Gerben Everts is to step down this year as a member of the Executive Board of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Everts will remain Board member until 12 May 2020, followed by the customary 6-month cooling-off period when he will explore job possibilities outside the AFM. His second term of appointment will end in November 2020.
Everts (48) joined the AFM as a director in 2011, and joined the Executive Board in November 2012. His responsibilities include the supervision of the Dutch capital markets, asset managers, audit firms and financial reporting by listed companies, as well as the Legal Affairs division. In recent years, he has also worked on increasing the international profile of the AFM, leading the preparations for supervision of the significant number of new market parties that have chosen the Netherlands as their place of business post-Brexit. Under Everts’s supervision, the AFM has adequately prepared for the additional work needed to supervise new entrants on the Dutch capital markets.
Hanzo van Beusekom will assume the responsibilities for the supervision of the Dutch capital markets, audit firms, and financial reporting by listed companies. Laura van Geest, who will start as new Chair of the AFM on 1 February, will take over Van Beusekom’s current portfolio. From 12 May, Everts will continue to use his experience and expertise for the AFM’s benefit on international platforms. He will, for instance, remain Chair of the international workgroup assessing the vulnerabilities in the structure of the audit sector.
Martin van Rijn, Chair of the Supervisory Council: ‘Gerben Everts is the longest-serving executive director in the history of the AFM. We very much appreciate his commitment and contribution to the development of the AFM. Gerben has given further shape to our supervision of the capital markets and audit firms, and has strengthened the AFM’s international position as a supervisory authority. We wish him every success in his further career.’
‘The AFM is in a good position,’ says Everts. ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. There is never an ideal time to leave. But several things will coincide neatly at the end of my term. First of all, Brexit. Our data-driven supervision of the capital markets has been prepared for this in a relatively short period. Good progress has also been made in the audit sector on bringing about cultural and structural change, thanks to continuing pressure from the AFM. It is now up to the politicians and the industry to establish a suitable basis for this in the coming years, since everyone has to be able to rely on auditors. Our work is far from done, of course. Good supervision will remain essential to healthy and more sustainable financial markets. But for me, now is a natural time to finish up my duties and turn my attention to a future outside the AFM.’
For further information, contact Hendrik Jan Eijpe, press officer of the AFM, on 06-22031978 or [email protected].
