Robeco Groep N.V. will separate its activities into Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V., which will have its own Supervisory Board and executive management to emphasize its position as an autonomous global asset manager, under the name Robeco, with its headquarters in Rotterdam, preserving the strong name and history, and Robeco Group (“RG”). The latter will be transformed from an operating company into a financial holding company.
The new corporate governance structure will further separate the holding activities of RG, and the asset management businesses of its subsidiaries: Boston Partners, Harbor Capital Advisors, Transtrend, RobecoSAM and Robeco. The new structure reflects current global industry and market trends, guaranteeing continued expertise in investments, distribution and client servicing.
Robeco will get its own dedicated Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board of Robeco will consist of the following members: Jeroen Kremers (chairman), Jan Nooitgedagt and Gihan Ismail. Further members of the Supervisory Board will be announced in the near future. Both Jan Nooitgedagt and Jeroen Kremers serve as members of the Supervisory Board of Robeco Groep. Gihan Ismail has 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector and is currently executive director at Marine Capital Limited.
Day-to-day management remains with Leni Boeren, Roland Toppen, Peter Ferket, Ingo Ahrens and Karin van Baardwijk, who form the Executive Committee of Robeco. Leni Boeren will lead the transition to the new governance and remain a member of the team until the transition is completed. The executives all have deep roots and experience within the asset management sector and all members have served Robeco for many years already, ensuring stability and continuity for the new Robeco, meeting the challenges of the future in the best interests of our clients.
Makoto Inoue, President and Chief Executive Officer of ORIX Corporation: “Robeco employs absolutely world class investment talent. All members of the Executive Committee of Robeco have developed themselves through the ranks of Robeco, which clearly underpins the quality and talent available at Robeco. This new structure will allow for this talent to flourish and help Robeco to further expand on its strong foundation.”
Leni Boeren, who has been a member of the Management Board of Robeco Groep since 2005, will leave Robeco Groep once the transition is completed. Currently Leni Boeren is vice-chairman of the Group Management Board and holds several board positions at Robeco’s subsidiaries Boston Partners, Harbor Capital Advisors, Transtrend, Robeco Institutional Asset Management and RobecoSAM and is Vice-Chairman of the board of the Dutch Fund and Asset Management Association.
Leni Boeren: “It has been a privilege to have been with Robeco for almost twelve years. The company has an impressive 87 year history and I am confident that these changes mean that Robeco is well-placed to continue to meet clients’ needs by delivering superior investment returns. It was a great pleasure to work with so many passionate professionals worldwide. I also want to express my appreciation to our clients for the trust they have put in me over all these years.”
Makoto Inoue: “I am grateful to Leni for her commitment to Robeco Groep and the valuable contribution she has made to the strong growth of the company and its subsidiaries. She also has successfully led many transitions within the group over the years.”
As a financial holding company, RG will not perform any asset management activities. Subject to final regulatory approval, the Supervisory Board and the Management Board will be replaced by a simplified financial holding board chaired by Makoto Inoue.
As part of the new governance structure, the outgoing chairmen of the two boards, Bert Bruggink and David Steyn respectively, have stepped down and will join ORIX Group. The other members of the Supervisory Board of Robeco Groep will step down once the transition to the new governance is completed.