After careful planning and in consultation with the shareholders, Kees van den Berg has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer and will leave GenomeScan effective 31 December 2026. On 1 January 2027, Robert van Schagen, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer.
While leadership transitions are significant moments in the life of any organization, this transition also provides an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey of GenomeScan and to recognize the extraordinary contribution of our current CEO.
A Journey of Vision, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
GenomeScan was founded on a clear belief: that advances in genomic technologies could help transform healthcare, accelerate scientific discovery, and bring the promise of personalized medicine closer to reality.
Under the leadership and vision of Kees van den Berg, GenomeScan grew from an entrepreneurial initiative into one of the Netherlands’ leading sequencing and genomics service organizations. Through a combination of scientific excellence, innovation, customer focus, and an unwavering commitment to quality, the company has established itself as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, healthcare institutions, agricultural innovators, and academic researchers worldwide.
Over nearly two decades, GenomeScan has continuously expanded its capabilities, invested in state-of-the-art sequencing technologies, built a highly regarded bioinformatics platform, achieved and maintained internationally recognized quality accreditations, and assembled an exceptional team of scientists, technicians, bioinformaticians, project managers, and support professionals.
Perhaps most importantly, GenomeScan has remained true to its founding mission: enabling better, faster, and more affordable molecular diagnostics, supporting groundbreaking research, and helping advance personalized medicine for the benefit of patients and society.
A New Chapter Following the 2024 Shareholder Transition
An important milestone in the company’s history occurred in 2024, when Kees van den Berg, as founder and former majority shareholder, completed the transition of ownership through the acquisition of his shares by the current UMC shareholder group.
This transaction marked the successful culmination of years of value creation and ensured a strong foundation for GenomeScan’s future growth. Since that transition, Kees van den Berg has continued to lead the company with the same passion, dedication, and sense of responsibility that have characterized his leadership from the beginning.
The Board would like to express its sincere gratitude for his vision, perseverance, entrepreneurial courage, and unwavering commitment to GenomeScan, its employees, customers, and partners. The company we know today stands as a testament to his leadership and the culture he helped create.
Looking Forward
The Supervisory Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert van Schagen as the next Chief Executive Officer.
Over the last two years, Robert has played a pivotal role in strengthening GenomeScan’s operational excellence, supporting strategic growth, and helping shape the organization we know today. Through close collaboration with the management team, employees, works council, user councils, and shareholders, he has developed a deep understanding of GenomeScan’s people, culture, capabilities, and future opportunities.
The Supervisory Board has full confidence that Robert is ideally positioned to lead GenomeScan into its next chapter while preserving the values, scientific excellence, customer focus, and innovative spirit that have defined the company since its founding by Kees van den Berg.
Thank You
Leadership transitions are rarely the accomplishment of a single individual. GenomeScan’s achievements have always been the result of the collective efforts of an outstanding team. We therefore want to thank all employees for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to our mission.
In the coming months, we will have opportunities to thank Kees for his contribution and to recognize his lasting impact on GenomeScan.
Together, we look forward to building on GenomeScan’s strong foundation and continuing our mission of advancing science, improving healthcare, and delivering value to customers and partners around the world.
On behalf of the Supervisory Board,
Bert-Jan Souman
Chair of the Supervisory Board
