AMSTERDAM.- Professor Mariët Westermann will take up her new position as member of the Supervisory Board of the Rijksmuseum on 7 July 2021. Mariët Westermann is professor of Arts and Humanities at New York University Abu Dhabi, where she also serves as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive.

Mariët Westermann (b. 1962) studied Art History in the United States. After completing her PhD in 1997 at New York University with her thesis on Jan Steen, the comic painter, she served in academic and management posts at several US universities. Prior to making the move to New York University Abu Dhabi in 2019, Westermann was Executive Vice President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in New York.

Mariët Westermann:‘It is an honour is to be joining the Supervisory Board of the Rijksmuseum, the most important museum in the Netherlands, and one that, thanks to its progressive and inspirational programmes, has a dazzling allure for everyone in the Netherlands and people all over the whole world. I look forward to assisting the museum in many ways.

Alex Wynaendts, Chair of the Supervisory Board: I am delighted with the appointment of Professor Mariët Westermann, and I have every confidence that as a highly knowledgeable and innovative thinker she will be an important addition to the Supervisory Board.

Taco Dibbits, director: With all her international experience and expertise in the field of art history, I am certain that Mariët Westermann will make a valuable contribution to connecting people, arts and history. I look forward to working together.

The appointment of Mariët Westermann fills the vacancy created by the departure of historian, writer and television programme maker Hans Goedkoop, who stepped down having served the maximum term of eight years on the Board.

The other sitting members of the Supervisory Board are: Alex Wynaendts (Chair; former CEO of Aegon), Naima Azough (independent adviser in the social domain; senior partner at Colourful People), José van Dijck (University Professor of Media & Society at Utrecht University), Heleen Kersten (Vice Chair; partner at Stibbe law firm), Sir John Leighton (Director-General of National Galleries of Scotland) and Chris Vogelzang (former CEO of Danske Bank).