Personal
Feike Sijbesma (1959), The Netherlands
Medical & Molecular Biology (MSc, Utrecht University) & MBA (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Harvard (Strategic Management), Insead (Strategic Marketing) & IMD (Mobilizing People)
Former positions
Royal DSM – CEO (2007 – May 2020)
‘87-‘98: Gist-brocades several pharma/food leadership roles
‘98-‘07 DSM; ’00-‘07 DSM Managing Board / ExCo
Sijbesma was DSM’s CEO from 2007 till 2020; he served on the Managing Board (ExCo, 2000 till 2020); Royal DSM is a >$30 billion (marketcap) multinational company; revenues of >$12 billion, with >30.000 people worldwide (all continents); DSM is world’s largest nutritional ingredient company and leading in health, biotechnology, sustainable living/energy/materials; Sijbesma has transformed DSM the last 15 years from a bulk chemical into a sustainable innovative science based company (Life Sciences & Materials Sciences) as a purpose led company, contributing to a better world.
Special Corona Envoy NL – Dutch Cabinet (on request of Prime Minister/Health Minister)
focus: corona testing and vaccins (March – September 2020)
Current main positions
Honorary Chair DSM
Chairman (Supervisory) Board Royal Philips
Non-executive Director Unilever
Co-Chair (with former UN SG Ban Ki-moon) Global -Climate- Adaptation Center(s) (GCA)
Member Board of Trustees World Economic Forum (WEF) (Co-Chair CEO Climate Leaders Alliance)
Senior Advising Chair Board Africa Improved Foods (AIF)
Climate Leader and Carbon Price Champion World Bank Group (
External Advisory Board International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Lead Group UN Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) & Co-chair/founder SUN’s Business Network
Board Gen U (Unicef – Nutrition)
Champion (Ambassador) United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Senior Advisor The Ocean Clean Up
Awards
Humanitarian of the Year - United Nations & Leaders of Change Award - United Nations
George Washington Carver Award for Biotechnology - BIO
Honorary Doctorate University of Maastricht & Groningen
Winner Fortune Award Circular Economy Leadership – World Economic Forum
Honored by World Resources Institute (WRI) with the “Courage to Lead” Award
Fortune World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (#44) – Fortune
Most Influential person in The Netherlands – De Volkskrant
World’s 100 most successful CEO’s (#42) – Harvard Business Review (HBR)
Royal Decoration: Grand Officer in order of Orange Nassau – one of NL highest royal decorations
National Negotiation Award Netherlands
Former (board) positions held
Member Supervisory Board Dutch Central Bank
Dutch Growth Funds Council
Dutch Innovation Platform 2.0 (under leadership Prime Minister)
Supervisory Board Utrecht University
Supervisory Board Dutch Cancer Institute / Anthoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (NKI / AVL)
Board Dutch Nutrition/Food Top-Institute (WCFS)
Supervisory Board Dutch Genomics Initiative (NGI)
Board CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council)
Chairman Board EuropaBio (European Biotechnology Association)
Global CEO Council Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries