Pieter van Oord will become the new CEO of Schiphol from next summer. The airport announced this today. He is appointed for a period of four years and is the successor to current CEO Ruud Sondag, who has been in charge at Schiphol since November.
Van Oord has been managing Royal Van Oord for fifteen years, one of the largest dredging companies in the world, which builds ports and wind farms, among other things. He is also chairman of the Feijenoord Stadium (popularly known as De Kuip) and is on the Supervisory Board of De Hoge Veluwe National Park.
In a press release, the airport’s supervisory board praises him for his focus on sustainability, which ‘is in line with Schiphol’s ambitions to accelerate sustainability and reduce the burden on the environment and the climate.’ Van Oord will start his new job on June 1, 2024, and has been appointed until at least mid-2028.
Nuisance to local residents
Just two weeks ago, Schiphol’s sustainability was a topic of discussion when outgoing Infrastructure Minister Harbers scrapped downsizing plans that were in place for the airport after pressure from the US and the European Commission. This is to the disgust of local residents, who resisted more and more fiercely against noise and pollution from aircraft flying over.
Van Oord will succeed Ruud Sondag, who was appointed temporarily and will leave on March 1 next year. Sondag was published last week News hourwhere he himself contributed by stating, among other things, that the current nuisance for local residents is not sustainable.
In the time between Sondag’s resignation and Van Oord’s first day on the job, Robert Carsouw will serve as airport boss. He is now responsible for Schiphol’s finances.