Aart Jan de Geus (born 28 July 1955) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and businessman. He served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs from 2002 to 2007.{{Cite web|language=nl|url=http://www.parlement.com/id/vg9fgoprhbzu/a_j_aart_jan_de_geus|title=Aart Jan De Geus|website=Parlement & Politiek|access-date=2019-12-13}} Then he worked as Deputy Secretary-General for the OECD.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/aartdegeusdeputysecretarygeneraloecdsecretariat.htm|language=en|title=Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General, OECD Secretariat|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)|access-date=2017-07-30}} From 2012 to 2019, De Geus was Chairman and CEO of the Bertelsmann Stiftung.{{Cite news|language=de|title=Niederländer an Spitze der Bertelsmann Stiftung|newspaper=Rheinische Post|date=2012-08-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.die-stiftung.de/nachrichten-service/wechsel-bei-der-bertelsmann-stiftung-84675/|title=Wechsel bei der Bertelsmann Stiftung|website=Die Stiftung|date=2019-10-07|access-date=2019-10-09|language=de}} From January 2020 to 2023, he was Chairman of the Goldschmeding Foundation for People, Work and Economy.{{Cite web|language=nl|url=https://www.lc.nl/economie/De-Geus-nieuwe-baas-Goldschmeding-Foundation-24884978.html|title=De Geus nieuwe baas Goldschmeding Foundation|date=2019-10-02|access-date=2020-11-04}}

Education

De Geus began studying law at the Utrecht University and completed his education at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where the law program had a more social-economic orientation.{{cite web|url=https://www.uni-muenster.de/NiederlandeNet/nl-wissen/wirtschaft/personen/degeus.html|title=Aart Jan de Geus|author=Angelika Fliegner|date=May 2012|website=NiederlandeNet|publisher=University of Münster|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405091048/http://www.uni-muenster.de/NiederlandeNet/nl-wissen/wirtschaft/personen/degeus.html|archive-date=2016-04-05|url-status=dead}} After receiving his Master of Laws in 1980, he did post-graduate studies in labor law at Radboud University Nijmegen.{{cite web|url=http://www.munzinger.de/document/00000029234|title=Aart Jan de Geus|date=2012-10-30|website=Internationales Biographisches Archiv|publisher=Munzinger|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30}}

Career

In 1980, de Geus became a lawyer for the industrial trade union of the Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV).{{cite web|url=https://s.vk.nl/s-a613332/|title=Nooit de hete adem van leden in de nek|author=Gijs Herdersche|date=2002-09-02|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}} In subsequent years he rose through the organization, eventually joining the board of directors. In 1988, he joined the board of the national confederation CNV and was appointed its deputy chairman in 1993. His responsibilities in this position included social security, pensions, health and employment. He was also a member of the Socioeconomic Advisory Council, the Dutch government’s highest body for economic and social policy issues, one that is anchored in the constitution and whose members are appointed by the crown.{{cite web|url=http://archief.ntr.nl/nova/page/detail/nieuws/1125/Biografie_%20Aart%20Jan%20de%20Geus.html|title=Biografie: Aart Jan de Geus|date=2003-05-19|publisher=NTR|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}}{{citation|title=Brücken bauen – 30 Jahre niederländische Integrationspolitik im Rückblick. Eine Untersuchung durch einen niederländischen Parlamentsausschuss.|publisher=Landeszentrum für Zuwanderung Nordrhein-Westfalen|page=35|url=http://www.hwwi-rohindex.de/fileadmin/hwwi/Publikationen/Externe_PDFs/2004Vogel2004UebersetzungBruecken_bauen_3.pdf|access-date=2017-07-30}}

In 1998, De Geus became a partner at the corporate consultancy Boer & Croon in Amsterdam.{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2002/07/25/consultants-trots-op-hun-minister-7599435-a960645|title=Consultants trots op hun minister|author=Mark Houben|date=2002-07-25|website=NRC Handelsblad|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}} There he worked on projects relating to the welfare state for both public and private institutions. He also joined the supervisory board of the Academic Hospital of Maastricht, the advisory council of the Association of Dutch Health Insurers, and the Council of Churches where he was responsible for social policy issues.

= Public office =

In the mid-1970s, De Geus joined the youth organization of the Dutch ARP (Anti-Revolutionary Party), a predecessor of the CDA. Through the years he held various positions in both parties. In 2002, Jan Peter Balkenende appointed de Geus as minister of social affairs and employment (first Balkenende cabinet). He also served as health minister for eight months.{{cite news|title=Die Mitglieder des neuen Kabinetts|author=René Vautravers|date=2002-07-23|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|page=1|language=de}}{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrpfxup/kabinet_balkenende_i_2002_2003|title=Kabinet-Balkenende I (2002-2003)|website=Parlement & Politiek|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}} He was a member of the Dutch government until 2007 (second and third Balkenende cabinets).{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vhnnmt7jpazy/kabinet_balkenende_ii_2003_2006|title=Kabinet-Balkenende II (2003-2006)|website=Parlement & Politiek|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vhnnmt7m2000/kabinet_balkenende_iii_2006_2007|title=Kabinet-Balkenende III (2006-2007)|website=Parlement & Politiek|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}}

