Jeroen van der Veer

Jeroen van der Veer was the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell from 2004-09 where he remained a non-executive Director until 2013. A titan of global organisations, he is a leading authority on energy, leadership and management. His advice is widely sought by business leaders, government and non-government organisations. Presently, van der Veer is the Chairman of the Chairmen Community of the WEF (World Economic Forum).

Recognised across industries, van der Veer was until 2018 Chairman of ING Group. He is currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Philips. He was also Vice-Chairman and Senior Independent Director of Unilever from 2002-11.

During his 42 years with Shell, van der Veer gained a reputation for strong and present leadership by keeping contact between, what he termed “the top floor and the shop floor.” He led Shell companies through major changes, simplifying governance and organisation, and clarifying accountability. Well known for his long-term strategic planning, forecasting the business environment of the future, van der Veer oversaw the world-wide restructuring of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and Shell Transport and Trading in 2004 to become Royal Dutch Shell, which in 2017 had an annual turnover of US$305 billion making it the largest energy group in the world, operating in more than 70 countries.

Fluent in understanding climate challenges and the ever growing population’s need for sustainable energy, van der Veer has had significant roles with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2006-09), advising NATO (2009-10) and as Chairman of New Energy Architecture WEF in 2012. He has also had roles with the Governing Board of the European Institute of Technology, as well as being Chairman of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Van der Veer is also helping the next generation of scientists as Chairman of The Science and Technology Platform (Platform Beta Techniek), a governmental institute promoting education in science and technology.