Arjen Mackaaij (Mackaay)
About Arjen Mackaaij (Mackaay)
Arjen Mackaaij serves as the Chief People Officer at The Circle by Founders Circle Capital and has extensive experience in human resources and organizational development across various companies. He has held leadership roles at FabFitFun, Front, and Rain Instant Pay, and possesses advanced degrees in business administration and human resource management.
Current Role at Front
Arjen Mackaaij serves as the Chief People Officer at Front, a position he has held since 2023. He operates in a hybrid work environment based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the company's people strategy and initiatives, contributing to the overall organizational culture and employee engagement.
Previous Experience in People Management
Prior to his current role, Mackaaij was the Senior Vice President of People at FabFitFun from 2018 to 2022. He played a significant role in managing the people strategy during a period of rapid growth and organizational changes. He also served as Chief People Officer at Rain Instant Pay for 10 months in 2022, where he defined and implemented a global people strategy following the company's Series A funding.
Educational Background and Qualifications
Mackaaij holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which he completed from 2009 to 2011. He also earned a Master of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resource Management from Erasmus University Rotterdam between 1998 and 2004. Additionally, he has a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, showcasing his expertise in process improvement.
Career Development and Skills
Mackaaij has developed a diverse skill set throughout his career, including strengths-based coaching, global organizational design, and M&A integration. His experience spans various roles in human resources and people management, including positions at LG Electronics and BCG Digital Ventures, where he contributed to scaling teams and implementing effective people strategies.
Involvement in Professional Networks
Mackaaij is a founding member of CPOHQ, a curated forum for Chief People Officers, and serves as an HR Tech Advisor with PeopleTech Partners. These roles reflect his commitment to supporting the HR community and tech startups focused on transforming work practices.