on both sides of the table. I understand the ambition behind a creative idea, the complexity of making it happen, and the commercial reality that makes a business sustainable, and I keep all three in balance without compromising one for another.
That has meant leading the European expansion of a US marketing agency and building its Amsterdam content hub; improving the profitability of a VFX studio in Shanghai; restructuring ZORBA's operations in Shanghai and Singapore after a major reorganisation; and building a global in-house live action and CG studio, with work for brands including Apple, Volkswagen, Nike, Lancôme and Dior.
Much of my career has been about connecting worlds: US and European businesses with Asian markets, global ambition with local talent, strategy with execution. International growth works best when you build something local that is stronger for its culture and talent, not when you export a model.
I'm currently taking time for family. I'm open to conversations about general management, operations and growth roles in creative, content and technology-driven (Ai) businesses. At the core, I'm a builder. I bring people together, create the conditions for great work, and build the businesses behind it to last. I'm also studying AI strategy and adoption and testing it on real (production) workflows.