Marc Saris

Founding Partner

With a global career spanning sales and procurement leadership roles at Royal Dutch Shell, The Gap Partnership, and NPM Capital, Marc has navigated complex, high-stakes negotiations across industries. Having worked internationally in Dubai, Iraq, and the Netherlands, and having grown up in Brazil, the United States, the Netherlands, and Taiwan, he brings a truly global perspective to every negotiation. Throughout his career, Marc has trained more than 1,100 professionals in negotiation, helping individuals and organizations strengthen their commercial capabilities and achieve better outcomes. His deep expertise in negotiation, contract management, and strategy makes him an invaluable partner in delivering lasting results. Outside of work, Marc lives in Brabant, the Netherlands, where he enjoys coaching as a rugby trainer for a youth team, cooking, running, and spending time with his family.

Experience

2022-now
Impact Negotiation Group
Founding Partner
2021-2022
NPM Capital Procurement
Manager & Commercial Advisor
2017-2021
The Gap Partnership
Senior Negotiation Consultant
2012-2017
Royal Dutch Shell
Contract & Procurement

Biography

I was born in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, but my upbringing was global, including stays in São Paulo, Brazil; Ann Arbor, USA; and Taipei, Taiwan. This diverse exposure early in life offered me invaluable insights into cross-cultural dynamics and business practices. This naturally led me to pursue a degree in International Business at Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

My innate creativity, curiosity, and technical inclination steered me towards a Master’s in Innovation Management. Post-graduation, I embarked on my professional journey with Royal Dutch Shell in the Contracting and Procurement Department, which sparked my interest in negotiation. I further explored this interest at The Gap Partnership as a consultant and later at NPM Capital, a private equity firm.

In 2022, recognizing the untapped potential and significant value of negotiation consultancy, I co-founded Impact Negotiation Group with Jan Aerts.
Currently, I live in The Netherlands with my wife and twin boys. My leisure time is filled with activities like coaching a youth rugby team, reading, running, cycling, cooking, and enjoying music.

For me, negotiation transcends mere deal-making. It’s a life philosophy, as negotiation skills are mirrored in nearly all human interactions. I am passionately committed to expanding and disseminating knowledge in the field of negotiation.