Studied History, VU University, Amsterdam. Worked in various functions in the Dutch Parliament and in the Dutch Labour Party. 1994, founded and worked for his own consultancy firm before returning to politics in 1998-2002 as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Dutch Government. 2003, joined Royal Dutch Shell; worked for Shell Energy Europe before moving to Kuala Lumpur in 2006, overseeing the gas and power business in Malaysia; 2009, took up the role of Vice-President, Strategy for the Royal Dutch Shell Group; 2011-16, President Director of Shell Netherlands; then Vice-President, Non-Operated Ventures Shell International. Since May 2018, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Schiphol Group.