The Supervisory Board of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Peter Ploegsma MBA as a member of the Executive Board with effect from 1 November for a period of 4 years. Ploegsma takes over the Finance, Business & Services portfolio from Rens Buchwaldt, who has been absent for medical reasons since 1 July.
Peter Ploegsma is currently a member of the Executive Board of Stichting Aafje. Aafje is one of the largest elderly care organisations in the Netherlands, active in the Rotterdam region. Peter Ploegsma studied Public Administration at the University of Twente and completed an MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan and London Business School. He gained extensive experience in financial roles within the public sector. He was Financial Director at public transport company RET until 2006, then CFO of Dutch Employee Insurance Agency UWV until 2014. In the latter position, in addition to financial restructuring, he was co-responsible for major system changes such as the introduction of the Participation Act and the amendment of the Dismissal System. Since 2014, he has held his current position at Stichting Aafje. That organisation has been Best Employer in Healthcare since 2019.
Elbert Dijkgraaf, chair of the Supervisory Board, says about the appointment: "The Executive Board is now complete again. Rens Buchwaldt's absence came unexpectedly. I am pleased that we have been able to find an expert successor in Peter. He has built up highly relevant experience that we can put to good use in the coming period. I am confident that the Executive Board can handle the challenges that lie ahead of us."
Peter Ploegsma naturally looks forward to starting in this role: "I feel especially connected to WUR's mission and themes. I would like to contribute to the international leading position that WUR holds in its domain, to maintain it and possibly expand it further."
Executive president Sjoukje Heimovaara is also pleased with Ploegsma's arrival. "We face major challenges in the coming years. We have set out ambitions in our Strategic Plan and at the same time our environment is in constant motion. This leads, amongst other things, to a cost-cutting operation. This will demand much from us and I am therefore tremendously pleased that Peter is joining our team. His vision and experience fit with our course. I look forward to the collaboration."
