Diversity

At DSM, we strongly value diversity, and we endeavor to reflect this in our Board memberships. The Supervisory Board has formulated diversity policies for the Supervisory Board, the Managing Board and the Executive Committee. These policies seek a balanced composition of the respective body, taking into account gender, age, knowledge, experience, and nationality / cultural background. In addition, for the composition of the Supervisory Board, the tenure structure is taken into consideration.

In terms of gender diversity, we aim for at least 30% of the positions in our Supervisory Board, Managing Board and Executive Committee to be held by women and at least 30% by men — percentages which reflect Dutch legislation. To ensure a balanced composition in terms of nationality / cultural background, our aim is not to have more than 50% of the members of our Supervisory Board or Executive Committee drawn from a single nationality. While a diverse composition in terms of nationality / cultural background is also taken into account in the composition of the Managing Board, no quantitative target is set here, given the relatively small number of Managing Board members.

Our diversity policies are implemented by applying them to nominations for (re)appointments of Supervisory Board and Managing Board members as well as to appointments of Executive Committee members.

At the 2020 Annual General Meeting Rob Routs, a Dutch national, was reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board on the basis of his extensive international experience, his knowledge of the (petro)chemical industry, his broad experience in the management of corporations and his qualities as Chairman of DSM’s Supervisory Board as demonstrated during the past ten years of which 9 years as Chairman. He was reappointed for a final two-year term to facilitate a smooth transfer and continuity to the new Co-CEO leadership structure. With the reappointment of Rob Routs, the Supervisory Board maintains a strong profile in the areas of general management, strategy, risk, manufacturing & operations and safety.

Eileen Kennedy, an American national, was reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board on the basis of her broad and in-depth nutrition knowledge and her qualities as Supervisory Board member as demonstrated during her past two periods as member of DSM’s Supervisory Board. With the reappointment of Eileen Kennedy, the Supervisory Board maintains a strong profile in the areas of nutrition, R&D and sustainability.

Pradeep Pant, a Singaporean national, was reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board on the basis of his extensive experience in Fast Moving Consumer Goods and bringing products and services to market across territories, in particular in the Asia-Pacific region, his deep understanding of market dynamics and cultural diversity, and for his qualities as Supervisory Board member as demonstrated during his past first period as member of DSM’s Supervisory Board. With the reappointment of Pradeep Pant, the Supervisory Board maintains its profile in the fields of marketing & sales, emerging economies and nutrition.

Thomas Leysen, a Belgian national, was appointed on the basis of his broad international business experience, and especially his experience in leading comprehensive portfolio changes making businesses more sustainable, his knowledge of technology-based businesses and his experience in managing large corporations. With the appointment of Thomas Leysen, the Supervisory Board further strengthens its profile in the areas of general management, strategy and risk, and strengthens its profile in the areas of manufacturing & operations, safety and R&D, innovation and technology.

Both our Supervisory Board and our Managing Board were well balanced in 2020 in terms of gender in the period until the 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM), comprising 50% and 33% women respectively, and after the AGM comprising 37% and 50% respectively, which is in line with Dutch legislation and with the company’s own diversity policy. The target for gender diversity levels within our Supervisory Board and our Executive Committee exceeds our target for at least 30% of these positions to be held by women and at least 30% by men. With the appointment of Helen Mets, as new EVP Materials and Member of the Executive Committee, the percentage of women in DSM’s Executive Committee is 57%. Furthermore, the composition of both our Supervisory Board and our Executive Committee are in line with our target of not having more than 50% of the members drawn from a single nationality.