Press release

Published 01 Sep 2017

It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the passing of our friend and former colleague, Peter Elverding. Peter devoted more than 20 years of his illustrious career to DSM, and led our company as CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board from 1999 to 2007.

His vision, leadership and appreciation of the importance of a long-term view were instrumental in the transformation DSM underwent in those years, thus preparing the ground for DSM to become the company it is today.

After working for several companies, especially in the P&O field, Peter joined our company in 1985 as Director of Personnel at DSM Resins Zwolle and DSM Research. He progressed to head P&O for the whole of DSM, before being appointed to the Managing Board in 1995 and ultimately being named CEO/Chairman of the Managing Board in July 1999.

As CEO he oversaw some of the biggest changes in DSM’s recent history, notably the successful sale of the petrochemical activities to Sabic, and the acquisition of the Roche Vitamins & Fine Chemicals business, now the core of DSM Nutritional Products. While helping DSM to become an increasingly global concern, he retained a deep-seated appreciation for sustainability, the people-planet-profit approach and the heritage of DSM.

Peter was a deep thinker with a quietly-spoken manner that made you want to hear everything he said, because what he had to say was always worth listening to. He was very well-liked and well-respected both within DSM and without. Peter was voted ‘Topman of the Year’ in the Netherlands in 2005 and at the end of his tenure with DSM in 2007, he was made a Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau. After retiring from DSM, he went on to hold numerous advisory and supervisory board positions across a range of sectors.

We remember Peter with a great deal of respect, affection and gratitude for his vision, his dedication and his humanity, and our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. He will be greatly missed.

On behalf of the current and former members of the Managing Board, and his colleagues.

Feike Sijbesma
CEO/Chairman of the Managing Board