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 2021 Annual General Meeting Frits van Paasschen, a Dutch-American national, was reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board. This was on the basis of his broad experience as a global business leader in both consumer markets and the service industry in various parts of the world, his deep understanding of the current trends that are impacting business around the world, his insights into how digital technology is changing the global economy and disrupting traditional business models, and his qualities as Supervisory Board member as demonstrated during his first term as member of DSM’s Supervisory Board. With the reappointment of Frits van Paasschen, the Supervisory Board maintains a strong profile in the areas of marketing and sales, emerging economies and digital.

John Ramsay, a British national, was reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board. This was on the basis of his extensive knowledge and experience in the field of finance and accounting, built up in various parts of the world, his extensive experience with managing global finance organizations, with external stakeholders and with mergers, acquisitions and divestments, and his qualities as Supervisory Board member as demonstrated during his first term as member of DSM’s Supervisory Board. With the reappointment of John Ramsay, the Supervisory Board maintains a strong profile in the areas of finance, accounting, auditing, risk and compliance, as well as in the area of emerging economies.

Carla Mahieu, a Dutch national, was appointed as member of the Supervisory Board on the basis of her in depth knowledge of and experience with people and organization management in an international business environment and in the context of the strategy of the business at hand. With the appointment of Carla Mahieu, the Supervisory Board aims to maintain its strong profile in the areas of people and organization.

Corien Wortmann-Kool, a Dutch national, was appointed on the basis of her broad background in public administration, politics and business. She brings a wealth of experience with and knowledge of finance and economics at executive level, as well as of the national and international societal and political context that companies operate in. With her experience in the financial sector, Corien Wortmann-Kool will strengthen the Supervisory Board’s profile in the areas of finance, accounting, audit and risk management. She will help maintain the Supervisory Board’s strong profile in the areas of sustainability, governance, compliance and public affairs.

Also, at the 2021 Annual General Meeting Dimitri de Vreeze, a Dutch national, was reappointed as member of the Managing Board on the basis of his managerial and leadership qualities as well as from his contribution to the Managing Board and Executive Committee during his second tenure as a member of the Managing Board.

Both our Supervisory Board and our Managing Board were well balanced in 2021 in terms of gender in the period until the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM), comprising 37% and 50% women respectively, and after the AGM comprising 50% and 50% respectively, which is in line with Dutch legislation and with the company’s own diversity policy. The gender diversity levels within our Supervisory Board and our Executive Committee exceed our target for at least 30% of these positions to be held by women and at least 30% by men. The percentage of women in DSM’s Executive Committee is 66%. Furthermore, the composition of both our Supervisory Board and our Executive Committee is in line with our target of not having more than 50% of the members drawn from a single nationality.