Meet the Energy Leader: Paul Smits
“Pathways to a sustainable port”
By Paul Smits - Chief Financial Officer of the Port of Rotterdam
Date: 29 November 2018
Modorator: professor Paulien Herder
Abstract:
More than half of the cargo shipped to the port of Rotterdam is fossil based (crude oil, oil products, chemicals) and almost all of its industry is now based on crude oil and coal. The industry’s CO2-emissions are close to 20% of the total emissions of The Netherlands. In 2050 that will be reduced to almost zero. How are we going to do is without reducing the economic value and employment in the port? And how can we make the global shipping industry more sustainable?
Paul Smits is Chief Financial Officer of the Port of Rotterdam since June 2011. In his position as CFO, Paul is responsible for Finance, Digital, IT and Procurement as well as setting up initiatives to stimulate innovation in the Port of Rotterdam. Paul has extensive business experience in maritime, logistics, industry, energy, ICT and telecom, as well as in the fields of digitalization and energy transition.
Before joining the Port of Rotterdam he worked for the national telecommunications service provider KPN, where he was responsible for all shared services of KPN in The Netherlands. Before that Paul was CFO of KPN Business Market.
Paul is Certified Management Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional. For more information, see www.linkedin.com/in/paulrjmsmits.
