Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
I believe that the most pressing challenges of our time can only be addressed through responsible leadership, innovation, and collaboration across sectors. Throughout my career in global business, academia, and public service, I have been driven by the conviction that sustainable progress requires organizations, governments, academia, and civil society to work together to create meaningful and lasting societal impact. Having held global leadership positions at Royal Philips, founded and chaired the Philips Foundation, and now serving as Distinguished Professor of Practice at Tilburg University and a Committee Member of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV), I focus on advancing sustainable development, leadership, and societal impact through cross-sector partnerships. My work is centered on helping leaders and organizations navigate complex global challenges—from health equity and human development to sustainability, inclusion, and responsible innovation. I am particularly passionate about strengthening the connection between knowledge, policy, and practice, ensuring that innovation and leadership contribute to both economic progress and societal well-being. Through my advisory, academic, and governance roles, I seek to inspire and support current and future leaders in building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies
As Chair Global Sustainable Leadership I am driving the incorporation of sustainability and broad prosperity in existing curricula and research as well as setting up new courses in the field of sustainable development and responsible leadership. The course “Global Sustainable Leadership” won the Social Impact Award 2023 of Tilburg University. Moreover, I am responsible for educating students in marketing, services and innovation management and for contributing to the university’s program of research on society and applied science. Prior to my current role, I held the position of Distinguished Fellow of the Globalization, Aging, Innovation and Care research program at the university.
In this role, I helped set the agenda to enable social change in disadvantaged communities through the application of innovation, talent and resources. The mission of the Philips Foundation is to reduce healthcare inequality by providing access to quality healthcare for disadvantaged communities, reflecting our commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and 17 (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development).
As a member of Philips’ Executive Committee, I played a leading role in driving the company’s global transformation, growth agenda and organizational evolution. During this period, I held executive leadership responsibility for Philips’ worldwide market organization and later for the global people and organization agenda. I was accountable for accelerating growth, improving market performance, strengthening customer centricity, building strategic partnerships and developing the leadership capabilities required to support Philips’ transformation from a diversified industrial conglomerate into a focused health tech company. Chief Market Leader (2011–2017) * Led Philips’ global market organization across all regions and country clusters. * Accountable for market growth, revenue, profitability and execution of country strategies. * Drove the transformation of the market organization under the Accelerate! program, strengthening customer centricity and local market relevance. * Built strategic partnerships with governments, healthcare systems and key stakeholders worldwide. Chief Human Resources Officer (2017–2019) * Led the global people and organization strategy during a period of transformation. * Strengthened leadership development, succession planning and critical capability building. * Advanced diversity, inclusion and performance culture initiatives across Philips. * Oversaw the global HR function and organizational effectiveness agenda.
This period included responsibility for Philips’ industrial and commercial operations in China, Russia and Central Asia, India and Latin America, during which I formulated and implemented a long-term strategy to drive accelerated growth. During this period we significantly grew the businesses, conducted eight acquisitions of local companies and introduced innovative business models as a source of competitive differentiation (Xaas).
Throughout my four-year tenure, I led the Consumer Electronics businesses in one of the largest markets for Philips (DACH) and managed the integration of Philips’ former Domestic Appliances/Personal Care and consumer electronics division into the German, Austrian and Swiss consumer lifestyle sector. During my tenure we expanded market leadership positions and improved profitability.
During this period I had several leadership roles in supply chain management, logistics and services. My responsibilities included all after sales service, supply chain and logistic activities for the Consumer Electronics Division.
I started my career as product manager Audio in the Dutch sales organisation of Philips. In the following years I started to work internationally in the B2B domain (CCTV systems), set up the institutional business Group for Philips Business Electronics in Germany and lead the global commercial activities for the Video wall business.