LEAD Network is thrilled to announce that our co-founders Mick Broekhof and Helayne Angelus have both been appointed Ridders in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau (Knights in the Order of Orange-Nassau), by His Majesty the King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands.  

The  Royal Decoration of the Netherlands is presented “in recognition of special or exceptional services to Dutch society.” On 3rd October 2024, at the closing session of the 12th Annual Conference of LEAD Network, we welcomed Yvette Szepesi, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to Hungary, who presented Mick and Helayne with the decoration.  

Deputy Ambassador Yvette Szepesi addressed Mick: “You have been the driving force behind the Network’s vision, creating a diverse workforce where both men and women can fulfil their potential and lead their organisations to the next level of value creation. You have been a true catalyst for change.”  

To Helayne, she noted: “You are known for setting the vision and paving the path, while being the guide all the way. With your strong drive behind the LEAD Gender Diversity Scorecard, you are all about ‘doing, not trying’.” 

Doing, Not Trying

Doing, not trying is LEAD Network’s motto, and we have the results to back it up. In the last decade the Network has grown exponentially, bringing together a community of over 21,000 members, working in the European FMCG and Retail Sector. The Network has helped increase the proportion of female senior executives from 25 percent in 2017, to 37 percent in 2023: quite an achievement. As the Deputy Ambassador stated on stage in Budapest, “this is an achievement, not so much of governments or organisations, but of certain special, committed people. People who made all the difference”.  

Mick and Helayne founded the LEAD Network in 2011, inspired by what Mick saw of the Network of Executive Women in the US. With a strong sense that Europe needed to follow suit, he reached out to 13 executive women in his network. Thanks to their shared desire to see gender-balanced leadership across the European CPG and Retail industry, the organisation was born as a non-profit foundation based in The Netherlands.  

Under Mick and Helayne’s leadership, with a small group of dedicated Volunteers, LEAD Network became Europe’s largest and fastest-growing organisation dedicated to gender diversity. Members relish the opportunity to connect, learn and share practices on how to drive inclusion. Simultaneously, LEAD Network began to lead the charge on strategic industry-wide drivers for change such as the introduction of the LEAD Network Gender Diversity Scorecard, CEO Gender Parity Pledge, and CEO Roundtables. 

Special Announcement at the Annual Conference

Fast forward to 2024, where last week, over 800 members gathered in Budapest for the LEAD Network 12th Annual Conference, with the theme of Leading Sustainable Change. Mick and Helayne laid strong foundations, which has, in the last couple of years, led to significant growth and expansion.  

 “I was honoured to attend the LEAD Network International Conference, to present the recognition on behalf of the King of the Netherlands, as the goals of the LEAD Network are very close to my heart. After all, gender-balanced leadership is important in all sectors, be it the CPG and Retail Industry, or diplomacy. And of course, working internationally myself, I am particularly impressed by the cross-border focus of this Network that is based in the Netherlands”. Yvette Szepesi, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands  

 “Congratulations to Mick and Helayne for this momentous achievement. We are grateful for their dedication and their continued support of our mission.  I would like to express our gratitude on behalf of our co-founders, and from the LEAD Network for this very special recognition by His Majesty the King, King Willem-Alexander.  Our thanks also to Deputy Ambassador, Yvette Szepesi, for joining the LEAD Network Conference in Budapest to present the insignia of the Order on behalf of the King”. Tanya Kopps, Chair of the Board of Directors 

“I am delighted that Mick and Helayne have been recognised for their work in founding the LEAD Network.  To be appointed Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau, the most prestigious Royal Decoration for members of the community, is a huge honour, and recognises their unwavering leadership and tireless pursuit of gender parity.” Allyson Zimmermann, CEO  

If you’d like to know more about LEAD Network, please visit our website.