Sports | Society | Governance | Safety
Frank Paauw is a connecting leader at the intersection of sports, safety, and society, leveraging his years of experience at the top of the police to make Dutch football stronger, safer, and more inclusive.
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Frank Paauw has been the chairman of the KNVB since May 27, 2024, and from January 1, 2026, he will also serve as the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the largest sports federation in the Netherlands, with over 1.2 million members. In this role, he operates at the intersection of sports, society, governance, and safety. He is committed to strong, safe, and unifying football, from the largest stadiums to the smallest clubhouses.
Frank Paauw has a long and impressive career in the public domain. After his training at the Dutch police academy, he joined the Hague police in 1986 and later studied Public Administration at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In the decades that followed, he held various leadership positions within the National Police, including that of chief of police in The Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. In these roles, he was ultimately responsible for complex urban issues, public order and safety, crisis management, large-scale events, and intricate criminal investigations.
Throughout his police career, Frank Paauw was intensively involved in football and safety. He was the portfolio holder for football and events on behalf of the National Police and worked closely with clubs, municipalities, mayors, the Public Prosecution Service, the KNVB, supporter organizations, and the Ministry of Justice and Security. Additionally, he has been active as a safety and security advisor for UEFA since 2004 and was involved in, among other things, European Championships, Champions League matches, and international finals. This gives him extensive experience in international football governance and a broad network within UEFA and FIFA.
The selection committee that unanimously nominated him as federation chairman in 2024 praised Paauw for his connecting leadership, social sensitivity, and ability to combine authority with accessibility. Diversity and inclusivity, safe and welcoming football, sportsmanship, and respect are themes he consistently prioritizes. He has extensive experience with media appearances and operates smoothly in a complex political and administrative landscape, both nationally and internationally.
Frank Paauw is known as an analytically strong, results-oriented, and servant leader who empowers people and positions teams effectively. As an active footballer with the veterans of Graaf Willem II/VAC, he remains personally closely connected to the sport. This combination of governance experience, social engagement, and authentic love for football forms the basis of his commitment to the KNVB.
People do not do what you say, but they do what you do.
About leading in organisations with conflicting interests, high public
pressure and societal responsibility. About authority, trust, calmness
and decisiveness in difficult circumstances.
Insights from years of experience with public order, stadium safety and
international tournaments. About collaboration between clubs, supporters,
government and associations to keep football safe and accessible.
The societal role of football as a popular sport. About connection,
inclusivity, sportsmanship and respect, and how football can contribute to social
cohesion.
About managing in an association structure with amateurs, professionals and
commercial interests. Reflections on governance, supervision and decision-making
within large sports organisations.
Lessons from crisis management, metropolitan issues and media-intensive
situations. How to remain steadfast, communicatively strong and human-oriented under
pressure.
Experiences at UEFA and international matches and tournaments. About
cultural differences, international decision-making and collaboration at the
highest level.
About the power of connection, servant leadership and leveraging
diversity within teams. How to create support and shared
responsibility.
Why diverse and inclusive organisations perform better. Practical experience
from police and football, and what leaders can concretely do in this regard.
About switching between different worlds and interests: from supporters
and volunteers to mayors, executives and international organisations.
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