Arend Hardorff appointed new chair of the Fontys Executive Board

The Fontys Supervisory Board has appointed Arend Hardorff as Chair of the Executive Board. He will take up his post on 1 January 2027, succeeding Joep Houterman, who will step down as Chair of the Executive Board on that date. Until his (early) retirement on 1 March 2027, Joep will remain available to ensure a ‘smooth handover’ .

Arend Hardorff is currently a member of the Executive Board of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. In this role, he is responsible for teaching, research, student affairs and internationalisation. In addition, he represents the university in these areas within the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences and holds various administrative positions at regional, national and international levels.

Arend Hardorff began his career as a lecturer in higher education and subsequently held various management positions at Breda University of Applied Sciences, including programme manager and director of the Academy for Leisure. He then spent four years as dean and a member of the Executive Board at Hotelschool The Hague. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Executive Board of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He thus brings with him over twenty years’ experience in higher education, including eight years as an executive.

‘As a broad-based and internationally oriented university of applied sciences, Fontys has the strength to nurture talent and, through practice-oriented research, to make a real difference in society,’ says Arend on his arrival at Fontys. ‘There lies a wonderful opportunity, particularly in one of Europe’s most innovative regions. With the strategic plan For Society 2030, a clear course has been set for the coming years. A course that I wholeheartedly support. I look forward to working with all Fontys colleagues, students and partners to realise this plan in the coming years. With ambition, but also with care for one another.’

According to Raymond Knops, chair of the Fontys Supervisory Board, Hardorff is an excellent fit for Fontys’ ambitions and culture. ‘Fontys plays a key role in the development of the southern Netherlands. Our students, researchers and professionals contribute daily to addressing major societal challenges. Such a mission requires strong and unifying leadership. In Arend, we have found an experienced leader who knows higher education from the inside, thinks strategically and, at the same time, keeps the people who make up our organisation at heart. The Supervisory Board has every confidence that, together with fellow board members Arian Steenbruggen and Jaapjan Zuidema, he will provide direction at a time when the significance of higher education is only growing.’

Executive Board members Arian Steenbruggen and Jaapjan Zuidema are also looking forward to working with him. ‘We are delighted with this appointment. Arend has extensive experience in higher education – gained through various positions and roles – and has a clear vision of the social mission of universities of applied sciences. We know him as a unifying leader who knows how to bring people together whilst remaining steadfast in his course. We look forward to continuing to build together on the development of Fontys, our students and the regions in which we operate.’ ’

Author: Sander Peters