Robert van der Wallen is a Dutch entrepreneur and investor. He was born in 1957 in the Brabant village of Vlijmen and began his career as a successful entrepreneur in the automotive industry. In 1995, he founded his own company: Van der Wallen Auto's. The company grew rapidly, and in 2000, he sold it to AutoBinck Group.
Following the sale of his automotive company, he founded BrandLoyalty in 2001, a company that develops loyalty programs for clients including supermarkets. The company grew into a multinational with offices all over the world and was sold to the American firm Alliance Data Systems in 2018.
After the sale of BrandLoyalty, Van der Wallen founded R12 Groep, an investment firm that focuses on technology companies. He also invests in sustainable energy and has, among other things, invested in the Dutch company Powerfield, which is involved in the development of solar energy projects.
Van der Wallen is known as a successful and innovative entrepreneur and was named Brabant Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. His net worth is estimated at approximately 1.3 billion euros.
In March 2023, Van der Wallen once again became the owner of BrandLoyalty. The company had been performing poorly in recent years: the revenue declined and it suffered losses. Van der Wallen seized his opportunity and bought the company back for the paltry sum of six million. It might just be the deal of the year, according to the buzz in business circles. He immediately announced a reorganization. 'It's not as if the company has been managed that well; a minor restructuring is necessary,' he said.
Van der Wallen has been the chairman of the supervisory board of PSV since 2022, following the departure of executive John de Jong. He has been a PSV fan since he was a child, and as his wealth grew, he purchased a skybox at the Philips Stadion. He has been involved with the football club professionally since 2016, having been asked to join the supervisory board due to his business acumen.