Breakwater Partners | Operational Crisis Response & Restructuring

Who we work for

Leaders with a problem that won't wait, no one to hand it to, and the urgency to get it dealt with.

How we work

In your business

On site, inside the operation, side by side with management.

With your people

Alongside your team, so they can take it back once it's solved.

Full operational ownership from day 1

We take it off your plate and hand it back when it runs.

Situations we step into

Acceleration required

Behind plan.
Transformation support

Designed, but no owner.
Post-merger integration

Merger done, no time to lose.
Exit-readiness clean-up

Prepare for sale.
(Re)organisation

Restructuring while the operation runs.
Cost reduction

A hard number, and a control to hold it.
Crisis events

Recalls, regulators, incidents.

Portfolio

Selected engagements.

01

Product recall · European bicycle group

Across 32 countries: 19,000 units collected and remediated, 40,000 upgraded in the field.

(Re)organisationCost reductionCrisis events
02

Manufacturing footprint reduction · Global chemicals producer

Multiple site closures and volume transfers across Asia, on budget; €2.4m recurring savings with payback under three years.

(Re)organisationCost reduction
03

Cash spend reduction · European bicycle group

Cash out cut by half in three months, from €7.1m to €3.3m, held with a weekly cash tower.

Cost reductionCrisis events
04

Customer service turnaround · Contact-centre partner and bicycle group

Annual cost from €3.5m to €1m on a performance-based contract; backlog from 5,000 to 250 in six months.

(Re)organisationCost reduction
05

Supplier switch recovery · European bicycle group

A stalled frame-supplier switch taken over and completed; a 5,000-unit backlog cleared by year-end.

Transformation supportCrisis events
06

Stalled value-creation project · Cargo bike brand

White-label cargo bike launch through three group brands, restarted, made compliant and delivered.

Acceleration requiredTransformation supportCrisis events

The full write-ups, with context, approach and results, are available on request.

References

What clients say.

“Nicolaas and Bas are two great and trusted partners who bring clarity, structure, and momentum to complex situations. Their ability to align stakeholders, navigate uncertainty, and deliver results makes them exceptionally effective in high-pressure environments. And they are good guys to be around.”

Jonas NilssonChief Executive Officer · Accell Group
“An exceptional, agile team that brought immediate calm to complex operational challenges. They stepped into a high-pressure environment, took ownership of the execution track, and delivered solutions with speed and flexibility.”

Chris BarrettEVP Manufacturing, Quality, Service & ESG · Accell Group
“I have had the opportunity to work closely with Bas and Nicolaas at Breakwater on a large-scale, highly time-sensitive and financially fragile turnaround, and can confidently recommend them as an outstanding team. They bring a rare combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, commercial acumen and clear, focused delivery to every engagement. Despite operating in environments where opaque and fragmented information is the norm, they have a proven ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify the key drivers of underperformance, and develop practical, results-oriented solutions that deliver sustainable improvements. I would highly recommend them to organisations looking to deliver outstanding outcomes on their most complex and pressing problems.”

Kat DewingIndependent turnaround expert
“Working with Bas and Nicolaas was a great experience. They bring structure and clarity to complex situations, take ownership, and keep driving progress when things get challenging. What stood out most was their ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and software development teams, translating business needs into clear requirements and shaping practical solutions. Even under high pressure, they remain calm, solution-oriented, and focused on delivering results. They are pragmatic, results-oriented, and a pleasure to work with.”

Anna SotnichenkoManager Digital Excellence · Accell Group
“At the start of 2024, we supported a global recall active in over 30 countries. We partnered closely with the client to rapidly establish a scalable, multilingual customer care operation. Throughout the recall, the collaboration with the consulting team was particularly strong. The partnership with Bas and Nicolaas was characterised by hands-on involvement, clear strategic direction, and seamless alignment between consultancy and execution. This ensured speed, focus, and consistent decision-making in a highly dynamic environment.”

Tobias WalravenChief Executive Officer · RIFF

Founders

Two partners. Both on site.

Nicolaas Ravesloot

Partner

Strategic advisory at KPMG. Commercial and operational leadership at AkzoNobel. Regional P&L ownership for West Europe at Kingspan. Then ran a three-continent product recall to completion.

+31 6 11 91 15 89 nicolaas@breakwaterpartners.nl

Bas de Heus

Partner

General management across industrial, mobility and scale-up environments. Senior operational roles at Pon; CCO of a VC-backed mobility company. Member of the core team that designed and led the recall response from day one.

+31 6 13 97 59 84 bas@breakwaterpartners.nl

Get in touch

A confidential first conversation, usually under an hour, is enough to assess the issue and whether Breakwater is the right firm to act.

hello@breakwaterpartners.nl

Where advice alone isn't enough.