Kees van der Waaij is the chairman of Unilever the Netherlands. He joined Unilever subsidiary Van den Bergh en Jurgens in 1976 after studying business economics and accountancy. From 1976 to 1983 he held a variety of posts, including that of management accountant and assistant to the Financial Director.

In 1983 he became chief accountant and company secretary at Crosfield Chemicals in England and from 1986 he was the assistant to the CFO of Unilever in London.

In 1988 he returned to the Netherlands as finance director of Iglo-Ola. In 1991 he joined the board of directors of Unilever the Netherlands as national finance director and group management accountant.

From 1993 until 1996 he was general manager of Unilever Corporate Centre in Rotterdam and London, and following this he became senior vice president finance at Unichema in 1996.

IIn 1997 he rejoined the board of directors of Unilever the Netherlands as personnel and finance director and in April 2001 became chairman of Unilever the Netherlands.

Kees van der Waaij is also member of the executive committee of VNO/NCW (the Dutch employers’ federation), member of the executive committee of Opportunity in Bedrijf [Opportunities at work], member of the general meeting of Achmea [Health Insurance company], Advisory Director of Arbo Unie, Chairman of SVM·Pact and Chairman of the Board of ICC the Netherlands.