Tjerk Kroes appointed as new member of Board of Governors
Leiden University’s Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Tjerk Kroes to the Board of Governors by the outgoing Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Gouke Moes.
Tjerk Kroes joined the Board of Governors for a four-year term on 1 September 2025, succeeding Lodewijk Govaerts, who stepped down on 1 April 2025.
Experienced economist
Tjerk Kroes received his PhD from the University of Amsterdam and is an experienced economist with a distinguished career, including roles such as Director of Economic Policy at De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). He currently serves as a deputy crown-appointed member of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and previously held the position of Director of Strategy, Policy, Development and Communication at the APG pension group.
Audit Committee
Given his financial and economic background, Kroes will be a valuable asset to the Board of Governors’ Audit Committee. The Chair of the Board, Ferd Grapperhaus, commented, ‘We’re delighted to welcome him to the Board of Governors, and are pleased he is willing to join the Audit Committee.’
Sounding board
‘I’m looking forward to taking on this new role on the Board of Governors of this fantastic university with its long history and strong reputation’, said Tjerk Kroes. ‘Within the Audit Committee, which supports the Board’s oversight of finance, internal controls, risk management and external auditing, I hope to make a meaningful contribution with my expertise as an economist. Beyond my statutory responsibilities as a member of the Board of Governors, I also look forward to serving as a sounding board for the Executive Board in other areas.’
About the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is the statutory supervisory body for overseeing Leiden University. It serves as the employer of the Executive Board and provides guidance and support.
The members as of 1 September 2025 are:
Prof. F.B.J. Grapperhaus
R.G. de Lange-Tegelaar LL.M.
K. Yildirim, EMBA, RC
Prof. C. Wijmenga
Dr T.R.P.J. Kroes