Timo Kos new Vice President of the Executive Board
Timo Kos has been appointed Vice President of Leiden University’s Executive Board and will take up the role on 1 March 2025. He succeeds Martijn Ridderbos, who will join the board of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) on 1 January 2025.
Timo Kos (1973) will serve a four-year term and has extensive leadership experience in higher education. He is currently Vice President of the Executive Board of Saxion University of Applied Sciences, with around 27,000 students and 3,000 staff members.
Kos also has relevant experience in board and management roles focusing on teaching, innovation, and student and teacher support at Delft University of Technology, LDE Universities, SURF and Npuls, where research and teaching organisations work together on ICT innovations. Kos began his career at Capgemini Consulting, in positions including that of manager, and has worked as an adviser at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, DUO, the education inspectorate and various educational institutions including Leiden University. Kos studied history at the University of Amsterdam.
The Board of Governors is delighted that Timo Kos will be joining the university. He will be responsible for the following portfolios on the Executive Board: finance, real estate, ICT and research infrastructure, and safety and security at the university. ‘Timo Kos has considerable knowledge of the higher education sector and of operations management at large educational institutions. We believe his breadth of experience makes him well placed to contribute to the management, vision and strategy of Leiden University’, said Chair of the Board of Governors, Ferd Grapperhaus.
President of the Executive Board, Annetje Ottow, is also pleased with the appointment, ‘Timo has a wide background in higher education management. He is also well-acquainted with the world of university research and teaching, including Leiden University. Hester Bijl and I very much look forward to working with Timo on the Executive Board.’
Timo Kos looks forward to working with the Executive Board, the student and staff consultation bodies, the faculties and the services to tackle the challenges faced by the university. ‘These are difficult times for universities and higher education and research. I am excited to use my knowledge and experience to continue to develop and maintain globally relevant and outstanding research and teaching in Leiden and The Hague.’
Alongside Timo Kos, the Executive Board will comprise the following members from 1 March 2025: Annetje Ottow, President, and Hester Bijl, Rector Magnificus.