An era ends, a new adventure begins

When Jan reached his official retirement age in 2021, the question was not whether he wanted to retire, but rather, "Why should I?" The profession was still too much fun, the challenges beckoned and CQM was far from done with Jan. He handed over his management tasks to a new generation, but continued to contribute to our projects with enthusiasm as a Senior Principal Consultant. Jan liked to tackle problems with an open, almost philosophical view. And anyone who asked him a question knew that he would usually get a response in return – often followed by a mischievous smile. In this way he often succeeded in distracting his interlocutors from the real question. A talent that regularly led to confusion for those who were not paying attention!

Now, after 38 years, the moment has really arrived. With his characteristic humor, Jan announced his departure internally with the motto: "Partir, c'est mourir un peu." The soft truth, as he so beautifully put it, is now a hard reality: from October 1, Jan will no longer be at CQM. A sense of nostalgia, but also excitement for the new chapter, was reflected in his message, in which he referred with a wink to the words of Bilbo Baggins: "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

Live in the now

If you were to ask Jan to give you some life wisdom, he would probably first ask you a question in return: "Why would I tell you that?" But in the end, he would say without hesitation, “Live in the here and now.” Jan does not believe in meticulously mapping out a path to a dot on the horizon. “Think about what you want to do, go do it and do it well, but don't worry too much,” he says with a smile. This light-hearted but powerful advice is typical of the way Jan approached his work and life. A bit chaotic, as he would say, but always with a sharp eye for what is really important.

Choosing to study mathematics was once an attempt for Jan to bring some structure to his "chaotic" mind. And although he excelled at finding rational solutions, many will agree that it was his human approach, reflective leadership and self-mockery that endeared him to colleagues and customers.

A new chapter

Now that Jan is really going to enjoy his retirement, he plans to embrace life with his wife, children, grandchildren and their dogs. Whether on the golf course, during a game of tennis or traveling with the camper through Europe – Jan is ready for a new adventure. “There is still so much to discover, so much to enjoy,” he says enthusiastically.

We thank Jan for his years of dedication, humor, reflections and leadership. He not only helped shape our company, but also left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working with him. We will of course miss you, but above all we wish you and Annemiek lots of happiness, health and fun in this new chapter. Enjoy – you more than deserve it!

If you would like to send Jan a message, you can of course do so until October 1 at jan.vandoremalen@cqm.nl or after that time via info@cqm.nl (attn. Jan van Doremalen); We will ensure that Jan still receives these messages!

_{Image by Brian Adam from Pixabay}