On May 22 during the Annual General Meeting, Phaedra Kortekaas, Managing Director Benelux at SAS, was elected as the new President of AmCham the Netherlands. She succeeds Jasper van Ouwerkerk who will be stepping down as AmCham President after 5 years of service. Phaedra has been on the Board of AmCham since May 2022 as the official representative of IBM and from May 2023 as the representative of SAS. With Phaedra as the new President, AmCham is taking this opportunity to introduce her to the AmCham network.
What are some interesting facts we should know about you?
I have worked for American companies for over 20 years, and I really enjoy the US business culture. The transatlantic relationship has always been a significant part of my life. I have witnessed how the American-Dutch relationship has impacted my parents’ generation and my own upbringing. I have always held a deep appreciation for the post-war American aid and investment that played a pivotal role in rebuilding our country and infrastructure, sparking economic growth and social reform. It laid the foundation for Dutch corporations and industries to thrive, fostering an exchange of innovation and research.
Building on that, what is the importance of the transatlantic relationship from your perspective?
I think we underestimate the importance of the transatlantic relationship. Our nations share a rich and storied relationship that spans centuries. From the time of the American Revolution, when the Netherlands was among the first countries to recognize the newly formed United States, to the present day, we have stood together as partners and allies. Although we are a relatively small country, especially in comparison to the US, we are an exceptionally strong partner. The Netherlands is one of the main destinations for US direct investment in Europe, and the US is the largest foreign direct investor in the Netherlands. In turn, the Netherlands is one of the largest investors in the US as well. I also believe in the importance of sharing perspectives and knowledge between the US and Europe, and learning from the different approaches. Speaking from my own field of expertise in analytics and ethical AI, there are interesting parallels and differences in how economic investments and innovation are stimulated in the US versus the Netherlands and Europe.
How does AmCham’s mission (advocacy, network, young professionals) resonate with you?
AmCham serves as a great place for peer-to-peer interaction with leaders from different industries with strong relations to the US who face similar opportunities and challenges in doing business in the Netherlands. AmCham offers a platform where we can exchange ideas, learn from each other, helping to accelerate innovation. Together, we can be a positive voice towards our government and society regarding the investment climate in the Netherlands and AmCham’s role in the transatlantic trade relationship. Additionally, AmCham’s young professionals’ community is a fantastic network of the next generation of leadership in large corporations in the Netherlands.
How is the AmCham membership bringing value for you personally and for your company?
For analytics and AI leader SAS, an American company, AmCham provides a platform to stay informed about economic developments and trade relations in the Netherlands. It helps us understand all the different aspects of doing business in the Netherlands. I also see this reflected in our committees, which dive into topics relevant to American companies and the Dutch economy. SAS may be the largest privately owned tech company in the US, but in the Netherlands, we are one of the many tech and American companies that do business in the Netherlands. AmCham provides us with a direct channel to voice our interests and the benefits and value we bring to the Netherlands.
What are you looking forward to as the new President of AmCham?
I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as President of AmCham, and I am eager to explore the possibilities that lie ahead. I am looking forward to carrying on the positive legacy of the strong trade relations between the Netherlands and the US,and continuing the dialogue by representing the interests of American companies in the Netherlands. Our 2024 Priority Points will bring the message that the Netherlands has been punching above its weight for decades and that AmCham now sees an opportunity yet also an urgent need to focus our attention on what is needed for a strong and sophisticated economy that is future proof: focused on the long term, pragmatic and constructive. I look towards this community to move forward with a constructive intent as laid out in our Priority Points.