Profile of the Supervisory Board
Van Gogh Museum Foundation, Amsterdam
This profile is formulated in keeping with the Code Cultural Governance. According to the Code’s principles, the Supervisory Board may not have a one-sided composition regardless of the potential individual suitability of each of its members. Accordingly, at least one member of the Board must have knowledge of and experience with social relations. Expertise and experience in the financial, economic and social sectors must be independently represented. Furthermore, at least one member must have a thorough understanding of the specific kinds of activities concerned, in this case the tasks and operation of a large museum.
The members of the Supervisory Board are appointed by the Supervisory Board, having heard the general director.
Independence and Incompatibility
The proper functioning of a Supervisory Board is closely linked to the objectivity and independence of its members. The Board must be composed such that its members can operate independently and critically vis-à-vis each other and management (Statutes: article 11). Upon appointment, there should be no differences or conflicts of interest (measures will continue to be taken should such obstacles arise during the term of office).
Desired Composition of the Board
The statutory number of members of the Supervisory Board is at least five (Statutes: article 10, section 2). The following factors are important in determining the desired composition of the Supervisory Board:
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The Board must be able to responsibly fulfil the tasks as prescribed by law, the Code Cultural Governance and other rules;
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The Board must strive to achieve a representative mixture of age, gender, nationality, experience and cultural background of its individual members;
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The Board requires the following areas of expertise (listed in random order) to be well-represented: managerial and political experience on a national level; financial and business; judicial; cultural diversity; intercultural communication; social relations.
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The Board requires that one of its members be a director of an international museum. The chairmanship is not by definition bound to one of the aforementioned categories.
The chairman cannot be the director of an international museum. The position of treasurer is filled by a member specialised in finance and business.
Supervision and Advice
Members of the Supervisory Board are expected - also with respect to making time available - to supervise and stimulate management policy and the general course of events within the foundation in a timely and competent fashion, and to advise management in the development and implementation of policy. In addition, the members must operate independently and critically vis-à-vis other members of the Board and management and in the absence of management take measures to ensure leadership of the foundation.
Present composition of the Board
Mr H.J. (Hendrik Jan) Roel (chair, appointed until November 2028)
Ancillary activities: Member Board of Trustees and Chair Audit Committee Hotelschool The Hague; Member of the Supervisory Board and Chair Audit Committee GS1 Nederland.
Ms M. (Maurine) Alma (member, appointed until June 2026)
Ancillary activities: Member of the Coolblue B.V. Supervisory Board; Member of the Nimbus Ventures Advisory Board.
Ms M. (Marian) Spier (member, appointed until August 2028)
Primary position: CEO of IAMarian
Ancillary activities: Member of the Governance Committee Van Doorne; Member of the Board VandenEnde Foundation; Chair SIDN Fonds, Founder of FEM-START.
Ms L. (Laurence) des Cars (member, appointed until February 2027)
Primary position: Director of Musée du Louvre
Ancillary activities: Member of the Board of Trustees of France Muséums; Chair of the France Muséums Scientific Committee; Deputy Chair of the Louvre Abu Dhabi acquisitions commission; Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Louvre Lens; Member of the Board of Trustees of the École du Louvre; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Chancellerie des Universités; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Cité de la musique – Philharmonie of Paris; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Musée des impressionnismes of Giverny; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Musée Clemenceau Foundation; Member of the RMN-GP Strategic Orientation Council; Member of the BNF acquisitions commission; Member of the Scientific Committee of the Festival de l'histoire de l’art; Member of the Scientific Committee of the Cahiers de l’École du Louvre; Chair of the Bizot Group.
Mr M. (Martijn) Snoep (member, appointed until August 2027)
Primary position: Chairman of the Board of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM)
Ancillary activities: Substitute Judge Court of Appeals Amsterdam; Vice Chair Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Europa Institute, Leiden University; Advisory Council Member of Law Department, Utrecht University; Member of the Scientific Council, Global Competition Law Centre, College of Europe, Bruges; Vice Chair of the Board Aruba Fair Trade Authority (AFTA).