Next50: A little less
Management Scope lists the 50 most prominent ‘newcomers’ in the supervisory world in the Next50. A ‘returner’ heads the Next50 this year. Compared to last year, the list has seventeen new names. It is striking (or perhaps disturbing) that the number of women in the list has decreased, and that the list has less people of colour than in previous years. Young people are also far from overrepresented. We wonder if this could have been different.
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‘Not Just Attention in Governance for those who have the Loudest Voice’
Sandra Berendsen took a break from the boardroom for a while. Her dairy farm called, and she found herself working with milking robots in the middle of the night. Now, she is back as a supervisory board member. Berendsen ranks first in this year’s Next50. She is a supervisory board member with a keen eye for the human aspect.
‘Creating space for real dialogue is at the basis of the advisory role’
In 2024, Else Bos stepped down as member of the supervisory board of De Nederlandsche Bank, to focus on positions on the supervisory boards of private companies. The newcomer in this year’s Next50 speaks about the dilemmas in the role as a member of a supervisory board and the functioning of supervisory boards.
Robert Otto (Achmea): 'I want to accelerate the growth of our international activities'
International growth is an important spearhead for Achmea. The cooperative insurer wants to enter new markets with online insurance, among other things. ‘We are at the forefront of digitalization in the Netherlands and see opportunities in other countries,’ says director Robert Otto.
Company secretaries are the guardians of behavioural risks
Underlying tensions and dominant members in the executive and/or supervisory board - company secretaries play an important role in the dynamics in the boardroom. 'Many large companies underestimate the consequences of undesirable behaviour in the boardroom,' was the message during a masterclass by The Board Practice.
How futureproof is your organization?
Which companies have a greater social value than financial value? To calculate this, we developed the AEX Futureproof Index over more than ten years.
'Board and supervisory board members really have to understand each other well’
Fleur Rieter, number seven in the Next50 2025, is member of both executive and supervisory boards.
Feeding 10 billion people sustainably: it is possible
A new report by Deloitte indicates that it is possible to feed almost 10 billion people by 2070 without putting irresponsible strain on the environment.
‘The company secretary is a facilitator, not a wet blanket'
Group company secretary of Prosus, Lynelle Bagwandeen, observes the approval of deals and strategic decisions. She is able to contribute to considered decision-making.
Dimitri de Vreeze (dsm-firmenich): ‘Blindly accepting assumptions is the biggest mistake you can make’
Once, Swiss Firmenich was Dimitri de Vreeze’s very first client at former DSM. For the CEO of today's dsm-firmenich, the merger now completes the circle. A conversation about the merger, De Vreezes own transformation as a leader, clear choices as the basis for strategic success and the belief that you should always question assumptions.
Peter Agnefjäll (Ahold Delhaize): ‘We need to navigate between interests’
Royal Ahold Delhaize is constantly confronted with conflicting interests from various stakeholder groups. Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Peter Agnefjäll, has a heartfelt interest in listening to everyone's concerns and criticism. ‘As a customer-focused company, you must cater to all your stakeholders to be successful.’
