The practice
25 years in Canadian HR.
Built on judgment, not retainers.
XNL HR & Communications is a one-partner practice in Newmarket, Ontario. Founded by Evert Akkerman in 2012. Most engagements are Ontario-based; the practice works Canada-wide on the right files.
Evert Akkerman
Founder · senior partner
Evert Akkerman.
Evert has been writing about Canadian HR for thirteen years. Op-eds, guest commentary, and feature columns in Canadian HR Reporter, Municipal World, HR News Canada, Talent Canada, and Law360 Canada. The throughline: plain, direct, defensible language for senior audiences.
Before founding XNL in 2012, Evert managed HR for a Canadian financial institution. He holds an LL.M. from a Dutch law school and a CHRL designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association.
He runs XNL as a one-partner practice on purpose. No analysts, no bait-and-switch, no monthly retainers you can’t opt out of. You get him on the file, and you pay for the work he does.
The work covers the full range. A handbook update or a single policy review can be one week. A wrongful-dismissal file prep or a senior search support engagement runs longer. Evert is happy to do either, and quotes accordingly.
“In many organizations, performance reviews are a ritual dance: a lot of movement and no progress. Meanwhile, your exposure grows.”
Credentials
- CHRL · Human Resources Professionals Association
- LL.M. · Dutch law school
- Senior HR practice since 2012
Recognition
- Canada’s Top-25 HR Professionals · 2016, 2017
- Randstad Innovation in HR Award · 2015
Representative engagements
- The Lunch Lady Group: performance review process (2025)
- Central York Chamber of Commerce: successor offer + JD (2025)
- Habitat for Humanity GTA: amalgamation HR lead (2014)
- Anova Fertility: co-op program (Randstad Award, 2015)
Languages
- English · Fluent
- Dutch · Native
Next step
Ready to talk
to the practice?
30-minute intake, no cost. Call 289.338.4001 or email through the contact page.