For his work, he’s often on the road, but he also enjoys getting out and about in his free time. This colleague is always up for a chat or a good cup of coffee. His mission is to find the best solution for our clients, and he has been doing so with great enthusiasm for years. Recently, he celebrated his 5-year anniversary at Shock Media. In this blog, we’d like to introduce you to our colleague… Gerben!

Hi Gerben! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Absolutely! My name is Gerben Roering, 34 years young. I’m originally from the wonderful city of Enschede, but I moved to Rijssen for love. I now happily live there with my wife and our 11-month-old son.

In my free time, I enjoy meeting up with friends and acquaintances, working on projects around the house, or going for a run. I love staying active and I’m not very good at sitting still. I enjoy going out for lunch or drinks in the city, and if you don’t find me there, you’ll probably find me on the squash court.

How did you end up at Shock Media and why did you choose Shock Media?

I’ve been working at Shock Media for five years now, and I still really enjoy it. Shock Media is a highly technical company with many challenging projects. At the time, I was approached by Denise, HR Manager at Shock Media. I was open to a new challenge, got invited for a casual coffee, and one thing led to another. After a warm and welcoming conversation with Alain (CEO) and Kevin (COO), I knew my future was here.

What first attracted me was Linux and the technologies they work with here. Their mission and vision to become the best in the hosting industry really appealed to me. The ambition at Shock Media is contagious and gives me a lot of energy. Most importantly, Shock Media truly adds value for its clients and completely unburdens them. That means I can also genuinely help clients solve their problems, allowing them to focus on their own business activities without worry.

What did you do before joining Shock Media in terms of work and education?

My very first education was ICT System Engineer at ROC van Twente. During my internship, I immediately started working as an IT Support Specialist, which I really enjoyed. That’s where I learned a lot about technology, problem-solving, and customer focus. In that role, I also came into contact with account managers and realized that I wanted to pursue that path myself one day.

One of my goals was to earn a bachelor’s degree, so I started an evening study in Commercial Economics at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Enschede. At the same time, I joined Shock Media as an Account Manager working during the day and attending classes in the evenings.

Now, more than five years later, I’ve earned my Commercial Economics degree and my role has evolved into Key Account Manager. During that time, Shock Media has also grown tremendously, and I’m proud to have contributed to that growth.

What do you enjoy most about your work

What I enjoy most is that we genuinely add value for our clients and solve their problems. I always like hearing that the infrastructure is now stable and reliable, and that platforms have become significantly faster. Investigating how we can best help clients and finding the most suitable hosting solution gives me a lot of satisfaction.

I also really appreciate the freedom in my role. At Shock Media, I focus on acquisition as well as being the point of contact for existing clients. My favorite part of the job is building long-term relationships and traveling.

Another thing I really love about working at Shock Media is that we also operate internationally. Visiting trade shows is always enjoyable, especially abroad. For example, I was recently in Barcelona, ​​and this week a trip to Finland was on the agenda.

Can you describe what your role as Key Account Manager looks like?

As an account manager, I don’t just have an advisory role I also have a highly technical one. My technical background is very useful in that regard. I spend a lot of time determining which technologies and solutions best fit a particular challenge or issue. The technical knowledge I have combines perfectly with my sales responsibilities, enabling me to come up with the best solutions for our clients.

My work is incredibly diverse. One week I might spend a lot of time visiting clients, while another week I’m mainly in the office answering questions, arranging things, or coordinating with colleagues. No two days are the same, and I really enjoy that variety.

How do you deal with challenges?

In our field we constantly face challenges, some more complex than others. The great thing about Shock Media is that you never face them alone. We have an entire team of technical specialists. If something becomes very complex, I can always involve specialized colleagues to help tackle the challenge. Together, we always come up with a solid solution.

My background already allows me to handle a lot myself. I have strong technical knowledge, but because of the complexity of certain projects, you’re always encountering new cases and challenges. That’s what makes the work so enjoyable and educational. It keeps you proactively searching for the best solutions.

What makes working at Shock Media special for you?

Shock Media is one of the best companies in the market when it comes to Managed Hosting, and we are at the forefront of technology. Current topics such as AI/LLMs and data sovereignty are things I really enjoy working on.

In addition, Shock Media works for many well-known Dutch companies and brands. I always think it’s amazing when I later see a familiar client appear in the media. Knowing that we provide the infrastructure behind it makes me incredibly proud. That never gets old.

Why should everyone apply to Shock Media?

Shock Media is an innovative and rapidly growing company. We’re truly expanding fast! We have a passionate team and an open company culture where everyone feels at home. What makes working here really exciting is that you constantly deal with complex challenges. No day is ever the same.

Can you see yourself working at Shock Media after reading this blog?

Take a look at our vacancies page and apply! Curious about our other colleagues? We have an entire series of “Meet…” blogs where our team members share their experiences working at Shock Media.