Organisation

Sander Smits van Oyen is managing SOVEC from Amsterdam.

We work closely with our partners Oasis Capital in Ghana. Our Supervisory Board oversees the performance of SOVEC and functions as Investment Committee. Stichting Social Venture Capital Foundation has taken the initiative to set up the fund in 2007 and is the guardian of the social investment principles of SOVEC.

SOVEC Management

Sander Smits van Oyen
Managing Director; sander@sovec.nl
Read more.

Supervisory Board

Hein Verloop MBA Chairman Until recently Hein Verloop was CEO of the Driessen Aerospace Group BV. Prior to that he was CEO of Schreiner Aviation Group where he led their reorganisation. As delegate member of the NPM, a Dutch private equity firm, Hein serves on the board of various companies. Hein studied Law and holds a MBA from the Technische Universiteit Delft.

Philip Liverpool MSc Philip Liverpool is the Commercial Director of Kosmos Energy Ghana HC, a role which includes responsibility for dealings/negotiations with Joint Venture partners and Government. Prior to that he worked for Shell International, initially in technical roles and in the latter half of his career in Business Development, focusing on Asia Pacific, the Former Soviet Union, the Middle East and Africa. Philip holds an MSc in Applied Geophysics, from Technische Universiteit Delft.

Jacques Brook Jacques is chairman of the SOVEC Foundation. He is also managing director at Innovation Gateway Nederland BV. Before this position he was partner at Ordina NV. Prior to joining Ordina, he worked for KPN in The Netherlands. He has a background in mathematics and strategic management. He holds a Master of Science degree in computer science from the Eindhoven University of Technology and a doctor degree in business administration (with distinction) from the Maastricht School of Management. Throughout the years, his work has focused on helping companies to drive business transformation through innovation. Jacques is also involved in business development projects for small and medium enterprises, and large enterprises in Africa. He fulfills a part-time position of associate professor of corporate innovation strategies and emerging markets at the Maastricht School of Management.”

SOVEC Foundation

For more info on the foundation click here.

SOVEC Foundation Board of Advisors

H.H.F. Wijffels PhD Herman Wijffels was a director of the World bank. In 2007 he led the formation of the Dutch Government. Until 2006, Herman was Chairman of the Netherlands Social and Economic Council (SER). In 1981, He joined the Executive Board of the Rabobank Group. In 1986 he was appointed as its chairman. Herman serves on a number of corporate boards and is director of several charity foundations.

L.C.A. Burgers Louk Burgers is founder and former chairman of the SOVEC Foundation. He is currently involved in several initiatives concerning social and sustainable entrepreneurship. In 1990, Louk founded Penitentiary Lease Construction, of which he was director until 1998. Before 1990 he held several positions at an industrial company including board member and senior vice president. Louk has been a governmental lobbyist for various industries. Louk has lived and worked outside of the Netherlands for many years (Malaysia, Middle East).

J. W. Eenhoorn MSc Hans Eenhoorn worked with Unilever for 32 years ultimately as Senior Vice President of their food division. In 2002 Hans represented the World Food Industry in the United Nations Millennium Taskforce on Hunger. Hans is currently board member of SOS- Childrensvillages and Member of the Brussels EU Chapter of the Club of Rome, a global think tank and centre of innovation and initiative. Hans holds university degrees in Economics, Business Management and Psychology from the University of Groningen.

M.A. de Haan MSc Michiel de Haan founded Atlas Venture (atlasventure.com) in 1980, originally a Dutch venture capital company, which has grown into a transatlantic firm under his leadership. Michiel currently supports and finances several projects in developing countries and is a member of the Board of the European Venture Capital Association and co-founder of the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA).

H. Hietink MSc Henk Hietink is a former Board member of a significant number of both Dutch and foreign companies. Currently Henk is involved as a Board member of several charities. Henk holds a Masters degree in Economics and Political Science.