Jan Zijderveld
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1987
Board Director, Investor, Adviser
London, United Kingdom
Distinguished Alumni, 2024
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1987
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Distinguished Alumni
In 2018, Jan Zijderveld was recognised as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Waikato in recognition of his career achievements and continued association as an alumnus of the University.
Leading with purpose
Jan Zijderveld has had a busy few years since departing his role as CEO for iconic beauty brand Avon in early 2020.
A titan of the global business world, Jan is currently based in London, where he sits on the boards of Pandora jewellery company; and Ahold Delhaize, one of the world’s largest food retail groups.
“I’m focused on directorships, working with start-ups, investing and working with private equities these days,” he says.
Today, the Waikato Management School alumnus continues to generously share his leadership expertise and passion for sustainability with others. “I have seen so much, had insight into so many different businesses, that it’s nice to help other people in different places.”
Jan believes in growing businesses by bringing a company’s purpose to life, connecting with consumers, and doing good in the world.
“You future-proof your organisation by making a real difference in people’s lives and asking if you’re part of the bigger picture, because that will reflect in your business,” he says.
“Consumers don’t just consume, they’re also citizens of the world. To be impactful, you have to create an organisation with purpose.”
Born in the Netherlands, Jan grew up in Kerikeri, New Zealand. He moved down to Hamilton in 1984 to complete a Bachelor of Management Studies degree at the University of Waikato.
Jan Zijderveld as a keynote speaker at the 'Future of Work' conference hosted by Waikato Management School in 2019.
“During university you start to become the person you are. It shapes and moulds you. I’m very grateful to Waikato for this,” he says.
“My time at Waikato gave me functional, leadership and people skills, which gave me the ticket to a good job at Unilever, resulting in a 30-year career. I’m a firm believer that university gives you the basis, and from there you can trampoline into your future.”
Jan has fond memories of living in Bryant Hall, where he played a lot of table tennis and pool. “I’m still better at these sports than my kids, which is a huge win.”
You future-proof your organisation by making a real difference in people’s lives and asking if you’re part of the bigger picture, because that will reflect in your business ... To be impactful, you have to create an organisation with purpose.
After graduating from Waikato in 1987, Jan took on a brand manager role at Unilever.
Over the next two decades he worked his way up the company’s corporate ladder, moving with his family every few years to a different country, including the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Indonesia, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2011 Jan was appointed as President of Unilever Europe, a $14 billion business, and joined the company’s executive board.
This vast experience prepared him well to take the helm as CEO of Avon in 2018, where he initiated a major transformation of the global beauty company. Over two years, he restructured the business, digitised operations, brought on new investors, and restored the relevance of the Avon brand.
“It is my firm belief that the incredibly fast pace at which the world is changing means that, more than ever before, we need to understand and serve the needs of our consumers today,” he says. “We need to reinvent ourselves to stay relevant in the way we do business.”
In 2020, Avon was acquired by the Brazilian personal care cosmetic group, Natura & Co Group, and Jan parted ways with the company.
Jan receiving his Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Waikato in 2018.
Jan was honoured to be awarded a University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018, and he has continued to give his time back as a business advisor.
“It makes me proud to be recognised by my University and to stay connected. Waikato had such a big impact on me and many other people, so I like to give back when I can.”
So, what’s next for Jan? “I’ll continue to unleash the energy in people to make things better … I believe that we must put purpose first as we pioneer new ways of doing well by doing good.”
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