Aart Jan de Geus

Aart Jan de Geus in 2022

Aart Jan de Geus
Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD
In office
7 March 2007 – 31 August 2011
Secretary-GeneralJosé Ángel Gurría
Preceded byUnknown
Succeeded byYves Leterme
Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport
In office
16 October 2002 – 27 May 2003
Prime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende
Preceded byEduard Bomhoff
Succeeded byHans Hoogervorst
Minister of Social Affairs
and Employment
In office
22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007
Prime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende
Preceded byWillem Vermeend
Succeeded byPiet Hein Donner
Member of the Social and
Economic Council
In office
1 September 1988 – 31 March 1998
Personal details
Born
Aart Jan de Geus

(1955-07-28) 28 July 1955 (age 69)
Doorn, Netherlands
Political partyChristian Democratic Appeal
(from 1980)
Other political
affiliations		Anti-Revolutionary Party
(until 1980)
Children3 children
Residence(s)Utrecht, Netherlands
Alma materUtrecht University
(Bachelor of Law)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
, Master of Law)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Jurist · Trade Union leader · Accountant · Political consultant · Management consultant · Businessman · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist

Aart Jan de Geus (born 28 July 1955) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and businessman. He served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs from 2002 to 2007.[1] Then he worked as Deputy Secretary-General for the OECD.[2] From 2012 to 2019, De Geus was Chairman and CEO of the Bertelsmann Stiftung.[3][4] From January 2020 to 2023, he was Chairman of the Goldschmeding Foundation for People, Work and Economy.[5]

Education

[edit]

De Geus began studying law at the Utrecht University and completed his education at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where the law program had a more social-economic orientation.[6] After receiving his Master of Laws in 1980, he did post-graduate studies in labor law at Radboud University Nijmegen.[7]

Career

[edit]

In 1980, de Geus became a lawyer for the industrial trade union of the Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV).[8] In subsequent years he rose through the organization, eventually joining the board of directors.[6] In 1988, he joined the board of the national confederation CNV and was appointed its deputy chairman in 1993. His responsibilities in this position included social security, pensions, health and employment.[7] He was also a member of the Socioeconomic Advisory Council, the Dutch government’s highest body for economic and social policy issues, one that is anchored in the constitution and whose members are appointed by the crown.[9][10]

In 1998, De Geus became a partner at the corporate consultancy Boer & Croon in Amsterdam.[11] There he worked on projects relating to the welfare state for both public and private institutions.[9] He also joined the supervisory board of the Academic Hospital of Maastricht, the advisory council of the Association of Dutch Health Insurers, and the Council of Churches where he was responsible for social policy issues.

Public office

[edit]

In the mid-1970s, De Geus joined the youth organization of the Dutch ARP (Anti-Revolutionary Party), a predecessor of the CDA. Through the years he held various positions in both parties.[6] In 2002, Jan Peter Balkenende appointed de Geus as minister of social affairs and employment (first Balkenende cabinet). He also served as health minister for eight months.[12][13] He was a member of the Dutch government until 2007 (second and third Balkenende cabinets).[14][15]

While in office, De Geus achieved comprehensive social policy reforms making the country's social security system more sustainable and including more people in the labor market.[16][17] For example, he restructured the disability insurance system and the schemes for early retirement. He also included local-level governments in the funding structure for social assistance programs.[7] He was considered a supporter of the country's polder model, an approach that brings together employers, trade unions and government experts to negotiate wages and working conditions.[18] Despite his earlier activities for the CNV trade union confederation, his relationship with the country's trade unions proved difficult.[6][19] In 2004, he withstood a vote of no confidence brought by the opposition Social Democratic, Socialist and Green parties.[20][21]

In 2007, de Geus was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD.[22][23] In this role he advanced a number of causes including environmentally friendly economic growth. He also led the project Making Reform Happen, about the political economy of welfare state reforms. He also criticized the division present in the German job market. [24][25]

Bertelsmann Stiftung

[edit]

In 2011, the Bertelsmann Stiftung appointed de Geus to its executive board.[26][27] In 2012, he became the board's chairman when Gunter Thielen retired.[28] The Bertelsmann Stiftung thus increased its independence from the Mohn family, owners of the Bertelsmann group.[29][30] As chairman, de Geus launched the initiative to internationalize the foundation's activities. With his team and international partners, he developed the global SDG-index, measuring and comparing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals at national levels. [31][32]

Other functions

[edit]

From 2014 to 2022, De Geus chaired the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands-based Triodos Bank,[33][34] a leading sustainability bank with offices in Belgium, Germany, the UK and Spain.[35] Since 2023, He is Chairman of the Academic Institute for CDA, and acting Chairman of College van Toezicht Advocatuur, the Supervirsory Authority over the Dutch Bar. Since 2022, De Geus teaches Dynamics of the Welfare State at the Paris School of International Affairs (affiliated to the SciencesPo University).

