Ferry Winter

Ferry Winter represents a new generation of global leaders whose careers are defined by the ability to connect deep technical expertise with strategic business thinking and purposeful leadership. His professional journey reflects a consistent drive to understand systems at their core and translate that understanding into real-world impact, particularly in the evolving landscape of energy, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making. As the CEO of AYD Advance Your Data, Ferry is driven to make medium-sized businesses thrive in business performance through advanced data analytics solutions.

His path began with a strong academic foundation in Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University, where he completed both a Master’s degree and a PhD. While the science itself was intellectually rigorous, what truly shaped his direction was a growing fascination with how fundamental research could be transformed into tangible value beyond the laboratory. This curiosity gradually expanded from molecules and reactions toward broader systems, organizations, markets, and societies, especially within the context of energy transition and sustainability. Recognizing the importance of bridging technical insight with business acumen, he later pursued an MBA at Maastricht University, followed by executive education at INSEAD and London Business School, equipping him to operate confidently at the intersection of technology, leadership, and strategy.

A significant chapter of his career unfolded at Shell, where he experienced this intersection firsthand. Beginning his career as a researcher and technologist, he worked deeply within technical domains before moving into B2B Chemicals and commercial leadership roles. This transition allowed him to pair scientific rigor with market-oriented thinking, ultimately leading to senior executive positions, including General Manager roles in technology. As his responsibilities grew, strategic decision-making, organizational leadership, and talent development became central to his work. His final role at Shell, as Director of the Energy Transition Campus in Amsterdam, brought together years of technical, commercial, and leadership experience. In this capacity, he led multidisciplinary teams focused on accelerating energy transition innovation, while building collaborative ecosystems that connected start-ups, scale-ups, academic institutions, and global enterprises. These partnerships were designed not only to explore new ideas, but to turn innovation into scalable solutions capable of supporting meaningful progress in the energy transition.

This cumulative experience laid the foundation for his current entrepreneurial focus as co-founder of AYD Advance Your Data, a data analytics consultancy company dedicated to helping mid-sized companies thrive in increasingly complex environments. Through AYD, his work centers on transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive measurable business impact. By placing business performance at the core, the company leverages advanced analytics platforms and AI to create connected intelligence across operations, sustainability initiatives, and long-term strategy. Under this approach, data becomes a practical driver of return on investment, operational excellence, and smarter decision-making, particularly for organizations navigating profound transformation across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and retail. His role reflects a consistent theme throughout his career: translating insight into action and ambition into measurable progress where technology and business converge.

Beyond his professional life, the same commitment to discipline, growth, and balance defines his personal pursuits. Sport is a daily practice, from long-distance running and regular gym training to the disciplined mastery of American Kenpo Karate, where long-term focus and resilience are essential. Time spent with family, traveling, and appreciating life’s simple moments provides grounding and perspective. At the core of his philosophy is a belief that learning never stops, whether in leadership, sport, or life, and that meaningful progress is achieved through the deliberate combination of curiosity, resilience, and purpose.