TIACA chairman Sebastiaan Scholte is to step down from his position after he announced he was leaving his role on 1 July as Jan de Rijk Logistics chief executive officer (CEO) to pursue new opportunities.
Scholte has headed up the TIACA Board since 2017, taking over after two and a half years as vice chairman.
He has been working with the current vice chairman Steven Polmans, head of cargo and logistics, Brussels Airport Company, on a new vision for the association since last January.
“It was a great honour to have served as Chairman of the TIACA Board,” said Scholte.
“The organization is financially healthy again and is strategically on the right track. Moreover, we have a great team of Board members and management.
“I would like to thank all members, staff, and Board members for their faith and support over the years.
“TIACA remains the only organization that truly represents the interests of the whole air cargo supply chain.”
TIACA’s bylaws state that board members must be trustee members of the association, which means that Scholte can no longer serve after leaving Jan de Rijk.
Polmans will therefore take up the chairmanship on 1 July, a few months earlier than planned, at TIACA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Budapest, Hungary, in November.
“We very much regret that Sebastiaan is leaving, but of course respect his decision,” said Polmans.
“I ran for Vice Chairman of TIACA in close cooperation with him and with a clear interest to work closely with him.
“Together we came up with a clear strategy and four-year action plan for the Association and I am proud to be able to take over a healthier and stronger TIACA.
“I am determined to continue working with the Board, the Chairman’s Council, and our members to deliver the action plan we started at the beginning of Sebastiaan’s Chairmanship.”
Meanwhile, Jan de Rijk has started its search for a new CEO and hopes to announce a replacement for Scholte in the coming months.
“We appreciate Sebastiaan’s contributions in helping to grow the company in a profitable way during his 9-year tenure,” said Jan and Jacqueline de Rijk, owners of the company.
On Jan de Rijk, Scholte said: “I do truly believe, however, that Jan de Rijk’s best days are still ahead and that the company will go from strength to strength with the strategy we have developed and the exceptional talent we have in place.
“I would like to thank all my colleagues, customers, partners and the Board for all their support and faith in me over the years. I am excited to pursue new opportunities and I remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition.”
