Introducing our new Managing Director

CBI is pleased to announce that Hans Obdeijn has been named its new Managing Director, starting April 15th, 2017. He will replace Max Timmerman, who has been the head of CBI for the past three years.

Obdeijn brings a wealth of experience and skills in the fields of management, strategy, policy, and (international) negotiations to his new role. He acquired these during his years with the Dutch government and UN Organisations while stationed in Kinshasa, Ouagadougou, New York, Sana’a, Kralendijk and The Hague. Having been trained as an economist and certified in project management, Obdeijn likes to lead, stimulate, inspire and coach professionals in a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural context.

Obdeijn: “Throughout my career, the subject of trade and development has been of great interest to me. I firmly believe in trade as a means to stimulate economic growth and job creation. CBI has a proven track record of boosting competitiveness of exporters in developing countries and I see it as my challenge to make CBI further grow in its position as expert.”

CBI focuses on the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, empowering them to cope with trade barriers and to keep track of trends and market opportunities. All of this is accomplished in close cooperation with its stakeholders and with corporate social responsibility as a starting point for all its activities. CBI’s programmes and interventions are commissioned by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2015, CBI became a division of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.