RAI Amsterdam adds to Supervisory Board

RAI Amsterdam has announced that CEO of VIA Outlets, Otto Ambagtsheer (pictured), and finance director for Uber, Michiel Boere, have joined its Supervisory Board, 29 October.

Ambagtsheer joined VIA Outlets in 2018, and previously worked as regional managing director Benelux at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Boere has held various positions at Uber since 2016, where he is currently finance director for Uber Eats. Previously, he worked as CFO at Greetz and as an Associate at McKinsey.

Supervisory board chairman, Annemarie van Gaal, said: "I am pleased with the arrival of Michiel and Otto to complement our Supervisory Board. I am impressed by their specialist knowledge, experience and their authenticity and I am sure that with both of them on board we have all the talent we need to support the RAI in its ambitions.

"This crisis forces us to examine the strategy and to focus more on sustainability, smarter logistics and the future of the RAI as a multifunctional area in Amsterdam.

"The events taking place in our exhibition and conference centre provide an economic boost for Amsterdam and its surroundings. Over 31,500 hotel reservations were processed by the RAI in 2019, accounting for more than 105,000 overnight stays. In addition to hotels, the cultural sector, entertainment venues and retail trade also benefited from these visits."

Paul Riemens, CEO of RAI Amsterdam, added: "Every euro spent in the RAI leads to an expense of around seven euros in Amsterdam. Think of hotel stays and spending in the hotel and catering industry, museums and the retail trade. In short: our events are good for turnover and employment".