Ton de Graaf

Ton started his career in the Military where he learned about leadership while serving with the Royal Dutch Military Police as a Platoon Leader and later as a Captain with the Royal Dutch Air Force. He continued his career in the corporate world as a change manager, interim manager, program manager and HRD manager in various industries before starting his own Executive Coaching firm (Quest Coaching Netherlands). Since then his international scope allowed him to work with senior executives in various countries. He has also been an Executive, Business and Life coach trainer with the International Coach Academy in Australia.

In 2009 he was asked to become General Manager at Praesta International Ltd. An executive coaching firm with 110 coaches in 12 countries across the globe.

Ton coaches in Dutch, English and German.

Professional Expertise
Enhancing personal presence and influence
Boosting creativity and collaboration during times of change
Integration of different business cultures after JV/mergers or acquisitions.
Expanding personal leadership styles
Maximizing business results through systemic interventions.

Education & Associations
Officers Training Academy at Royal Dutch Military Police
Officers Training Academy at Royal Dutch Air Force
Organization and Labour psychology
Various post-academic courses in management, marketing and professional development.
Senior Coach at School for Coaching
Chartered Business Coach at Middlesex University and Professional Development Foundation
Full member of the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC)
Member of the 2005-2006 WABC International Certification Program Expert Panel
Member of the WABC International Accredited Award Panel.
Executive, Business and Life coach trainer at the International Coach Academy (Australia)
WABC's International Representative for the European region. WABC Professional Standards Taskforce.
Mensa Netherlands

The Most Advanced Credential for Senior Business Coaches
Ton is one of the very few coaches in the world who is designated by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches as a Chartered Business Coach™ (ChBC™) after a vigorous and independent assessment conducted by the Middlesex University and the Professional Development Foundation in the UK.

Business coaches at this level are accountable for critical analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation. They exercise substantial personal autonomy and show significant influence and leadership within their organization, the profession or academic settings. Chartered status tells the wider community that a business coach has the highest level of specialized subject knowledge and professional competence.

The ChBC designation recognizes the experienced practicing business coach who has demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of business coaching, significant personal achievements in the field, professionalism and leadership in the workplace, and a commitment to maintaining expertise through continuing professional development. The ChBC is a stand-alone credential and the highest level of certification in the world today.

From the press release:

The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) has awarded Ton de Graaf of the Netherlands, the prestigious Chartered Business Coach designation. This international credential, the first ever chartered-status designation for business coaches and the industry’s most advanced credential, is reserved for the world’s most senior coaches. Chartered Business Coaches have completed the WABC Accredited (Chartered Level) program and have achieved a record of excellence and leadership in their field.
Wendy Johnson, WABC president and chief executive officer, comments, “The Chartered Business Coach designation is as good as it gets. This credential singles out the world’s top business coaches, the ones who have the most experience, skills and training. A Chartered Business Coach is at the pinnacle of our emerging profession—a leader, an influencer, an example to us all.”