DSM appoints co-CEOs as Feike Sijbesma stands down after 13 years

DutchNews, December 2, 2019

Feike Sijbesma flanked by his co replacements. Photo: DSM

After 13 years in the top job at chemicals company DSM, Feike Sijbesma, 60, is moving on to pastures new. 

Sijbesma will stand down formally on February 15 but will remain with the company until May to ensure a smooth handover to his successors. 

He will be replaced by the company’s current CFO Geraldine Matchett and COO Dimitri de Vreeze who will take on the top job as ‘co-CEOs’, the company said in a statement. 

‘This dual leadership structure is rooted in the long history of collaboration between them, which has been keenly observed by the supervisory board and is expected to create a strong basis for continued profitable growth,’ the company said. 

Under Sijbesma’s leadership, DSM has shifted from bulk chemicals to focus more on nutrition and health, and materials.