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He has a lot of international experience and a sales management background, has managed his own company, and has spent years in the oil and gas industry. Yet on April 1, 2025, Nobu (his full name is Osabonu Kawabata) started over, in an entirely unknown industry: nuclear medicine. A leap of faith? Perhaps. But for Nobu, it feels like a natural next step. “This world is new to me, but the way of working and interacting with people is surprisingly familiar”, he said. We spoke to him about his first impressions, his motivation for starting at Von Gahlen, and what it feels like to start over in a completely new industry.

From Japan to the Achterhoek

“I am originally from Japan”, Nobu explains. “By now, I've been living in the Netherlands for almost 25 years, and during that time, I've worked in various sectors.” In 2005, he switched to the oil and gas industry, where he spent 17 years in commercial and managerial sales management roles, both as an employee and with his own company. This was followed by a period in the maritime sector, which meant working a lot from home. "And after 10 years of working mainly from home, I missed being part of a company again. Just being able to go to the office, see colleagues, and feel that energy again. I really needed that."

The search for something new

Nobu knew exactly what he was looking for in a new challenge. "An international work environment, a niche market, and, in the best case, something in the manufacturing industry. I like to immerse myself completely in one product or service. Not a dime a dozen market, but something with depth."

Through LinkedIn, he got in touch with Von Gahlen. "I didn't know the world of isotopes and nuclear medicine, but I immediately became curious. What they do here is so specific and so important for healthcare. That appealed to me immediately. I immediately felt a click when I learned more about the company."

Warm welcome and recognition

His first weeks at Von Gahlen have been positive and surprising. "I've been there for three weeks now and I really feel at home here. It's a family business, and you notice that in everything. The atmosphere is friendly, people are helpful, and even though everyone is busy, they make time for you."

The onboarding process is well organized. "I was given access to an e-learning environment as early as the first week, where I got to know the company and its products better. There were also introductory meetings scheduled with colleagues from all kinds of departments. As a result, you feel part of the team from day one." Smiling, he adds, "I even found out that a few colleagues are old acquaintances from my time in the oil and gas industry almost twenty years ago. That makes it extra fun."

Room for growth

Nobu has joined the sales team at a time of considerable growth. "Over the past five years, Von Gahlen has grown tremendously. This also means that the organization must grow along with it on a professional level. Think about subjects like communication, work processes and internal coordination."

He sees an important role for himself here. "Besides my experience in sales and the pleasant contact with customers, I have always done a lot with optimizing processes. So I immediately put effort into that with a colleague. How does the process go from request to delivery? Where can we automate or work more efficiently? We are now tackling these questions step by step so that we can serve customers even better."

Changes are also coming within the sales team. "Due to growth and long-term contacts with customers, the regions have become too large for the existing sales team. Therefore, we will look at the distribution: who can best support the different countries? With my Japanese background, I would love to work more with Asian regions. There are still plenty of opportunities there to build new customer relationships."

Sales as a substantive sparring partner

Within Von Gahlen, sales is approached as a substantive and consultative line of business. "Our customers operate in a specialized and critical market. This requires more than just commercial involvement: we have to understand their processes, think along with them about technical possibilities, and be able to offer customized solutions," says Nobu.

In addition to building customer relationships, there is a strong emphasis on sharing knowledge and giving solution-oriented advice. "We are a conversation partner, both technically and strategically. This means that we also work closely internally with engineering and project management to provide customers with efficient and future-oriented support."

Not a number, but a person

What strikes him most about the culture at Von Gahlen? "It’s the family feeling. Even though there are more than 120 of us, the directors know who you are and really make time for you. Even for little things, like wishing you a 'happy Easter weekend’ in person. That seems small, but it says a lot. Employees are not a number here. You can also see how we deal with customers. It's not about winning large projects, but: how can we help your organization as best as possible? The rest follows naturally."

Three good first weeks

Whoever hears Nobu talk about his first weeks notices it immediately: he feels right at home. The combination of a close-knit, human working environment, the focus on quality, and the unique, technical products makes all the difference for him. "It's not a standard company, you notice that in everything. There is so much knowledge, craftsmanship, and commitment here. I am happy to be a part of this - and I look forward to continuing to build the future of Von Gahlen together with the team."