Leadership Team 

The role of our 7-strong leadership team is to define and execute DFE Pharma’s strategic direction. Led by our Chief Executive Officer, Bas van Driel, the team is structured to complement our strategy and reflect our ambition to be the reliable and preferred supplier of a wide range of excipient solutions building on a more than 100 years heritage of excipient expertise in pharmaceutical grade lactose.

Bas van Driel - CEO

As of November 2015 Bas van Driel is the CEO of DFE Pharma. Bas brings a vast experience in the field of marketing, sales and key account management and also a wealth of knowledge in general management. He joined DFE Pharma from Royal FrieslandCampina where he held a number of commercial management positions. Bas van Driel holds a Master in Business Administration, Strategic and Financial Management.

Mark Spiers - CFO

Mark Spiers is the CFO of DFE Pharma as of August 2017. Mark joined Fonterra in 2009 based out of New Zealand before moving to Germany to accept the role of CFO with DFE Pharma. Mark brings a breadth of commercial and finance experience within global operations. In his most recent role at Fonterra, Mark was responsible for the finance across Fonterra’s New Zealand Manufacturing. Mark has a background in agriculture, dairy and pharmaceuticals.

Andries Smit - Global Sales Director

Andries Smit is the Global Sales Director of DFE Pharma as of July 2017. Andries brings with him a wealth of B2B experience in both food ingredients and pharma excipients. Since 2000 Andries held various commercial roles at Royal FrieslandCampina, Business Group Ingredients, amongst others as Commercial Director, Director Business Unit South East Asia Pacific, Director Business Development North America and Market Unit Manager Pharma. Andries holds a Master degree in Agricultural Economics.

Johan den Holder - Global Human Resources Director

Johan den Holder is the Global Human Resources Director as of September 2015. Johan is heading the Human Resources team and is responsible for Talent Management, Organizational Development and Continuous Learning at DFE Pharma. Johan brings with him over 10 years of experience in the field of strategic human resource management. Johan holds a Bachelor Human Resource Management and Organizational Management.

Rutger Drost - Global Marketing, Innovation & Technology Director

Rutger Drost is the Global Marketing, Innovation & Technology Director of DFE Pharma as of December 2017. Rutger brings with him over 15 years of experience in commercial roles in food ingredients & pharmaceutical excipients, and as strategy consultant. He joined DFE Pharma in 2014 from our parent company Royal FrieslandCampina, and is member of the DFE Pharma Leadership Team since 2016. Rutger holds a Master in International Business Studies.

Wilbert van de Rakt - Quality Director

Wilbert van de Rakt is the Quality Assurance Manager of DFE Pharma as of September 2015.

Wilbert has more than 25 years of working experience in the pharmaceutical industry whereof more than 10 years in Quality Assurance with a wide spread knowledge in the field of quality.

Teun Heijnen - Supply Chain and Operations Director

Teun Heijnen is Supply Chain and Operations Director since September 1st 2018. Before joining DFE Pharma Teun was over 10 years with FrieslandCampina in operational roles for Domo and the last three years for the Business Group Ingredients focusing on the Safety and Continuous Improvement program.