Ramses Meijer: Experienced Operator in Fintech and Travel Industries
Ramses "Rams" Meijer is an accomplished operator with extensive experience overseeing sizeable multi-million dollar businesses in both the fintech and travel industries. His career has been marked by his ability to effectively manage all components of online technology, including product management, marketing, sales, analytics, business development, call centers, and operations. He has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to lead large, geographically dispersed teams, driving fast optimizations, growth, and the development of long-term strategies. His approach to leadership is holistic, integrating various aspects of business operations to achieve sustained success and market competitiveness.
Leadership and Growth at WerkMagic
Capitalizing on his vast industry experience, Ramses founded WerkMagic, a full-service property management, marketing, and consulting company based in North Carolina. As the owner and CEO, he has channeled his extensive expertise in sales and marketing strategy, people management, company culture, online marketplace, and organizational leadership into the company's operations. WerkMagic offers a range of critical services to short-term rental owners, and under his leadership, the company is poised for significant growth. His strategic vision and leadership skills are critical drivers in accelerating WerkMagic's trajectory, ensuring the company delivers exceptional value to its clients.
Strategic Impact at LendingTree
During his nearly five years at LendingTree, Meijer quickly distinguished himself through his talents and accomplishments. He initially joined the online lending marketplace as General Manager, where he was responsible for overseeing credit cards, student loans, and auto loans. His success in this role led to his promotion to Vice President of General Management Operations and later to Senior Vice President of General Management Operations for all of LendingTree's lending marketplace businesses. In these senior roles, he managed a $700 million annual revenue portfolio, with ownership over P&L, business strategy, operations, and execution across ten business lines and six brands.
Ramses played a crucial role in delivering strategic direction across various business lines, including auto loans, business loans, credit cards, credit repair, debt relief, deposits, home equity, home purchase, home refinance, and personal loans. He led core vertical teams consisting of General Managers, Product, Sales, Marketing, Analytics, Finance, and Tech to execute strategies that drove growth and enhanced the company's market position. Notably, he was instrumental in leading the efforts for Ovation.com's successful exit and integrating other acquired brands closer to the leading LendingTree brand, further solidifying the company's leadership in the fintech industry.
Pioneering Roles at Expedia Group
Before his impactful tenure at LendingTree, Ramses Meijer spent six years at Expedia Group, where he held several key positions. His last role at Expedia was as General Manager of North American brands, including Orbitz, Travelocity, and CheapTickets. During his time at Expedia, he led several innovative brand campaigns for Orbitz, including "Just Like That," "Travel with Pride," "Santas in Santa Monica," "National Spoil Your Dog Day with Orbitz," and "It's a Great Big World." These campaigns were forward-thinking and resonated strongly with diverse audiences, driving brand recognition and customer engagement. His career at Expedia was marked by his ability to consistently deliver results, as evidenced by his three promotions in six years.
Foundation in Hotel Sales and Marketing
Meijer's professional journey began in the hotel sales and marketing industry, where he gained valuable experience over 14 years. He worked at several prestigious hotels, including the InterContinental in Washington, DC, and Chicago, where he served as Senior/Sales Manager. He also held the position of Director of Sales at Omni Hotels Dallas, Bel Air Hotel The Hague, and The Langham Hotel Chicago. In these roles, he was responsible for driving revenue growth, developing strategic sales and marketing plans, and building strong client relationships. His early career in the hospitality industry provided him with a solid foundation in customer service and leadership, skills that have been integral to his success in later roles.
International Background and Educational Journey
Born in Doetinchem, The Netherlands, Ramses has a rich international background that has shaped his professional and personal life. He attended NHL Stenden Hotel Management School in the Netherlands and later moved to the United States in September 1999 to complete his bachelor's degree in hospitality. He undertook a full-year internship at The Ritz-Carlton Company, where he received several awards for his outstanding performance. Fluent in English, Dutch, and German, he has lived in various cities, including Doetinchem, Leeuwarden, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas, and Charlotte. His diverse experiences have given him a global perspective, which he brings to every aspect of his work and life.
