Karien van Gennip
Karien van Gennip | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 3, 1968 Leidschendam, Netherlands |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 2003–2008; 2022–2024 (politics) |
| Known for | Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (2022–2024), State Secretary for Economic Affairs (2003–2007) |
Catharina Elisabeth Godefrida "Karien" van Gennip (born 3 October 1968) is a Dutch entrepreneur and political figure who held the position of Minister of Social Affairs and Employment within the Fourth Rutte cabinet from 10 January 2022 until 2 July 2024. She represents the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.
Originating from Leidschendam, Van Gennip's professional background includes roles at McKinsey & Company and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets prior to her political career. She was named State Secretary for Economic Affairs in 2003 during the second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende, continuing in this capacity through his third cabinet until 2007. After being elected to the House of Representatives in 2006, she stepped down in 2008 to re-enter the corporate sector at ING, before making a political comeback in 2022.
Early life and education
Karien van Gennip is the daughter of Jos van Gennip, a Christian Democratic politician who served in the Senate between 1991 and 2007. She pursued studies in applied physics at Delft University of Technology and obtained an MBA from INSEAD located in Fontainebleau.
Early career
Van Gennip’s early professional experience includes working with McKinsey & Company in both Amsterdam and San Francisco, as well as leading restructuring projects at the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets.
Political career
Between 2003 and 2007, Van Gennip fulfilled the role of State Secretary for Economic Affairs under the second and third Balkenende administrations. She served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2006 until her resignation in 2008. During her tenure as State Secretary, she authored a column for Margriet discussing her experiences with maternity leave. Additionally, she is affiliated with Young Global Leaders, an initiative founded by Klaus Schwab associated with the World Economic Forum.
Return to the private sector
In 2008, Van Gennip transitioned to ING Group, taking on the role of Director European & International Affairs, which she maintained until 2020. She made history in 2017 by becoming the first female Vice-Chair elected to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). From 2020 through 2022, she led Coöperatie VGZ, one of the Netherlands’ largest healthcare insurance providers, as its CEO.
Other activities
Van Gennip was part of the Supervisory Board at TomTom from 2021 until 2022.