Speakers

Founder (1975) and chairman of the Supervisory Board of the BCD group of companies. BCD Group is a market leader in the travel industry. The privately owned company consists of BCD Travel (global corporate travel management), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, Vayama and Easytobook), Park 'N Fly (off-airport parking), TRX (travel transaction processing and data integration), Parkmobile International (mobile parking and traffic applications) and joint ventures Airtrade (consolidating and fulfillment) and VakantieXperts (leisure). BCD Group employs over 12,000 people and operates in 97 countries with total sales, including US$8.5 billion partner sales, of US$22.8 billion in 2012. John is a former Board Member of SHV Holdings, the largest family-owned company in the Netherlands, and he is still an active Board member at many Dutch and international companies.

Thomas Ahlström is managing director of Antti Ahlström Perilliset Oy in Helsinki. Today this holding company of the Ahlström family controls three operating companies, of which one is listed, with a net worth in excess of 1 billion euro. Thomas is a member of the fifth generation of the Ahlström family which consists of over 230 family shareholders. Next to his operating role Thomas also serves on several boards as non-executive board member.

Jos H.J. Pâques (1948) founder and major shareholder of Paques Holding B.V., was President of Paques from 1973 to October 1, 2002. As of last mentioned date he joined the supervisory board of Paques. In addition, he will continue to act as Director of External Affairs for Paques. In this capacity he is in charge of the realization of several special projects and involved in the activities of Paques in China.
Jos Pâques is an entrepreneur with a strong market orientation and a good sense of potential market opportunities. Paques has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective purification systems for water, gasses and air, using innovative biotechnology.

For the Workshop presentation by Hans van Oosterhout and Jos Pâques click here.

Pelle van Walraven (40 years) is CEO of the Van Walraven Group, a family company build on responsibility creating sustainable value for over 70 years. They bring comfort and safety to their customers in the global technical installation markets by providing innovative, efficient and reliable fixing, sanitary and fire protection systems and services. Founder Jan van Walraven, Pelle's great-grandfather, was a plumber. Because of the lack of building materials in the post-war years, he was forced to start making his own pipe clamps and brackets. That small family business has grown into an international enterprise today with its own production facilities and sales offices in various countries. The Walraven Group has more than 800 active employees. Pelle has worked for the family company in various positions since 1993. He is married and has 3 children. In his private life he is deputy commander and diving coordinator at the fire brigade. 

For the Workshop presentation of Pursey Heugens and Pelle van Walraven click here.