Upon appointment, Gehrels will also assume the role of Chair of the board. She will succeed the current Chairman, Michael van Praag, who will officially step down once Gehrels' appointment is formalised.
Gehrels (born in Dronten, 15 December 1967) has been a director at the publicly listed consultancy and engineering firm Arcadis since 2014. Prior to that, she held positions including Director of City Marketing and Communication at Berenschot and served two terms as an alderman, with a portfolio that included 'Sport'. She also acted as Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam. Gehrels holds various other roles, including board positions at Boskalis and Hotel Okura Amsterdam. Additionally, she was a long-serving board member of the Johan Cruyff Foundation.
President-Commissioner Van Praag commented: "We are very pleased to put forward this widely supported nomination. Carolien brings extensive experience in business, politics, and social issues. As a former alderman of Amsterdam and an experienced leader in various organisations, Carolien has demonstrated her ability to tackle complex challenges and deliver sustainable solutions. We believe her ability to connect with stakeholders, combined with her expertise and experience, will make her an invaluable Chair of the Supervisory Board."
