Apex International appoints MD for Apex Europe

Apex International has appointed Patrick van de Werdt as managing director of Apex Europe, a position he has held since August 2026.

He is responsible for the overall performance and continued development of Apex Europe, with a focus on operational excellence, financial discipline, strong customer relationships, expanding its total solutions offering and sustainable, profitable growth. 

Ruud van Cuijk, CEO of Apex International, commented: ‘Patrick brings extensive experience in industrial leadership and a strong track record of delivering results. As Managing Director of Apex Europe, he is fully accountable for the performance and development of the business. I am confident he will strengthen our teams, deepen customer relationships and drive sustainable, profitable growth.’ 

Commenting on his appointment, Patrick van de Werdt added: ‘I look forward to working with the team on the next chapter of Apex. My priority is to establish a clear direction, understand our customers’ challenges and bring our expertise, services and technologies together to deliver greater value. By investing in our people and applying new technologies such as AI, we can improve our service, work more efficiently and strengthen our position as a trusted partner.’ 

Patrick van de Werdt brings more than 25 years of experience across the automotive and manufacturing industries, with a strong track record of delivering ambitious business targets and leading complex projects. He believes that engaging, aligning and empowering teams is key to achieving sustainable results. Patrick holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, where he focused on digitalization and the impact of disruptive business model innovations. He recently completed an AI leadership program at the University of Cambridge to deepen his understanding of AI’s business impact and prepare to navigate the opportunities and risks it presents.