With Koen Janssen at the helm, our university gains a result-driven, ambitious, and unifying President of the Executive Board. "I'm not here for the prestige of the job; it's about the substance and what I can contribute to the organization. For me, it's always about the people." An introduction to the new TU/e President.
There is a first time for everything. In September 2024, Koen Janssen wrote his first-ever application letter in his career- pursuing the goal of becoming President of Eindhoven University of Technology, as the final chapter of his professional journey.
We meet Janssen at the beginning of the evening at his home in Bilzen, Belgium. The table in the welcoming Janssen home is set for four. While Janssen's wife, Greet, puts cheeses with jams, charcuterie, and bread on the table, he fills the glasses on the table. "It is a joyous moment that we have to celebrate," he explains.
Back to the core
"Being given the role of president at TU/e is a career highlight for me," Janssen says proudly. "After working in industry and at a research institute, I'm excited to return to the heart of it all, where everything begins - with education and research. In my time in the industry, I was deeply involved in research. It's fulfilling to now be at the source of knowledge and complete the circle." He continues, "I'm not here for the title or prestige; it's about the substance and what I can contribute to the organization."
I'm not here for the title or prestige; it's about the substance and what I can contribute to the organization.
Koen Janssen
"I bring energy and can quickly enthuse people because I am honest and sincere. People feel that. I don't come to do my thing quickly and then leave again. I think it is essential to build lasting relationships. Whether it's students, researchers, or business associates, it's always people's work. I have a genuine interest in other people. That is the breeding ground with which I want to work together on results."
Orient
Janssen will start at TU/e on March 1, and on March 27, he will officially take over the gavel from the current president of the Executive Board, Robert-Jan Smits. "During that first period, I will work with Robert-Jan closely to transfer his knowledge and network. But I also plan to be very present within the community during those first weeks."
Janssen wants to work with the other Executive Board members on critical strategic topics, such as excellence in education and research at TU/e. "That's where everything starts, who we are as a university. What is that dot on the horizon? Where do we want to go as an organization? How do you determine what constitutes excellent education or impactful research? And how do you get the maximum out of our students and staff? What do we offer companies in the Brainport region and beyond with our students and our research?"
Everyone's starting point should be: what do students and researchers need to excel.
Koen Janssen
"As president, I am ultimately responsible for the university's strategy and implementation. I want to have intensive discussions with all the deans, the University Council, a delegation of student associations, and the directors of the services. I want to have a strong feeling for what is going on, what is going well at the university, where attention is needed, and the priorities that should be addressed."
"Everyone's starting point should be: what do students and researchers need to excel. That's because that is our right to exist, our added value. It's what we give back to society."
About Koen Janssen
Koen Janssen (1964) studied and obtained his PhD in chemistry at KU Leuven. He started his career as a research scientist at DSM, where he worked for over thirty years. Janssen soon became a group leader and held management positions in various DSM divisions. His last position was as global vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at DSM Biomedical in the US.
In 2022, he returned to Europe to work as managing director of the TNO Brightlands Materials Center. This is a joint innovation center of TNO and the province of Limburg at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen.
Janssen is married to Greet, and they are the proud (grand)parents of three children and three grandchildren.
Photo: Bart van Overbeeke
Ask questions
Janssen brings extensive experience when it comes to professionalizing an organization. "I've gained extensive experience throughout my career and can help organizations raise their standards. I'm curious and ask a lot of questions to explore how to improve an organization. For that, openness is needed - to be willing to learn from each other and to turn criticism into something positive."
Learning from each other
He describes himself as an interactive thinker who can quickly brainstorm with others. "I come up with the best ideas in interaction with others." That doesn't stop with his portfolio. "Everyone brings their own experience; I would like to use mine to improve the university. But I will undoubtedly also learn a lot from my colleagues."
"I look at it with an integral view - the overall picture, the story must be right. During the job interviews, I felt I had room for that at TU/e. Even though a subject is not officially my responsibility, I ask questions to benefit the organization."
Even if something is not officially part of my portfolio, I always ask questions to improve the organization.
