Derk Hoekert

Derk Hoekert is a Dutch businessman and entrepreneur. Derk is the director and co-founder of Pargo, a South African parcel delivery company. Derk also served in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and the Dutch Special Forces.

Hoekert began their career in the military, serving in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and the Dutch Special Forces. Derk saw action in Eritrea and Ethiopia as part of the United Nations Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE), and also took part in humanitarian assistance missions in Honduras and Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

After leaving the military, Hoekert co-founded Pargo in 2012. Pargo is a South African parcel delivery company that offers a unique solution for e-commerce deliveries, allowing customers to receive their parcels at convenient pick-up points around the country.

Hoekert has also worked for Groupon South Africa, where they were joint chief operating officer from September 2012 to September 2014. During their time at Groupon, they were responsible for setting up and developing operations in South Africa, as well as coaching department and city managers in their roles.

Derk Hoekert studied at the VU University Amsterdam, where they received a Master of Science (MSc) in Human Movement Sciences. Derk also holds a teacher degree from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Movement Sciences from the VU University Amsterdam. In addition, Derk Hoekert has a propedeuse in Urbanism from the University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle.

Some individuals on their team include Michelle Pillay - Head of Key Accounts & Sales Enablement, Lionel Shap - Head of Operations, and Jennifer Clarke - Head of Expansion.