Next generation of De Vries family at the helm

The next generation of the De Vries family has taken over the directorship of the Feadship Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw yard in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. Rob and Roderick are joined on the five-strong new board at the world-famous shipyard by three highly experienced directors from outside the family. Meanwhile, Henk and Tom de Vries, who have led the yard since the 1990s, now have time to devote their full attention as directors of the De Vries Group.

The De Vries Group consists of the two Koninklijke De Vries yards in Aalsmeer and Makkum plus subsidiary companies Slob, Akerboom, STI Engineering and ITS. As managing director Tom de Vries is ultimately responsible for production and quality, while CEO Henk de Vries will oversee sales and other business areas. Both gentlemen have decades of experience and a reputation for their hands-on mentality, and will serve as a first directorship contact point for all the De Vries Group concerns.

The first Koninklijke De Vries yard in Aalsmeer was started in 1906 and has been run by a continuous line of family members ever since, including its role within the Feadship organization since 1949. The new board of directors was officially inaugurated on July 1 2010 and consists of five members.

Rob de Vries (whose father Johan de Vries was a director from 1973 to 2001) becomes director projects, while Roderick de Vries (whose father Gerard de Vries was a director from 1973 to 2002) has taken on the role of technical director. The other directors are Bas Nederpelt (sales director), John Veldman (controller) and Dennis van Haasteren (director operations).