Boudewijn Siemons, 59, has officially taken over as the CEO of the Port of Rotterdam from February 1, 2024. His appointment comes as a result of the departure of Allard Castelein last summer, with Siemons having served as the interim CEO alongside his role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Vivienne de Leeuw holds the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), completing the current executive team. The search for a new COO is set to commence.
The shareholders of the Port of Rotterdam, namely the municipality of Rotterdam and the Dutch government, have appointed Siemons for the next four years based on the recommendation of the Board of Supervisors (RvC). Koos Timmermans, the RvC Chairman, expressed satisfaction, stating, “The Port of Rotterdam continues to be led by a familiar face for employees and clients, which the RvC is pleased with.” Timmermans commended Siemons for proving himself as an excellent CEO and a true collaborator, emphasizing his extensive experience in the maritime sector, infrastructure, and energy transition over the past six months.
Siemons, acknowledging the trust placed in him, highlighted the pivotal role of the Rotterdam port in connecting Europe through logistics with the rest of the world. He expressed his enthusiasm for shaping a sustainable future for the port firmly rooted in the region and the city, emphasizing collaboration with employees and clients.
The recent appointment follows the establishment of a renewed compensation policy for the Port of Rotterdam’s top management (CEO, COO, and CFO) by the shareholders. The new policy introduces a fixed base salary with a cap of €365,000 per year for the CEO and €328,500 for the COO and CFO. Notably, these figures are substantially lower than the previous compensation levels. Additionally, the variable compensation is eliminated, and the supplementary package is streamlined. Existing executives Siemons and De Leeuw are subject to a transitional arrangement, with CEO Siemons receiving a comparable remuneration to his time as COO.
Boudewijn Siemons, a mechanical engineer by profession, assumed the role of CEO ad interim on July 15, 2023, following his position as COO since October 2020 at the Port of Rotterdam. Prior to this, he served as the President of the North and South America division at Royal Vopak. Siemons had held various managerial roles at Koninklijke VolkerWessels from 1998 to 2006 and started his career with the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1987, having studied at the Royal Naval Institute and TU Delft.
Siemons’ extensive background and proven leadership make him a promising choice for steering the Port of Rotterdam through the challenges and opportunities ahead.
