RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 119
Kofi Anan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
visiting Rijk Zwaan in De Lier, 2008. He is welcomed
by Anton, Maarten, Ben and Kees.
20
01
King Kong RZ
Rootstock
tomato
First successful
rootstock tomato.
Less susceptible
to fungal diseases.
20
01
Khassib RZ F1
Mini-cucumber
While the percentage of employees of the total
for recruitment and collaboration in multi-person
workforce who know the executives personally
management teams. The three-day course on
is decreasing due to the explosive growth, ‘that
Ethics and Corporate Culture is particularly note-
doesn’t matter’ according to Ben Tax.
worthy. This course is mandatory for all subsidiary
However big Rijk Zwaan has become, the Board
directors. For IESE, the course is unique: it knows of
members themselves continue to be involved
no other company that organises this type of
in the ‘Rijk Zwaan Round’ and to hold courses for
course to focus on ethical conduct in the company.
Labour-friendly.
Regular
production.
20
02
Futurima RZ
Red cabbage
executives. Moreover, all new employees in the
Netherlands are invited to have lunch with the
Leading
Board, which is also done as much as possible at
Apart from the close attention paid to employees,
the foreign subsidiaries. This enables the Board to
outside the company Rijk Zwaan’s position
pass on the corporate culture directly. Moreover,
of influence in the horticulture sector is also
‘corporate culture is not something that only we
becoming increasingly visible. In 2009, 2010,
as a Board propagate,’ says Ben Tax. ‘It is really
2012 and 2013, Rijk Zwaan ranked number 1 in
an ingrained culture lived by all employees.’
the Hillenraad100, which represents the Top 100
All department heads and local directors of
leading greenhouse horticulture companies in
foreign subsidiaries are also ‘showered with our
the Netherlands. Rijk Zwaan’s innovation-oriented
corporate culture’ and are expected to help shape
character, its internationally strong position and
and protect it.
the fact that it invests in both knowledge and
Main variety
for industry:
easy to harvest
by machine.
20
01
Launch of
RZ China
people make it ‘an example for many Dutch
To help the department heads and local directors
companies’, according to former State Secretary
to shape and protect the corporate culture, various
Willem Vermeend, head of Hillenraad’s expert
management training courses are organised
committee, in 2013.
during this period, in which all the managers
participate. In 2009, a long-term collaboration with
Barcelona business school IESE, an organisation
with a culture largely similar to that of Rijk Zwaan,
is launched. Over the years, all of the local directors
are invited to an Advanced Management
2001-2002
Programme in Barcelona to strengthen their
management skills. And in addition to a number
of commercial and R&D customised programmes,
IESE also sets up courses together with Rijk Zwaan
2000-2014 | Chain activities and the growing position in society
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