S'HERTOGENBOSCH, The Netherlands, Oct. 18, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- H.J. (Harry) Baeten (58) has been appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of Van Lanschot NV / F. van Lanschot Bankiers NV as from 1 December 2002. He will be succeeding H. (Bert) Heemskerk (59), who has been appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rabobank Groep as from the same date. Baeten has been a member of the Board of Directors at Van Lanschot since 1986 and vice-chairman since 1998.
Baeten (Tilburg, 1944) entered into the employment of F. Van Lanschot Bankiers NV in `s-Hertogenbosch in 1969. During the course of his banking career spanning more than 30 years at Van Lanschot, he has worked in various capacities. He was Director of Credits and later General Manager, before being appointed to the Board of Directors in 1986. During this period, J.C. van Lanschot was chairman of the Board of Directors. Besides his position as chairman of the Board of Directors and various management positions at the bank, Harry Baeten also has a number of social responsibilities.
Experienced banker
During an extra meeting of the Supervisory Board of Van Lanschot NV, held on 16 October 2002, Mr. H.J. Baeten was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of Van Lanschot NV / F. van Lanschot Bankiers NV.
The chairman of the Supervisory Board, Langman, expressed his utmost confidence in the qualities of Baeten. "Harry Baeten is a banker in heart and soul, an excellent and experienced candidate for the position of chairman. The Supervisory Board respects the decision of Mr. Heemskerk and wishes him every success as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rabobank Groep. Also on behalf of the shareholders and all the employees, we would hereby like to acknowledge and thank him for the skill and style with which he managed Van Lanschot for more than ten years. One of the highlights of his executive career must surely be the successful flotation in 1999," according to Mr. Langman. At the request of the Supervisory Board, Mr. Baeten (58), who will reach the age of retirement in January 2004, has declared himself willing to continue in the position of chairman of the Board of Directors until the General Meeting of Shareholders in May 2004.
Baeten: "Reliability, skill and personal attention, risk management and cost awareness: these are the pillars on which our policy is based. This was true in the past, and it is still true today. In recent years this strategy has proved very successful. We focus on three target groups: wealthy private persons, medium-sized (family) firms and institutional investors, offering our clients customized financial services based on an integral approach. With our expert, dedicated personnel, we prove each day that banking is more than money."
Board of Directors
As from 1 December 2002, the Board of Directors of Van Lanschot NV will comprise:
- H.J. (Harry) Baeten, chairman - C.N. (Carel) van der Spek - P.R. (Peter) Zwart
The vacancy in the Board of Directors will be filled in the course of 2003. The shareholders, the Works Council and all the employees at Van Lanschot NV were informed on Thursday, 17 October.
Curriculum vitae H.J. Baeten
Mr. Henricus Josephus (Harry) Baeten was born in Tilburg on 2 January 1944. After being awarded his Gymnasium-A diploma in 1962, he studied philosophy for one year in Haaren (main seminary). He then entered the employment of the former Amsterdamsche Bank. Besides his position as secretary to the Board, it was here that he became familiar with the business of corporate lending. In 1964 he also started a degree in Dutch law at the former Catholic Academy of Tilburg, now Tilburg University.
In 1969, the same year as his graduation, he entered the employment of Firma F. van Lanschot. During his career with F. van Lanschot Bankiers NV, Mr Baeten became familiar with the work of every department of the bank. In 1980 he was appointed Director of Credits, after which he became General Manager in 1983. In 1986 Mr Baeten became a member of the Board of Directors of F. van Lanschot Bankiers NV. He was appointed vice-chairman in 1998. As from 1 December 2002 he will be the new chairman of the Board of Directors.
Mr Baeten is chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the (foreign) participating interests of Van Lanschot. He is also involved in a number of social activities. He is chairman of the Advisory Council Foundation Nursing Home (Adviesraad Stichting Gasthuis) in Tilburg, vice-chairman of the Supervisory Committee of NIBE-SVV in Amsterdam, treasurer of the Foundation for the Catholic Needy (Stichting Katholieke Noden) in Hilversum and chairman of the Socio-Economic Committee of the Dutch Association of Banks (NVB).
van Lanschot Bankiers NV is the oldest independent bank in the Netherlands, with a history going back to 1737. The bank focuses on three target groups: the wealthy private person, the medium-sized (family) firm and the institutional investor. Van Lanschot stands for high quality service, in which integral consultancy, personal service and customized solutions are central. Van Lanschot NV is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Market.