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Synergos Board of Directors
Kees van der Graaf

Kees van der Graaf is former President Europe of Unilever.

Born in Goes, the Netherlands, Kees van der Graaf studied mechanical engineering, followed by business engineering at the University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Having served as an officer in the Dutch Royal Navy, Kees joined Unilever in 1976 as a market research officer. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1983, as general marketing manager for Wall’s Meat, and in 1986 became marketing and grocery sales director of Frigo in Spain. In 1990, he returned to Unilever headquarters in Rotterdam and took on a number of other senior ranking positions. In 2001 he was appointed business president of Ice Cream and Frozen Foods Europe. In 2004 he became global foods director, and was appointed to the boards of Unilever N.V. and PLC. In April 2005 he was appointed Unilever president for Europe.

He is founder and chairman of two charity organisations which raise funds for muscular dystrophy research. Both charities have contributed significantly towards finding a cure for the disease.

Kees is also president of the FSHD Foundation (for muscular dystrophy); a member of the Liaison Committee of the CIAA (Confederation of the Foods and Drinks Industries of Europe); member of the supervisory Board of Spieren voor Spieren (muscular dystrophy fundraising organisation); board member of ECR (Efficient Consumer Response); member of the board of WCFS (Wageningen Centre for Food Science); and member of the IAB (International Advisory Board of the City of Rotterdam).