New addition to management team: Jilles Goedknegt
As of 1 May 2019, the Stolze Management Team welcomed Jilles Goedknegt as Commercial Director. Jilles has been working in the horticultural sector since 1995 and brings plenty of knowledge and experience to Stolze. Jilles would like to introduce himself to you.
My name is Jilles Goedknegt. As of May 1st, I will join the Stolze Management team in the capacity of Commercial Director. I am married with two children and live in Bergschenhoek. I entered the horticultural sector in 1995, arriving from the office automation sector. I've known the Stolze company ever since.
I am very proud of the fact that the shareholders and management have expressed their confidence in me to help lead such a fantastic company. Stolze is a strong, innovative company and one of the largest installation companies in the industry. It started operating worldwide long before other companies commenced worldwide activities. The fact that it has been a household name for 50 years, says a lot about the company. Despite its strong growth and leading position in the market, it is a company with short lines of communication and a no-nonsense culture.
The worldwide demand for food safety and efficient cultivation is growing. Governments are taking this into account as the world population is growing ever faster. The 8 billion mark is expected to be reached by 2023, the 9 billion mark by 2037 and the 10 billion mark by 2055. In the longer term, around 2087, even 11 billion appears possible. If developing countries experience the same prosperity growth as Europe, we will already need three globes to feed the world population. Water scarcity and food print cause an acceleration.
Dutch horticultural knowledge is, therefore, indispensable. The Netherlands is still a strong global brand in the horticultural sector. Stolze should take full advantage of this. This is why we expect exponential growth abroad in the coming years. Our cradle and home market of the Netherlands still plays a significant role and continues to be of interest to Stolze. New developments and research are still taking place in the Netherlands. The diversity in this market of flowers and potted plants, in addition to vegetables, ensures a broad experience.
We will also continue to develop new techniques for water treatment and energy saving. We will take a leading position in this area. All this will, of course, be done in cooperation with our customers and suppliers. With my international experience and broad knowledge of technology, commerce and management, I can make a valuable contribution to this ambition. I look forward to meeting you and shaping our future together.
Kind regards,
Jilles Goedknegt