After almost 16 years as CEO and chairman of the board of the largest regional developer in the Netherlands and Germany, Walter de Boer (65) has decided, in consultation with shareholder Rabobank, to leave BPD Europe as of 1 December.
In 1991, De Boer joined the company, at that time known as Bouwfonds Woningbouw, as part of Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten.
Before taking on the position of CEO, he worked for 17 years in various management positions. Rabobank expects to be able to announce his successor shortly.
De Boer said: 'After more than 30 years of working, full of energy, at BPD, the time has come for me to pass on the leadership to others. We recently announced that the management board will soon be strengthened with the arrival of Alianne de Jong (CFRO), who will complete the management board of BPD Europe alongside Gea Voorhorst (COO) and myself - and presently my successor.'
Mariëlle Lichtenberg, member of the group management board of Rabobank said: 'On behalf of Rabobank, I would like to thank Walter de Boer for everything he has done for BPD – and for Rabobank – over the past decades.
'Under his leadership, BPD has grown into the leading regional developer in the Netherlands and Germany.
'We will also take his vision on spatial planning and the housing markets in the Netherlands and Germany into account in the further development of BPD in the coming years.'
Added De Boer: 'Today more than 1 million people live in residential areas in which BPD has had a hand - A staggering number that still amazes me.
'For more than 75 years, we as BPD have been trusted by municipalities, provinces, national government, housing corporations, our construction partners and fellow developers to jointly contribute to the still urgent housing demand.
'I am very grateful and grateful to all our partners for this. As a market leader, BPD will of course continue to make every effort to live up to that trust every day in the coming decades.'
De Boer will remain involved with the company as an advisor until April 2024.