Publications

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  • Aart De Geus; Eric Thode; Christiane Weidenfeld (2016). Europe Reforms Labour Market – Leaders' Perspectives. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-036577-1.

Decorations

[edit]
Honours
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 11 April 2007

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Aart Jan De Geus". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General, OECD Secretariat". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Niederländer an Spitze der Bertelsmann Stiftung". Rheinische Post (in German). 7 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Wechsel bei der Bertelsmann Stiftung". Die Stiftung (in German). 7 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  5. ^ "De Geus nieuwe baas Goldschmeding Foundation" (in Dutch). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Angelika Fliegner (May 2012). "Aart Jan de Geus". NiederlandeNet (in German). University of Münster. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Aart Jan de Geus". Internationales Biographisches Archiv (in German). Munzinger. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  8. ^ Gijs Herdersche (2 September 2002). "Nooit de hete adem van leden in de nek". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Biografie: Aart Jan de Geus" (in Dutch). NTR. 19 May 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  10. ^ Brücken bauen – 30 Jahre niederländische Integrationspolitik im Rückblick. Eine Untersuchung durch einen niederländischen Parlamentsausschuss. (PDF), Landeszentrum für Zuwanderung Nordrhein-Westfalen, p. 35, retrieved 30 July 2017
  11. ^ Mark Houben (25 July 2002). "Consultants trots op hun minister". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  12. ^ René Vautravers (23 July 2002). "Die Mitglieder des neuen Kabinetts". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). p. 1.
  13. ^ "Kabinet-Balkenende I (2002-2003)". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Kabinet-Balkenende II (2003-2006)". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Kabinet-Balkenende III (2006-2007)". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  16. ^ René Vautravers (10 September 2003). "Harte Massnahmen in der Sozialpolitik: Haager Regierung schlachtet heilige Kühe". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). p. 23.
  17. ^ Helmut Hetzel (17 October 2003). "Niederlande: Ein Bündnis gegen die Wirtschaftskrise". Die Presse (in German). p. 5.
  18. ^ René Vautravers (16 October 2003). "Zurück zum niederländischen Polder-Modell: Historische Übereinkunft zwischen den Sozialpartnern". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). p. 21.
  19. ^ "Laatste waarschuwing voor De Geus". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 19 February 2004. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Oppositie zegt vertrouwen in De Geus op". NRC (in Dutch). 15 October 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  21. ^ Onze Verslaggevers (15 October 2004). "De Geus onder vuur oppositie coalitie". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  22. ^ "OECD Annual Report 2007" (PDF). p. 121. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General, OECD Secretariat". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Wir bestehlen unsere Kinder". Salzburger Nachrichten (in German). 17 August 2009. p. 2.
  25. ^ Philip Faigle (15 December 2010). "Vollbeschäftigung in Deutschland ist möglich". Zeit Online (in German). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Bertelsmann Stiftung beruft neuen Vorstand". Handelsblatt (in German). 29 June 2011. p. 62.
  27. ^ "Niederländer zu Bertelsmann". Westfalen-Blatt (in German). 29 June 2011.
  28. ^ "Niederländer führt Bertelsmann-Stiftung an". Handelsblatt (in German). 27 April 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  29. ^ Grimberg, Steffen (27 April 2012). "Nicht noch ne Mohn: Neue Führung für Bertelsmann-Stiftung". Die TageszeitungDie Presse (in German). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  30. ^ Johannes Ritter (27 April 2012). "Wir sind nicht die Speerspitze für die Bertelsmann AG". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  31. ^ Bernhard Hänel (28 April 2012). "Von Gütersloh in die weite Welt: Früherer holländischer Arbeitsminister De Geus führt Bertelsmann-Stiftung auf internationales Parkett". Neue Westfälische (in German).
  32. ^ "Führungswechsel unter den Augen des Stifters". Neue Westfälische (in German). 25 May 2012.
  33. ^ "Oud-minister Aart Jan de Geus aan de slag bij Triodos Bank". Business Insider (in Dutch). 1 May 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Oud-minister De Geus naar Triodos Bank". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 1 May 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  35. ^ Martin Hampel (3 March 2012). "Nachhaltigkeitsbanken legen zu". Börsen-Zeitung (in German). p. 5.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aart Jan de Geus.
Official
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Affairs
and Employment
2002–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Health,
Welfare and Sport
2002–2003 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Unknown
 Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Business positions
Preceded by
Unknown
 Chairman of the
Supervisory board of the
Triodos Bank
2014–present 		Incumbent
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by Chairman and CEO of the
Bertelsmann Stiftung
2012–2019 		Succeeded by
Ralph Heck
Preceded by
Unknown
 Chairman and CEO of the
Goldschmeding Foundation
2020–present 		Incumbent
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