Koen Janssen
Janssen was approached to apply for the position of TU/e president. He had been managing director of the TNO Brightlands Materials Center in Geleen for just two years. Leaving TNO was, therefore, not part of his plan at all. "I have never been career-oriented; I have been able to do great things because I have always taken on more initiatives to learn from them and contribute something to the organization."
Challenge
"They said my profile fits nicely with what they sought in Eindhoven. I became open to the proposal and started reading about the role." Janssen became intrigued by the university's challenges: budget cuts from The Hague, the growth plans thanks to the Beethoven funds, the university's governance, sustainability, and the path to a green future.
Sustainability
"Sustainability is a significant theme, especially for future generations. In close collaboration with the other Executive Board members, I want to ensure the sustainability agenda is well on track. For example, Silvia (rector Silvia Lenaerts, ed.) strongly focuses on the content, while my added value lies in managing the processes and bringing parties together."
Beethoven
Janssen thinks the university's task of supplying more engineers for the rapidly growing Brainport region is a great challenge. "TU/e is a special university because of its close ties and cooperation with the Brainport region. We excel in semiconductors and are happy to provide the excellent engineers and knowledge with which the companies in the region can continue to grow. In addition, we have other outstanding areas where we excel and need to showcase those strengths too."
That click is essential because you work together day in and day out.
Koen Janssen
"The job interviews and the conversation with the University Council's confidential committee felt good and warm. I think it's important that it feels good on both sides. That click is essential because you work together day in, day out."
Leadership
"I am a people manager, a connector. Social safety, participation, and consensus are paramount in this regard. Especially in an intellectual environment like TU/e, good argumentation is essential for making decisions," says Janssen when we talk about what kind of leader he is.
"Still, as president, I will not make everyone happy," he predicts. "Leadership involves disappointing people every day. When I first heard that at a leadership training, I was shocked. As a leader, you want to inspire, don't you? I have now experienced that as a leader, you can never keep everyone happy, but you do have to be able to explain why you have made a specific decision."
"And if you disappoint people, you need to hear about it; otherwise, you can't do anything to address it. I hope people feel that I'm open to feedback."
Commuter
Janssen lives in Bilzen (Belgium), less than an hour and a half from Eindhoven. He will be in Eindhoven four days a week. The travel time is no problem for him.
"I worked in the US for three years for my job at DSM Biomedical. My wife stayed in Belgium for her work as a primary school teacher. I lived and worked alternately in the US and the Netherlands. So, driving for an hour and a half is no problem - and I can reflect well in the car."
Working from home
On Wednesdays, he works from Belgium because Janssen and his wife Greet look after their three grandchildren that day. "I take my laptop with me and then just work from there. The grandchildren know: 'Opi has to work'. If I have to go into a
I trust people quickly, hoping the other person will pick it up well and return it.
Koen Janssen
He looks forward to working with the other Executive Board members. Janssen is the second Fleming to join the board of our university after rector Silvia Lenaerts. He laughs: "I already made the joke 'If you are looking for quality...'." Then, seriously: "You may share the same cultural background, but each person is unique, raised differently, with different interests and motivations. The Executive Board consists of three individuals who are all different, which makes it interesting."
Everyone counts
For Janssen, everyone's work is essential. "Everyone contributes something to the university in their way. Whether you clean the toilets or are a professor, everyone is equal. I talk to everyone. I think it's important to know what's going on and happening in the workplace because you can't steer from an ivory tower."
For example, when Janssen started working at DSM Biomedical in America, he rolled up his sleeves in Research & Development. "I wanted to shadow that department to understand how they work and the processes work. So, I helped make samples. That went through the building like a whirlwind within five minutes, with many people saying, 'One of our vice presidents is here sampling!'."
I hope the TU/e community will feel that I am in this job as a human being.
Koen Janssen
When asked, 'What do you hope our community will say about you in six months?' Janssen pauses for a moment. "I hope, above all, that they feel I approach this role as a person who truly cares, and I'll do my best for them and our university. That they can trust me. That I listen and that I act on what I hear."
"I also hope we can set a direction that makes everyone think, 'This is something we're excited to sink our teeth into.' That we're moving forward together toward a bright future for TU/e. If that's what they're saying, we're off to a good start."