Family Life and Personal Interests
Ramses Meijer is a devoted family man, married to April, with whom he has a daughter, Maxime, and two dogs, Riley and Remy. He is actively involved in Maxime's academic and sports activities, serving as her coach for YMCA volleyball and soccer teams. The Meijer family enjoys spending quality time together, whether it's traveling the world, exploring new adventures, or enjoying nature. They particularly love the Carolina Mountains and make annual ski trips to Utah and Colorado. He values the balance between his professional achievements and his family life, ensuring that both aspects are fulfilling and enriching.
Passion for Sports and Athletics
Sports have always been a significant part of Meijer's life. Growing up in the Netherlands, he developed a deep love for soccer, a passion he pursued until the age of 33. His older brother, Rogier, is a professional football coach for the Dutch Eredivisie club NEC, highlighting the family's strong connection to the sport. After stepping away from soccer, he took on new challenges, including marathon running and triathlons. He completed the Chicago and Las Vegas marathons in 2015 and 2016 and the Louisville Ironman in 2018, showcasing his commitment to physical fitness and perseverance. In recent years, he has resumed playing tennis and occasionally plays pickleball, participating in local leagues in Charlotte.
DIY Projects and Home Improvement Enthusiast
When he's not focusing on his professional responsibilities or engaging in sports, Ramses enjoys taking on DIY projects around the house. He has a keen interest in home improvement, and his recent projects include building a new 25x20 composite deck, an 80-foot yard fence, and an outdoor swing set. He also undertook interior renovations, such as rebuilding the laundry room and installing new cabinetry and a backsplash on the fireplace. His hands-on approach to these projects reflects his attention to detail and his commitment to creating a comfortable and well-maintained home environment for his family.
Commitment to Community Service and Philanthropy
Ramses Meijer is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He volunteers his time with various organizations, including coaching at the YMCA, assisting at food pantries, and supporting homeless shelters. He and his family also contribute financially to several charities each year, demonstrating their dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Through his volunteer work and philanthropic efforts, he exemplifies the values of leadership, compassion, and community involvement, always striving to help those in need and contribute to the well-being of his community.
Leadership and Growth at WerkMagic
Capitalizing on his vast industry experience, Ramses founded WerkMagic, a full-service property management, marketing, and consulting company based in North Carolina. As the owner and CEO, he has channeled his extensive expertise in sales and marketing strategy, people management, company culture, online marketplace, and organizational leadership into the company's operations. WerkMagic offers a range of critical services to short-term rental owners, and under his leadership, the company is poised for significant growth. His strategic vision and leadership skills are critical drivers in accelerating WerkMagic's trajectory, ensuring the company delivers exceptional value to its clients.
Strategic Impact at LendingTree
During his nearly five years at LendingTree, Meijer quickly distinguished himself through his talents and accomplishments. He initially joined the online lending marketplace as General Manager, where he was responsible for overseeing credit cards, student loans, and auto loans. His success in this role led to his promotion to Vice President of General Management Operations and later to Senior Vice President of General Management Operations for all of LendingTree's lending marketplace businesses. In these senior roles, he managed a $700 million annual revenue portfolio, with ownership over P&L, business strategy, operations, and execution across ten business lines and six brands.
Ramses played a crucial role in delivering strategic direction across various business lines, including auto loans, business loans, credit cards, credit repair, debt relief, deposits, home equity, home purchase, home refinance, and personal loans. He led core vertical teams consisting of General Managers, Product, Sales, Marketing, Analytics, Finance, and Tech to execute strategies that drove growth and enhanced the company's market position. Notably, he was instrumental in leading the efforts for Ovation.com's successful exit and integrating other acquired brands closer to the leading LendingTree brand, further solidifying the company's leadership in the fintech industry.
