DSM, the life sciences and material sciences company, announced that it appoints Ilona Haaijer as president and CEO of DSM Food Specialties, one of the five global divisions of Royal DSM NV. Ms Haaijer will succeed Hans Christian Ambjerg—who is moving to the Nutritional Products division to lead innovation—from Jan. 1, 2015.

Ms. Haaijer (1969), a Dutch national, joined DSM in 2010, leading and successfully transforming the DSM Personal Care business unit. Ms. Haaijer is a seasoned senior executive, experienced in leading complex, global businesses in the B2C as well as B2B sectors. She graduated in 1994 (cum laude) in Business Economics from the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in the Netherlands incorporating studies from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Cornell University in the USA. After beginning her international career in mobile telecommunications, she joined the Boston Consulting Group in a fast-track career, moving on to lead the integration of the Philips Avent Business which she acquired for Royal Philips Electronics N.V. Ms Haaijer has lived and worked in the U.S., Australia, Singapore, the UK and Switzerland.

Ilona Haaijer commented: “I’m very much looking forward to starting at DSM Food Specialties. There are great opportunities for our business globally, adding distinctive value to our customers and helping the food and beverage industry deliver on sustainable, healthy, affordable and great tasting products. I am pleased to be contributing to DSM Food Specialties as an increasingly powerful force in the industry moving forward.”