Derk is from The Netherlands but grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. He studied Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente in The Netherlands, where he graduated in Information Management. Derk started his own business process consultancy company during his studies. He worked 6 months in Indonesia for an internet service provider, implemented ISO standards for an Academy in Tourism and for the 3 years prior to joining Amicorp Group was employed by ABN AMRO in business process outsourcing. Derk is part of the Amicorp BPO team; he is Project Manager responsible for the Americas.

Derk speaks fluent Dutch and English and some German, Swahili and Papiamento.