Gerrit Dirk Ale Klijnstra
Gerrit D. A. Klijnstra[edit]
Gerrit Klijnstra was a prominent businessman who occupied several relevant positions in companies like the Imperial Chemical Industries, Glycerine Limited and Unilever Ltd throughout his lifetime. He was also awarded different titles such as the Order of Orange-Nassau and was made Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), among others.
Personal Life[edit]
Gerrit D. A. Klijnstra was born to Meljus Klijnstra and Jannettje Klijnstra in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1912. After completing his Gymnasium education in Amersfoort, Netherlands, Klijnstra studied in Delft, where he graduated in 1938 as a chemical engineer.
Career[edit]
| Gerrit Dirk Ale Klijnstra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1912 Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| 19761976 | |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Dutch |
| 🏫 Education | Graduated as a chemical engineer |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 👴 👵 Parent(s) | Meljus Klijnstra and Jannettje Klijnstra |
| Honours | -Officer and Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
-Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion -Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) -Normann Medal of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft |
On 16 May of 1938, right after graduating, he joined Unilever as production manager at NV Maatschappij tot Exploitatie der Vereenigde Oliefabrieken Zwijndrecht, where he remained until June 1945 with an interruption for performing military service as a reserve officer with the Dutch Forces during the Second World War.
After a 6-month training in England, he went to the then Dutch East Indies, nowadays Indonesia, in 1946 where he became technical director of the Unilever companies there to rebuild it. In January 1950 he was transferred to Germany as successor to Mr. A.F.H. Blaauw in a similar position, as technical head of the Unilever companies to return to London after four years on January 1, 1954 to be appointed as a member of the Overseas Committee, responsible for the territories outside Europe. This Overseas Committee replaced the work of the Contact Directors in London on the same date. Gerrit became a full-time member of this Committee, alongside Mr J.H. Hansard and R.H. Heyworth.
Klijnstra was appointed to the Board of Directors of Unilever Limited in December 1955 and Unilever N.V. in January 1956, followed by his appointment in February 1960 as Head of the Technical Division in London where he became responsible for more than 400 plants. In that year he also became director of Glycerine Limited.
Two years later, in April 1962, he again became a member of the Overseas Committee to be appointed as World Coordinator in 1965, first for Foods I-Margarine, Food fats and Oils in Rotterdam and later for the Chemical activities and in January 1967 for Foods II - Various foods and beverages (except meat and beer - the latter remained a UAC affair). From January 1, 1966 he became a part-time member of Rotterdam Group Management; he was already a part-time member of the UK Committee. He was jointly responsible for the success of the new Unilever organizational structure, which was changed in 1965 from a regional organization to a product group structure.
In May 1968 he was appointed vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Unilever NV as successor to Rudolf G. Jurgens and in May 1971 became chairman of Unilever NV and vice-chairman of Unilever Limited as successor to Harold Hartog and remained until on his retirement in May 1975 when he was succeeded in that position by Frans van den Hoven.
Other positions[edit]
- Member of the executive committee that deals with the FAO industrial cooperation program
- Chairman of the board of the Foundation for the Delft Community
- Member of the board of Imperial Chemical Industries
Awards[edit]
- Officer and Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion
- Normann Medal of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
References[edit]
- GB1752.UNI/GF/CR/5/6/12 (1975). 'Unilever Magazine, No12 1975, Gerrit Klijnstva: The Fair Negotiation, Lines of Communication' - Item
- GB1752.UNI/BD/2/1/22. 'Gerrit Klijnstra Speeches and Writings' - Sub series
- GB1752.UNI/BD/2/3/3. 'David Orr and Gerrit Klijnstra Collaborative Speeches and Writings' - Sub series
- GB1752.UNI/BD/2/3/5. 'Ernest Woodroofe and Gerrit Klijnstra Collaborative Speeches and Writings' - Sub series
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