Circle Economy is announcing changes in its Supervisory Board. The Board was recently joined by Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and Jules Kortenhorst, clean energy expert and former CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). At the same time, Herman Wijffels, economist and former Chairman of the Executive Board of Rabobank, the Netherlands, has stepped down after serving on the Board for over eight years.
Last year, our Supervisory Board already proudly welcomed Kitty van der Heijden. Kitty brings an international perspective and a much-needed social perspective with her career path with the UN, the World Resources Institute (WRi) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including postings in North America, Asia and Africa.
‘Circular economy is an integral part of sustainable development. We must engage nations and global communities in meaningful action to accelerate the circular transition. I look forward to guiding Circle Economy on this path and seeing what we can achieve together’, says Kitty van der Heijden.
Our newest Supervisory Board member, Jules Kortenhorst, brings a wealth of experience scaling non-profit organisations as RMI grew from 60 to over 600 people under his leadership. He is also a renowned global energy and climate change expert and was instrumental in launching the Mission Possible Partnership that addresses the hard-to-abate sectors. His background spans business, government, entrepreneurial and non-profit leadership. Before leading RMI, Jules Kortenhorst was the founding CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a member of the Dutch Parliament.
‘I am honoured to join Circle Economy’s Supervisory Board and look forward to our productive work together. In addition to the energy transition, the circular economy is crucial for mitigating climate change, and Circle Economy is one of the frontrunners in this field. I hope to make a valuable contribution to its cause’, says Jules Kortenhorst.
Herman Wijffels is recognised as one of the leading experts on sustainable development and circular economy. In addition to serving on Circle Economy’s Supervisory Board, his career highlights include chairmanship of the Executive Board of Rabobank, the Netherlands, and the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands.
Robert-Jan van Ogtrop, Founder of Circle Economy & Chairman of the Supervisory Board: ‘We thank Herman Wijffels for his contribution to good governance practices at Circle Economy and the organisation's overall success. His impeccable reputation, profound expertise and timely advice were invaluable for our continuous development and the advancement of the circular economy worldwide. We wish Herman all the best in his future endeavours.’
‘We are lucky to have Kitty and Jules on board. With their broad experience in foreign affairs, sustainability and running successful foundations, we hope to step up our work across the globe and forge new ambitious partnerships, promoting the Netherlands as a leading circular economy nation’, adds Martijn Lopes Cardozo, CEO of Circle Economy.
