Universiteit Leiden

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Kenan Yildirim new member of Board of Governors

20 December 2022

Kenan Yildirim has been appointed by Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf to the Board of Governors of Leiden University. He was appointed on 1 December 2022 for a period of four years and succeeds Olga Zoutendijk, who was a very valued member of the Board and chair of the Audit Committee from 1 July 2016 to 1 December 2022.

Financial experience

Kenan Yildirim has wide experience as a financial director with an international profile, including as financial director of Shell Netherlands and general director of the Shell Pension Fund.

After completing his Master’s in Finance & Investments at the University of Groningen, he followed postdoctoral training as a Register Controller. His experience also includes the General Management Program at Harvard Business School and an executive MBA at INSEAD.

Role model

Yildirim sees continuous education and development as essential factors for social and economic cohesion. These have also been hugely important for him personally in his career: growing up in an immigrant family, he saw from an early age how education is an important tool for social mobility.

As a member of the Board of Governors, he hopes to use his broad financial knowledge and international experience for the University. He also wants to be a positive role model for bicultural students and staff and help create an inclusive society.

About the Board of Governors

The Leiden University Board of Governors supervises the Executive Board of the University and offers it advice and counsel.

Members from 1 December 2022:

A.F. van der Touw – chair
Prof. E.W. Meijer
L. Govaerts, MBA
R.G. de Lange-Tegelaar LL.M.
K. Yildirim, EMBA, RC

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