While in office, De Geus achieved comprehensive social policy reforms making the country's social security system more sustainable and including more people in the labor market.{{cite news|title=Harte Massnahmen in der Sozialpolitik: Haager Regierung schlachtet heilige Kühe|author=René Vautravers|date=2003-09-10|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|page=23|language=de}}{{cite news|title=Niederlande: Ein Bündnis gegen die Wirtschaftskrise|author=Helmut Hetzel|date=2003-10-17|newspaper=Die Presse|page=5|language=de}} For example, he restructured the disability insurance system and the schemes for early retirement. He also included local-level governments in the funding structure for social assistance programs. He was considered a supporter of the country's polder model, an approach that brings together employers, trade unions and government experts to negotiate wages and working conditions.{{cite news|title=Zurück zum niederländischen Polder-Modell: Historische Übereinkunft zwischen den Sozialpartnern|author=René Vautravers|date=2003-10-16|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|page=21|language=de}} Despite his earlier activities for the CNV trade union confederation, his relationship with the country's trade unions proved difficult.{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/laatste-waarschuwing-voor-de-geus~a700990/|title=Laatste waarschuwing voor De Geus|date=2004-02-19|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl|access-date=2017-06-30}} In 2004, he withstood a vote of no confidence brought by the opposition Social Democratic, Socialist and Green parties.{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2004/10/15/oppositie-zegt-vertrouwen-in-de-geus-op-7706472-a336387|title=Oppositie zegt vertrouwen in De Geus op|date=2004-10-15|newspaper=NRC|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/archief/de-geus-onder-vuur-oppositie-coalitie~a669699/|title=De Geus onder vuur oppositie coalitie|author=Onze Verslaggevers|date=2004-10-15|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl|access-date=2017-07-30}}

In 2007, de Geus was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD.{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/38528123.pdf|title=OECD Annual Report 2007|page=121|language=en|access-date=2017-07-30}}{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/aartdegeusdeputysecretarygeneraloecdsecretariat.htm|title=Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General, OECD Secretariat|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|language=en|access-date=2017-07-30}} In this role he advanced a number of causes including environmentally friendly economic growth. He also led the project Making Reform Happen, about the political economy of welfare state reforms. He also criticized the division present in the German job market. {{cite news|title=Wir bestehlen unsere Kinder|date=2009-08-17|newspaper=Salzburger Nachrichten|page=2|language=de}}{{cite news|url=http://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2010-12/interview-de-geus/komplettansicht|title=Vollbeschäftigung in Deutschland ist möglich|author=Philip Faigle|date=2010-12-15|website=Zeit Online|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30}}

= Bertelsmann Stiftung =

In 2011, the Bertelsmann Stiftung appointed de Geus to its executive board.{{cite news|title=Bertelsmann Stiftung beruft neuen Vorstand|date=2011-06-29|newspaper=Handelsblatt|page=62|language=de}}{{cite news|title=Niederländer zu Bertelsmann|date=2011-06-29|newspaper=Westfalen-Blatt|language=de}} In 2012, he became the board's chairman when Gunter Thielen retired.{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/aart-de-geus-niederlaender-fuehrt-bertelsmann-stiftung-an/6565580.html|title=Niederländer führt Bertelsmann-Stiftung an|date=2012-04-27|website=Handelsblatt|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30}} The Bertelsmann Stiftung thus increased its independence from the Mohn family, owners of the Bertelsmann group.{{cite news|url=http://www.taz.de/!5095117/|title=Nicht noch ne Mohn: Neue Führung für Bertelsmann-Stiftung|date=2012-04-27|website=Die Tageszeitung Die Presse|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30|last1=Grimberg |first1=Steffen }}{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/im-gespraech-gunter-thielen-wir-sind-nicht-die-speerspitze-fuer-die-bertelsmann-ag-11732788.html|title=Wir sind nicht die Speerspitze für die Bertelsmann AG|author=Johannes Ritter|date=2012-04-27|website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|language=de|access-date=2017-07-30}} As chairman, de Geus launched the initiative to internationalize the foundation's activities. With his team and international partners, he developed the global SDG-index, measuring and comparing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals at national levels. {{cite news|title=Von Gütersloh in die weite Welt: Früherer holländischer Arbeitsminister De Geus führt Bertelsmann-Stiftung auf internationales Parkett|author=Bernhard Hänel|date=2012-04-28|newspaper=Neue Westfälische|language=de}}{{cite news|title=Führungswechsel unter den Augen des Stifters|date=2012-05-25|newspaper=Neue Westfälische|language=de}}

= Other functions =

From 2014 to 2022, De Geus chaired the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands-based Triodos Bank,{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.nl/oud-minister-aart-jan-de-geus-aan-de-slag-bij-triodos-bank-458221/|title=Oud-minister Aart Jan de Geus aan de slag bij Triodos Bank|date=2014-05-01|website=Business Insider|language=nl|access-date=2017-08-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/dft/nieuws_dft/22574722/__Oud-minister_De_Geus_naar_Triodos_Bank__.html|title=Oud-minister De Geus naar Triodos Bank|date=2014-05-01|website=De Telegraaf|language=nl|access-date=2017-08-03}} a leading sustainability bank with offices in Belgium, Germany, the UK and Spain.{{cite news|title=Nachhaltigkeitsbanken legen zu|author=Martin Hampel|date=2012-03-03|newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung|page=5|language=de}} Since 2023, He is Chairman of the Academic Institute for CDA, and acting Chairman of College van Toezicht Advocatuur, the Supervirsory Authority over the Dutch Bar. Since 2022, De Geus teaches Dynamics of the Welfare State at the Paris School of International Affairs (affiliated to the SciencesPo University).

Publications

{{cite book|title=Europe Reforms Labour Market – Leaders' Perspectives|author1=Aart De Geus|author2=Eric Thode|author3=Christiane Weidenfeld|date=2016|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-036577-1|location=Berlin}}

Decorations

class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" \| colspan=5 \|Honours
style="width:80px;"\| Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
80px \| Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau \| Netherlands \| 11 April 2007 \|

class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=5 |Honours

style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar

Honour

Country

Date

Comment

80px

| Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

| Netherlands

| 11 April 2007