Background · Person

Dirk Delbrouck. Growth advisor since 2007.

Dirk Delbrouck has advised private equity portfolios, SMEs and startups on growth since 2007. His approach: analysis, organization, processes, skillset – execution, not a strategy paper. Over 20 years in marketing, sales and people management, shaped across two sectors: education and e-commerce.

Current role

Since April 2025 Managing Director & Chief Growth Officer at Euro-FH and Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule, the two distance-learning universities of the Klett Group. Responsible for marketing and sales at both universities, also Vice President of both institutions. Focus: scalable growth, digital education, AI integration. In parallel, founder and growth advisor at Valuedialog.

Career

Seven roles, from founding year 2007 to today:

• Since April 2025 – Managing Director & Chief Growth Officer, Euro-FH & Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule. Managing Director Marketing & Sales of both distance-learning universities of the Klett Group. Vice President of both universities.
• 2023–2025 – Senior Vice President Europe, Berlitz Corporation. CEO of Austria, Switzerland, Poland, UK and Israel (5 countries). Digital transformation, growth in revenue and profitability, AI deployment for faster growth.
• 2021–2023 – CMO & MD, compleet (Riverside PE). Joined via an advisory mandate. End-to-end workforce management software for recruiting, matching and staffing of permanent and temporary workforce.
• 2020–2021 – Chief Growth Officer, Cluno. Leading car subscription provider. CAC optimized with data: attribution, lead scoring, AI marketing. Exit: merger with Cazoo 2021.
• 2016–2019 – CMO, IU Group (International University of Applied Sciences). Responsible for the strongest growth in the German education market: scaled student count from 7,000 to over 30,000 in under 3 years. Built the team from 5 to 70+ specialists (data, SEO, CRO, CRM, content, performance), including a 100+ person marketing and call-center team. Performance marketing with triple-digit ROAS. Transformed into the most data-driven university in Europe.
• 2012–2016 – Co-Founder, DANATO. Dropship platform for gifts in DACH, €700,000 revenue in year one, 150 percent conversion uplift across all channels. Exit 2015 to Gruner+Jahr, then a transition role as Director Marketing until 2016.
• Since 2007 – Founder, Valuedialog. CRM, CRO and growth consulting. Clients: Telegate, Telefónica, O2, IFCO Systems. Initiated and led deals with Tchibo, dm, Otto, Pro7Sat1.

Berlitz in detail

As Senior Vice President Europe, Dirk Delbrouck was responsible from 2023 to 2025 for Austria, Switzerland, Poland, UK and Israel (5 countries). Berlitz operates more than 500 locations in over 70 countries worldwide, with a fully digitized course offering. Focus of the role: digital & team transformation and customer experience across the European region.

Advisory board roles

Alongside the operational role at Euro-FH & Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule, Dirk Delbrouck serves on the advisory board of several private equity firms. He has also held an advisory board seat at Giggle.tips since November 2019, a SaaS platform that digitizes sales and customer satisfaction in the tourism industry.

Current focus

Focus areas: AI transformation in marketing and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – visibility of companies in AI search systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. Delivered through Valuedialog for private equity, SMEs and startups, see Method.

FAQ