Founder Darwin International
Feike Sijbesma
Feike is a recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award & Leaders of Change Award presented by the United Nations. He was listed by Fortune on the World's 50 Greatest Leaders, by Harvard as World’s 100 most successful CEO’s and he received the Courage to Lead Award from the World Resources Institute.
About
Feike is a recognized international leader in sustainable business and systemic change. He was CEO of Royal DSM for nearly 13 years and held a position in the Managing Board for over 20 years. He transformed DSM from a (bulk)chemical company into a sustainable, innovative, science-based company, with a focus on nutrition, health and sustainable living. In line with his vision of “doing well by doing good”, he aimed from the start at long-term value creation for all stakeholders, creating a clear purpose-driven company. The success of his strategy was reflected in the more than tripling of the share price as well as substantial positive impact on climate and nutrition.
Current positions
Feike is Chair of the Supervisory Board of Royal Philips, besides which he also plays a key role with several international organizations in the area of food and climate, such as the Global Center on Adaptation, where he is co-Chair, together with Ban Ki-Moon, and the World Economic Forum, where he is a member of the Board of Trustees and co-Chairs the CEO Climate Leaders Alliance. Feike is also one of the Climate Leaders of the World Bank, focusing on carbon pricing (CPLC), and is a member of the Advisory Board of the IMF. Feike is Senior Advising Chair of Africa Improved Foods (AIF), addressing malnutrition in Africa, and is Champion for the UN World Food Programme.
Feike Sijbesma addressing the One Planet Summit in Paris
Recognition
Feike is a recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award & Leaders of Change Award presented by the United Nations. He was listed by Fortune on the World's 50 Greatest Leaders, by Harvard as World’s 100 most successful CEO’s and he received the Courage to Lead Award from the World Resources Institute.
In 2019, Feike was declared ’Most Influential person in The Netherlands’ by Dutch national newspaper De Volkskrant and was featured in the top 3 in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, he won the National Negotiation Award, organized by the Dutch Professional Association for Negotiators (NLBVO). He was awarded one of the highest royal decorations of The Netherlands, as Grand Officer in the order of Orange Nassau, for his contribution to society and sustainability. Feike received an honorary doctorate from Maastricht University as well as Groningen University (The Netherlands).
Adapt
Act
Impact
Like Darwin, we believe that adaptation is the key to being successful in a changing world. Adaptation in our thinking and behaviour, while being open to paradigm shifts. Our current habitat is under serious pressure. So, the question is: how will we make the change and adapt in time? Collectively as a global society, as companies, and as individuals?