Pioneering Roles at Expedia Group
Before his impactful tenure at LendingTree, Ramses Meijer spent six years at Expedia Group, where he held several key positions. His last role at Expedia was as General Manager of North American brands, including Orbitz, Travelocity, and CheapTickets. During his time at Expedia, he led several innovative brand campaigns for Orbitz, including "Just Like That," "Travel with Pride," "Santas in Santa Monica," "National Spoil Your Dog Day with Orbitz," and "It's a Great Big World." These campaigns were forward-thinking and resonated strongly with diverse audiences, driving brand recognition and customer engagement. His career at Expedia was marked by his ability to consistently deliver results, as evidenced by his three promotions in six years.
Foundation in Hotel Sales and Marketing
Meijer's professional journey began in the hotel sales and marketing industry, where he gained valuable experience over 14 years. He worked at several prestigious hotels, including the InterContinental in Washington, DC, and Chicago, where he served as Senior/Sales Manager. He also held the position of Director of Sales at Omni Hotels Dallas, Bel Air Hotel The Hague, and The Langham Hotel Chicago. In these roles, he was responsible for driving revenue growth, developing strategic sales and marketing plans, and building strong client relationships. His early career in the hospitality industry provided him with a solid foundation in customer service and leadership, skills that have been integral to his success in later roles.
International Background and Educational Journey
Born in Doetinchem, The Netherlands, Ramses has a rich international background that has shaped his professional and personal life. He attended NHL Stenden Hotel Management School in the Netherlands and later moved to the United States in September 1999 to complete his bachelor's degree in hospitality. He undertook a full-year internship at The Ritz-Carlton Company, where he received several awards for his outstanding performance. Fluent in English, Dutch, and German, he has lived in various cities, including Doetinchem, Leeuwarden, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas, and Charlotte. His diverse experiences have given him a global perspective, which he brings to every aspect of his work and life.
Family Life and Personal Interests
Ramses Meijer is a devoted family man, married to April, with whom he has a daughter, Maxime, and two dogs, Riley and Remy. He is actively involved in Maxime's academic and sports activities, serving as her coach for YMCA volleyball and soccer teams. The Meijer family enjoys spending quality time together, whether it's traveling the world, exploring new adventures, or enjoying nature. They particularly love the Carolina Mountains and make annual ski trips to Utah and Colorado. He values the balance between his professional achievements and his family life, ensuring that both aspects are fulfilling and enriching.
Passion for Sports and Athletics
Sports have always been a significant part of Meijer's life. Growing up in the Netherlands, he developed a deep love for soccer, a passion he pursued until the age of 33. His older brother, Rogier, is a professional football coach for the Dutch Eredivisie club NEC, highlighting the family's strong connection to the sport. After stepping away from soccer, he took on new challenges, including marathon running and triathlons. He completed the Chicago and Las Vegas marathons in 2015 and 2016 and the Louisville Ironman in 2018, showcasing his commitment to physical fitness and perseverance. In recent years, he has resumed playing tennis and occasionally plays pickleball, participating in local leagues in Charlotte.
DIY Projects and Home Improvement Enthusiast
When he's not focusing on his professional responsibilities or engaging in sports, Ramses enjoys taking on DIY projects around the house. He has a keen interest in home improvement, and his recent projects include building a new 25x20 composite deck, an 80-foot yard fence, and an outdoor swing set. He also undertook interior renovations, such as rebuilding the laundry room and installing new cabinetry and a backsplash on the fireplace. His hands-on approach to these projects reflects his attention to detail and his commitment to creating a comfortable and well-maintained home environment for his family.
Commitment to Community Service and Philanthropy
Ramses Meijer is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He volunteers his time with various organizations, including coaching at the YMCA, assisting at food pantries, and supporting homeless shelters. He and his family also contribute financially to several charities each year, demonstrating their dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Through his volunteer work and philanthropic efforts, he exemplifies the values of leadership, compassion, and community involvement, always striving to help those in need and contribute to the well-being of his community.
