Jacob Zeeman has been appointed CEO of Strukton Rail as of 1 January 2019.
Jacob Zeeman has been appointed CEO of Strukton Rail as of 1 January 2019. He will succeed Aike Schoots, who will resign as CEO of Strukton Rail. Aike will remain member of Strukton’s group executive board. From that position, he will continue to support activities for Strukton Rail, including commercial activities in China and India for Strukton Rolling Stock. He will also remain member of the supervisory board of Eurailscout and CLF. As of 1 January 2019, the board of Strukton Rail will consist of Jacob Zeeman (CEO), Hijlke Huijzer (HR), Jos Kool (Finance), Enrico Peola (Italy) and Robert Röder (Scandinavia).
Aike joined our company (called Strukton Spoorwegbouw at the time) in 1992 as the managing director. He led our company through the privatisation of rail infrastructure maintenance in the Netherlands. Under his leadership, our company grew from 600 employees and a turnover amounting to 35 million euros in 1992, to 1,800 employees and a turnover of 300 million euros in 1997, to 3,600 employees and a turnover of almost 900 million euros in 2017.
Jacob has held various management positions in Strukton Rail our company. He was appointed CEO of Strukton Rail Nederland on 1 January 2014. He has been member of the board of Strukton Rail since the end of 2015, his portfolio including the Netherlands, Short Line, Australia and the United States.
As the CEO of Strukton Rail, Jacob will continue the strategic line chosen by Aike, in which craftsmanship, digitisation and robotisation are central. With the world increasing in complexity and speed, it is important that we cooperate with partners. We also attach considerable importance to strong and long-term relationships with our international customers. This calls for open and transparent communication. We are a broad and competent party that facilitates customers in rail transport, from Rio Tinto in Australia transporting iron ore to the port, to the Scandinavian, Italian, Belgian and Dutch railway managers who wish to allow passengers fast, safe and comfortable travel . We enable them to do so, together with our partners and together with the customer.