The Port of Rotterdam Authority has appointed Berte Simons as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 1, 2025. She will join the Executive Board, succeeding Boudewijn Siemons, who stepped into the role of CEO earlier this year. Starting January, the Executive Board will comprise CEO Boudewijn Siemons, CFO Vivienne de Leeuw, and COO Berte Simons. Simons’ appointment is for a four-year term, following a recommendation from the Supervisory Board and the approval of shareholders, including the municipality of Rotterdam and the Dutch national government.
Koos Timmermans, Chair of the Supervisory Board, expressed enthusiasm about Simons’ appointment, emphasizing her expertise as a marine engineer and her experience in managing complex infrastructure projects globally. “She brings the knowledge and experience we need for a successful and coordinated transition to a fossil-free and circular port,” said Timmermans.
Simons brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She began her career in 2003 as a policy officer at North Sea Port. In 2006, she joined Royal HaskoningDHV, where she held management positions across sectors including mining, heavy industry, aviation, and maritime over a 15-year tenure. Currently, Simons is the director of CO2 Storage & Transport Systems at Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), where she has been closely involved in the Porthos project, a major CO2 storage initiative in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Gasunie.
In her new role as COO, Simons looks forward to driving the sustainable development of the Port of Rotterdam, aligning industry, logistics, and environmental goals. “The port is a place that is constantly changing and connected to the whole world,” Simons commented. “I look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to contribute to the sustainable development of the port in harmony with the environment.”
