Corporate governance
RAI Holding BV is a private company in accordance with Dutch law. Our governance is based on Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), the statutes, our internal governance policy and various internal regulations. The governance structure involves a general meeting, Supervisory Board, Executive Board and works council.
Names of companies and convention centre
Where this Annual Report says ‘RAI Amsterdam’ (without 'BV') or just 'RAI', we are referring to the name of our organisation and the company RAI Holding BV including its group companies.
Where this report states ‘RAI Amsterdam BV (NEW)’ it refers to the company RAI Amsterdam BV with CoC number 92449174, newly established in 2023 and, at the end of 2024, the only company among the group companies of RAI Holding BV with this name. At the start of 2024 there was another company with this name. That entity, with CoC number 34192575, established in 2003, was renamed RAI Real Estate BV in 2024 as part of the restructuring process.
When we use 'the RAI' – preceded by ‘the’ – we refer to the convention centre on Europaplein in Amsterdam, i.e. a location rather than an organisation or company.
New legal structure
In 2023 it was decided to change the legal structure of RAI Amsterdam in view of two goals: preparing RAI Amsterdam for the planned area development of the location on Europaplein and placing various exhibition activities in separate entities. The restructuring started in 2023 and was completed in 2024.
The real estate, RAI exhibition titles and daily operations of the convention centre have been placed in separate legal entities which previously fell under one company. The first division took place on 28 December 2023, with the establishment of RAI Markets BV (CoC number 92449166) and RAI Amsterdam BV (92449174). In this framework, all activities related to the organisation of RAI titles were transferred by universal title to RAI Markets BV and all activities related to the daily operations of the convention centre were transferred by universal title to the newly established RAI Amsterdam BV. The real estate remained in the company with CoC number 34192575, renamed RAI Real Estate BV in 2024.
To place a number of our own trade fair activities into separate entities, a second division took place on 5 March 2024 and created the following companies: RAI Cleaning Technology BV, RAI Horticulture BV, RAI Marine Technology BV, RAI Mobility BV and RAI Water Technology BV.
Governance policy
RAI Amsterdam has an internal governance policy that replaced the Corporate Governance Code as a policy framework in 2023. The regulations of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board also date from 2023.
Code of conduct
RAI Amsterdam is aware of its social role and the associated responsibilities towards all parties. The actions of RAI Amsterdam and its employees are based on the core values and business principles formulated by the organisation. The code of conduct, included in the personnel guide, provides clarity by describing the standards expected of the behaviour of RAI Amsterdam employees. The guidance provided by the code of conduct is unconditional and not influenced by financial objectives. The code of conduct was last updated in 2024.
Whistleblower policy
The whistleblower policy sets out how employees can report suspected misconduct to the employer. The policy describes the procedure the employer will follow and states that any employee who reports in good faith and in accordance with the provisions a suspected issue will not be disadvantaged in any way as a result of making such a report. The whistleblower policy was last updated in 2024.
Organisational structure
Composition of the Executive Board
The statutory Executive Board consists of two people.
P. (Paul) Riemens (1962), CEO
Appointed to first term on 7 April 2016. Reappointed on 16 December 2023 to third term from 7 April 2024 to 7 April 2028. Dutch national. Areas of expertise: Finance, HR, ICT, Legal and Venue. Supervisory Board (RvC) memberships: none. Additional functions: member of the Supervisory Board (RvT) of NEMO Science Museum, member of the Advisory Board of the University of Amsterdam for economics & business, chair of Concours Hippique International Jumping Amsterdam.
M. (Maurits) van der Sluis (1965), COO
Appointed to first term on 7 April 2016. Reappointed on 16 December 2023 to third term from 7 April 2024 to 7 April 2028. Dutch national. Areas of expertise: Events, Markets, Business Development, Marketing & Communications & CSR. Supervisory Board (RvC) memberships: none. Additional functions: member of UFI Board of Directors. chair of The Leading Centers of Europe, chair/treasurer of the Voorfinanciering- en Garantie Fonds foundation, vice-chair of Nederlandse Ski Vereniging, board member of Stichting Vrienden Stadsarchief Amsterdam, member of the Supervisory Board (RvT) of Stichting Cardiologie Centra Nederland / Sionsberg Netwerk Ziekenhuis.
Composition of the Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board consists of five members.
O. (Otto) Ambagtsheer (1969), chair
Appointed to first term as member on 1 November 2020 for four years. Dutch national. CEO of VIA Outlets.
A.M.H. (Annemarie) Macnack-van Gaal (1962), vice-chair
Member of the remuneration committee, member of the selection and appointment committee. Appointed on 15 September 2015. Reappointed to third term for two years on 12 December 2023. Dutch national. Chair and speaker, columnist for the De Telegraaf newspaper, member of Supervisory Board of Pathé Holding BV, member of Supervisory Board of Stichting Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen (Nationale Hypotheek Garantie), board member of Start Foundation, member of Committee of Recommendation for Het Vergeten Kind foundation, member of Advisory Board of Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO), member of the Advisory Board of Dutch Association of Tax Advisers, ambassador for SOS Kinderdorpen, member of the Supervisory Board (RvT) of Vereniging WNL.
M.P. (Michiel) Boere (1982)
Chair of the audit committee. Appointed to first term on 1 November 2020 for four years. Dutch national. CFO of Remote Technologies Inc. Advisor to Cheaf Technologies. Member of Advisory Board of of Dutch Association of Tax Advisers.
W.C.M. (Mariëlle) de Macker (1967)
Chair of the remuneration committee, chair of the selection and appointment committee. Appointed to first term on 17 March 2017. Reappointed to second term on 21 April 2021 for four years. Dutch national. Owner of MCKR-in-business. Member of Supervisory Board of Van Loon Group, member of Supervisory Board of Stichting Maastricht Radiation Oncology 'Maastro Clinics', member of Supervisory Board of Maastro Protonentherapie, member of Supervisory Board of Intervet International BV, advisor to Human Capital Innovation Industries.
R.J. (René) Takens (1954)
Member of the Audit Committee. Appointed to first term on 1 October 2021 for four years, nominated by shareholder RAI Association. Dutch national.
Shareholders
RAI Amsterdam has two shareholders: the RAI Association and the City of Amsterdam.
RAI Association
The RAI Association owns 75% of the shares in RAI Amsterdam. This trade association promotes the interests of manufacturers and importers of passenger cars, trucks, trailers, bodywork and special vehicles, motorcycles and scooters, mopeds and bicycles.
City of Amsterdam
The remaining shares are owned by the City of Amsterdam.