Roland Verstappen is a highly regarded and seasoned public and governmental affairs professional at Global and European level for more than 25 years. He has gained a wealth of experience throughout his career in senior Public and Government Affairs positions in blue chip corporations in the drinks, steel and automotive sectors.
From 2012 until the end of June 2018, Verstappen was Global Director Public and Governmental Affairs in Heineken International based in Amsterdam leading the company’s government affairs strategies at Global, European and National level. He currently is actively involved in the prestigious and influential European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) with particular focus on the global and European trade policy issues. Before joining Heineken, Verstappen joined Mittal Steel in 2006 as Director Governmental Affairs, was actively involved in the merger with Arcelor after which he lead the governmental affairs strategies for ArcelorMittal as Vice President International Affairs and Corporate Responsibility. From 1985 to 2005, Verstappen had an extensive career in Ford Motor Company including managing the Brussels office from 1993 to 1995 and then as Ford of Europe’s Executive Director responsible for leading Ford’s governmental affairs team at European and national level.
In all these high-level roles, Verstappen has also taken on the role of Chairman of the International Relations Committee of Business Europe from 2010 to 2014. He has also represented Ford, ArcelorMittal and Heineken and respective industries on a wide range of International and European business associations. In this capacity, he has been able to travel the globe and play a key role in leading, developing and implementing strategies aimed at achieving balanced policy and regulatory outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
Verstappen is a Belgian national where he obtained his law degree and he is also an alumni of the College of Europe, Bruges, with an MA in European law.