Feike Sijbesma

About Feike Sijbesma

Feike Sijbesma had several leadership positions at Gist-brocades and Royal DSM. From 2007 till 2020 Feike was the CEO of DSM. He transformed DSM from a bulk-chemical company into a global leading Life- & Materials Sciences company, focused on nutrition, health & sustainable living. At DSM sustainability and innovation are core values and main business drivers. DSM became a purpose driven company: doing well (450% Shareholder Return) by doing good and contributing to a better world. Feike is a strong advocate for diversity as well.

After stepping down as CEO, he became DSM’s Honorary Chairman. In first half of 2020, Feike has been Netherlands’ Special Corona Envoy. He is Supervisory Board Chairman of Royal Philips, and member of the Supervisory Board of Unilever.

Feike is also co-chair, together with Ban Ki-Moon, of the Global Center on Adaptation. He is Climate Leader of the World Bank, focusing on carbon pricing. He is heading the CEO Climate Leaders group and also member of the IMF Advisory Board and advisor of Africa Improved Foods and The Ocean Cleanup.

Mr. Sijbesma received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the UN; as well as an honorary doctorate from Maastricht and Groningen University (NL); he was listed on Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, and one of world’s 100 most successful CEO’s by Harvard Business Review. He got decorated as Grand Officer in the order of Orange Nassau, one of The Netherlands’ highest royal decorations.

Mr. Sijbesma studied medical/molecular biology at Utrecht University and business administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam and followed courses at IMD, INSEAD and Harvard Business School. He is married and has 2 boys.