this should be the successor to Michael van Praag

The Ajax supervisory board has a successor in mind for Michael van Praag. The supervisory body of the Amsterdam residents intends to nominate Carolien Gehrels as the new chairman. At least that is what Mike Verweij reported on Friday morning based on sources around the supervisory board and the board of directors of Ajax. It has been known for a while that Van Praag will leave as chairman of the supervisory board, but the name of a new candidate has not been announced for a long time.

Van Praag returned to Ajax last year. At the time, the people of Amsterdam were going through a crisis both inside and outside the lines. They had only just said goodbye to technical director Sven Mislintat when Pier Eringa announced that he would be leaving as chairman of the supervisory board. Not long after that it came out that the club was in discussions with Leo van Wijk and Van Praag about the chairmanship of the supervisory board. Van Praag knew the club inside and out and was committed to helping Ajax out.

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Less than a year later it came out the Ajax board of directors would like a new chairman of the supervisory board. Van Praag initially did not consider resigning, but it has now become clear that he will remain in office ‘at least until the Special General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) to be determined,’ Verweij wrote on Friday morning. Gehrels must therefore become his successor. Verweij expects that the intention to put the former PvdA councilor forward as the new chairman of the supervisory board will be announced next Monday at the General Meeting of Shareholders.

“Incidentally, the arrival of Gehrels is not yet a done deal,” it reads, however. “The board of directors of the Ajax association, which is the major shareholder with 73 percent of the shares, will enter into discussions with Gehrels in the short term and has yet to give its blessing.” According to Verweij, there was a preference for Diederik Karsten, but Van Praag and Van Wijk ‘blocked’ the arrival of the Ziggo director. “According to the sources, the board is now open to another chairman. Provided that this would be sought in consultation with the new commissioners Hermine Voûte, Dirk Anbeek and Sirik Goeman – to be appointed on Monday. Those three are said to have been involved in the search,” Verweij concludes.

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What is Gehrels like?

Gehrels, 56 years old, studied Dutch language and literature at the University of Groningen, with a specialization in communication in organizations. She worked as a communications officer at the Onze Lieve Vrouw Gasthuis Amsterdam from 1992 to 1994, before taking on the position of advisor at Podium bureau for Educational Communication for three years from 1994. From 1997 to 2006, Gehrels worked at management consultancy Berenschot, where she provided advice to government institutions and municipalities. She was appointed alderman in Amsterdam on April 12, 2006. During her first period, Gehrels was responsible for the portfolios of Art and Culture, Local Media, Sports and Recreation, Companies, Participations and Purchasing.

During that period, Gehrels worked hard for a ‘sporty city’. She was the creator and driving force behind Het Sportplan and organized various sporting events. For her efforts and as a thank you for her administrative services, she received a Medal from the Amsterdam Sports Council. After eight years, she retired as alderman and returned to the business world. From 2015 to 2019, Gehrels was chairman of the Supervisory Board of Women Inc..

Update 9.05 am: Ajax responds

Ajax quickly confirmed Verweij’s news. “Following media reports, Ajax confirms that Carolien Gehrels is the only remaining candidate for the position of chairman of the supervisory board of AFC Ajax NV. The process of arriving at a nomination is in the very final phase”according to a press release.