We occasionally receive the question: “Who is on the Board of the pension fund, and what do you all do?” In each Pension Update, one Board member will share more about themselves, the Board, and their role within it.
Ad de Kok, Board member on behalf of pensioners.
After working for over 36 years, primarily in the research department at Dow, I retired in 2012. Once I left my work at Dow, I worked parttime at the Kenniscentrum Duurzame HavenStad at Hogeschool Rotterdam for another 4 years.
Between 2008 and 2010, I had the opportunity to get a taste of pension matters as a Board member. In late 2016, I rejoined the Board, initially as a candidate Board member. Once I refreshed my pension knowledge and my candidacy was approved by the supervisor, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), I was officially appointed in June 2017.
Managing a pension fund is a big responsibility. It ultimately concerns the current and future pensions of about 5,000 people. Therefore, it’s only fair that DNB imposes strict requirements on the management of a pension organization. The knowledge level of Board members is regularly assessed. The Board is supported by various service providers for matters such as administration, advice, investments, and supervision, but it is the Board that is and remains ultimately responsible.
The Board typically meets 5 times a year, although 6, 7 or 8 times can also occur, especially when important issues arise. In addition, there are several committees and working groups in which Board members participate in varying compositions, such as the communication committee, investment committee, training committee, documents committee, and working groups on ESG, annual planning and the Future Pensions Act. Throughout the year, several training sessions and workshops are organized to maintain and expand pension knowledge.
Although the pension world remains challenging and interesting, even after so many years, I now want to dedicate more time to my hobby of photography. Therefore, I have decided to step down from the Board in 2025 and make room for ‘new energy’. Those interested in the Board position can obtain more information from Pascal van der Velde, and of course, I’m also willing to provide more details if there is interest.