Feike Sijbesma

Feike Sijbesma, a highly esteemed global leader with over 30 years of diverse industry experience, has demonstrated transformative leadership as the former CEO of Royal DSM, steering its evolution into an innovative science-based company, while actively contributing to global initiatives in climate adaptation, nutrition, and health.

Feike Sijbesma boasts an impressive professional background with over three decades of international executive and senior leadership experience spanning diverse industries. His expertise encompasses food, nutrition, (bio)chemicals, health, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diversified industrials, and renewable energy. Widely respected and trusted globally by businesses, NGOs, and governments, Feike serves as the Honorary Chair and former CEO (2007-2020) of Royal DSM. He currently chairs the Supervisory Board of Royal Philips, holds a Non-Executive directorship at Unilever, and is a member of the Supervisory Board of the Dutch Central Bank.

Beyond his corporate roles, Feike assumes key positions in global initiatives, co-chairing the Global Centre on Climate Adaptation alongside Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Recognized as a designated Global Climate Leader by the World Bank and a carbon pricing champion, he also contributes as a member of the Advisory Council of the IMF, the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum, and as the Co-Chair of the Business Network for Scaling Up Nutrition at the UN.

During his two-decade tenure on the Managing Board of Royal DSM, including 13 years as CEO, Feike spearheaded the successful transformation of the company into a leading, innovative, science-based entity focused on Nutrition, Health, and Sustainable living, achieving a remarkable 450% shareholder value creation. His leadership at DSM showcased sustainability as both a key responsibility and a core business driver, reinforcing his commitment to Inclusion and Diversity.

In 2020, Feike took on the role of National Corona Envoy for The Netherlands, contributing to voluntary efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis. His past contributions include serving on the Dutch Growth Fund, the Board of the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Hospital, the board of the Netherlands Genomics Institute, the board of Utrecht University, amongst others.

Feike's educational background includes studies in Medical and Molecular Biology at the University of Utrecht and Business Administration at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Recognised with numerous awards, such as the Humanitarian of the Year Award & Leaders of Change Award from the United Nations, honorary doctorates from Maastricht and Groningen University, and acknowledgements by Fortune and Harvard Business Review as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and one of the World’s 100 most successful CEOs, respectively. Notably, he received the Courage to Lead Award from the World Resources Institute.

Currently, Feike is an investor in smaller companies in the food and sustainability/energy sectors and offers valuable advice to companies undergoing transformative journeys. In 2021, he was honoured by the Prime Minister of The Netherlands as a Grand Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau, one of the country's highest royal honours.