Royal Schiphol Group today announced that Joost van Doesburg, Head of Cargo, will step down from his position, effective 1 February 2025. Van Doesburg, who has held the role since March 2023, has made the decision to leave following what the company describes as “unjust defamatory allegations” against him.
Patricia Vitalis, Executive Director of Schiphol Operations, commented:
“We respect Joost’s decision but deeply regret it, both for him and for Schiphol. Unjust defamatory allegations have been made against him, and business-related criticism of Schiphol has been made personal, resulting in media coverage. This has created an undesirable situation for him, which we deeply regret. The Schiphol Executive Team has always supported Joost.
“He is a dedicated professional who has consistently advocated for the interests of cargo at Schiphol.”
During his tenure, van Doesburg oversaw significant accomplishments, including a comprehensive overhaul of the Cargo Port Community system Cargonaut, an increase in cargo volumes, and the initiation of a process to reposition cargo operations within the Schiphol organization with a strong focus on sustainability and quality.
The Royal Schiphol Group expressed gratitude for his contributions, stating:
“Schiphol thanks Joost for the impressive results he has achieved with his teams. Under his leadership, cargo operations were enhanced, and important strides were made to modernize systems and prioritize sustainability.”
While the company did not elaborate on the nature of the allegations, it emphasized its regret over the circumstances leading to his departure.
Royal Schiphol Group remains committed to its vision for cargo operations and will continue its efforts to ensure operational excellence and innovation in the sector.