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Maarten Nijhoff Asser leads the team at Trompenaars-Hampden-Turner Intercultural Management Consulting in the United States, based in Cambridge, MA. He is responsible for working closely with international clients and developing executive learning programs and consulting projects based on THT's "culture for business" concept.

Mr. Asser's areas of expertise include facilitation of change management processes at the senior management level and the development of scenario planning workshops. He explains how strategic dilemma reconciliation, organizational learning, and intercultural competence lead to competitive advantage. He has taught at various international business schools, including IPADE in Mexico, Harvard Business School, and Columbia University's Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Asser graduated from the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law, with a degree in international organizations and intellectual property (1987). Further studies include an MBA in innovation, strategy, information and technology (1997) from Theseus International Management Institute in Sophia Antipolis, France, and extensive coursework at New York University. He worked as an independent consultant for various organizations prior to attending Theseus Institute and during the program he developed scenario planning workshops for the IT function of ABN AMRO bank.

After three years as senior consultant in the Amsterdam office of Trompenaars-Hampden-Turner, Mr. Asser relocated to the U.S., where he has been responsible for the continuous development of the company's interactive, multimedia, and publishing activities, such as "The Cultures Compass." Mr. Asser is also a co-author of the book 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner (McGraw-Hill, 2001).

Mr. Asser uses his experience and expertise to show decision-makers how careful management of cultural differences can create better relationships and team building, and lead directly to improved business performance. His list of international clients includes General Motors, Rockwell Automation, Dow Corning, Telenor, Goldman Sachs, Dow Chemical Company, Cable & Wireless, HSBC, PGS, ING, and Tredegar, with whom he has worked closely to develop programs on integration, globalization, vision, values, and corporate identity.