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Co-CEOship (TAUW)
Best Practice
Promoter Information:
Name: TAUW (Dutch Consultancy and engineering company located also in other 5 EU countries)
Email: laurent.bakker@tauw.com
Website: https://www.tauw.it/contatti/tauw-international.html
Abstract:
Since 2018, Henrike Branderhorst and Ralph van Roessel have jointly led TAUW, a prominent consultancy and engineering company, as Co-CEOs, sharing equal responsibilities. Together, they are steering the transformation of TAUW into a leading European environmental consultancy, while advocating for the Co-CEOship model as a progressive approach to leadership. By sharing the top executive role, Branderhorst and van Roessel highlight the benefits of collaboration, diverse perspectives, and balanced decision-making at the highest level. TAUW’s embrace of Co-CEOship aligns with a growing trend seen in other major companies, such as DSM, which also employs the dual-leadership model. With more than 1,200 employees operating across six countries, TAUW focuses on promoting the harmonious coexistence of nature and human activity. The company addresses a wide range of environmental challenges, including air quality, nitrogen and PFAS management, sustainable urban development, future-proof infrastructure, digital transformation, and the circular economy. TAUW's operations are most advanced in the Netherlands, where the company has the largest presence and the most specialist knowledge in-house. This expertise contributes to a highly developed sustainability profile in its home country. However, the Co-CEOs emphasize that sustainability at TAUW is not just about environmental impact—it is also deeply intertwined with the company's ambitions in the areas of diversity and inclusion (D&I). For Branderhorst and van Roessel, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace is a natural extension of TAUW’s sustainability goals. They recognize that a successful, future-oriented company must reflect the diversity of society and provide equal opportunities for all employees. By integrating D&I into its corporate strategy, TAUW ensures that it is not only addressing environmental sustainability but also promoting social equity within its workforce and leadership structure. TAUW’s innovative leadership model and its commitment to both environmental sustainability and gender equality serve as a strong example for other companies looking to implement more inclusive, forward-thinking practices. Through the Co-CEOship model, TAUW demonstrates how shared leadership can drive both business success and positive societal impact.
Keywords:
power sharing, Co-CEO leadership, competences and job perspectives sharing, C-suite diversification
Dates:
Jan. 1, 2018 - None
Source Specificity:
Initiative/Practice/Project/Programme/Case Studies
Website:
https://www.tauw.com/about-us/leadership/
Power Domains:
Economic
Methods Tools:
Awareness-raising, Self-regulation
Country:
NL
City:
/
Implementation Scale:
international
Language:
Dutch, English
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