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The beginning

The Maffia was established in 2003 by copywriter and entrepreneur Philip Maes. In 2017 the company became a part of the Cronos Group. During this period The Maffia has expanded itself to a trusted company. Because of this the company was able to build a loyal and high-quality portfolio.

In 2019, freelancer and entrepreneur Simon Coppens became head of the company. Based off his own experiences as a freelancer he devised a transparant and cheaper businessmodel, which benefits both the freelancer and the company.

To support all this, The Maffia enlisted the help of Cronos and the Koo network. Companies like Lunar, SuperMachine, Sprints & Sneakers support The Maffia. Together they build this transparant and correct model.

Simon Coppens

Freelancer and entrepreneur

It is in the spring of 2019 that I was approached by Cronos with the question if I would like to reposition The Maffia. Of course, with my experience as a freelancer I eagerly agreed.

In my last endeavor I would constantly look for assignments through an agency because they know the market and they know my competences. Despite the fact that the collaboration would go smoothly, I would always run into the same problem: the price per day.

As a freelancer I would often get asked if I could lower my day rate because the assignment was long term, with a big brand or a great opportunity.

And when I would get employed, they would take a margin of about 30% on my day rate. But when the assignment would get extended, the margin of 30% that the client would pay per day, would just go on.

When I found out that I wasn’t the only freelancer with this problem, I decided to take matters in to my own hands and I devised a new business model for The Maffia. That’s why The Maffia doesn’t take margins on the day rates, but uses the one-off Finder’s Fee.

“It’s not the freelancer that’s too expensive, it’s the margin that gets taken on him that’s too expensive.”

This way freelancers don’t get pushed off the market and using them stays affordable for the client. At The Maffia we want to offer transparant added value for the freelancer and the client.

Arthur Rottiers

Creative AM/PM

In September 2019, I had the opportunity to start as an intern at The Maffia. During this period, I contributed to shaping the social media channels, maintained contact with our freelancers and daily contributed to MaffiaMatch: our online tool connecting Belgian companies and freelancers.

After completing my internship at The Maffia ans taking my first steps into the job market, I often reminisced about the wonderful time I had at The Maffia. A big smile appeared on my face the day I received a call from Simon, the managing partner at The Maffia. He informed me that The Maffia had experienced significant growth in the past year and was ready to welcome a new colleague. With great enthusiasm, I accepted the offer, marking the beginning of a new chapter for me in a sector that truly satisfies me.

As a Talent Finder, my goals is to provide our freelancers with the same sense of satisfaction in their quest for a project that truly suits them. With The Maffia’s fresh business model, we work daily on building collaborations that benefit all parties involved. Here’s to the next success story!

Marjon Jongbloet

Creative AM/PM

In the autumn of 2023, I was asked by Simon, through LinkedIn, if I knew anyone who would be interested in joining The Maffia as a flying MarComm employee. Even better, he asked me if I would see myself doing the job – and that question couldn’t have come at a better time.

I was looking for a new challenge where I saw the opportunity to further develop and discover myself and my skills. Also, not unimportant to me was to join a fun and motivated team, a company with a warm and open corporate culture. After a few conversations with Simon and Arthur, I was already convinced that this would be an ideal place for me. There was an instant connection and it was clear that we shared the same attitude and vision.

I’m looking forward to learn from their expertise and to seize all opportunities that will come my way. It’s my goal to make The Maffia grow, together as a team.

Barbara Markey

Creative AM/PM

Hello! My name is Barbara, an Antwerp-based professional with a passion for Marketing, Strategy, and Community Engagement. At The Maffia, it’s all about bringing together creative (top) talent and brands – and that’s exactly what excites me. It’s not just about finding the right match but also about creating collaborations that truly make an impact.

With my background in Digital Marketing and Strategic Communication & PR, complemented by a sociological perspective, I understand what drives people and brands. What excites me even more? Spotting cultural trends that influence consumer behavior and translating them into valuable insights. I use these insights to develop projects that are not only strategically strong but also truly resonate with the target audience. As a client contact, I love building strong relationships and working with the team to achieve outstanding results.

What drew me to The Maffia? The no-nonsense approach, the community-driven mindset, and the opportunity to work at the heart of the creative Marketing and Communications landscape. The dynamic environment, the flexibility, and the chance to collaborate with different companies and professionals make this an inspiring workplace. And, of course, all of this comes with a good dose of humor.

In short, at The Maffia, we don’t just build strong collaborations, we also create a team & community where everyone can grow and bring out the best in themselves. And I’m excited to contribute to that!

Laura Berckmoes

Intern

Hey! I’m Laura, an enthusiastic marketing student at HoGent with a passion for communication and content creation. Whether conceiving campaigns or refining brand stories, the impact and possibilities of marketing never fail to amaze me.

During my internship at The Maffia, I get the chance to turn my theoretical knowledge into real impact. I focus on communication, content creation and maintaining strong connections with target audiences.

What gives me extra strength? My experience in the hospitality industry! Here, I learned to switch quickly, work in a customer-oriented way and stay calm under pressure – skills that also come in handy in the marketing world.

At The Maffia, I feel completely at home. The creative, dynamic environment and the chance to work with inspiring professionals make this internship the perfect match for me. I look forward to growing, gaining new insights and helping to build projects that really make a difference!

Emma Taylor

Matching & Talent Expert

Hello, I’m Emma, a 29-year-old Matching & Talent expert with a master’s degree in Marketing & Communication. I am fluent in Dutch, French, and English. My career started at two agencies before applying my skills at a retailer. Currently, I work at The Maffia, where my ambition is to offer top-notch virtual profiles to clients in the future.

Outside of work, I have a wide range of interests and hobbies. I am passionate about traveling, art, sports, books, and culinary discoveries. You can often find me at the gym, as I am a member of an athletics club and have even completed marathons.

My technical expertise includes project and account management, email marketing, CRM, and social media marketing, with copywriting as a personal hobby. As a driven and creative professional, I enjoy conceptualizing and executing innovative marketing campaigns. Friends describe me as energetic, social, and always ready for a new adventure.

My goals contain career growth, personal development, and convincing both The Maffia and our clients of the value of virtual profiles. In everything I undertake, I want to be the versatile and talented professional that I am.

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