Van Leeuwen Central Europe (Vyškov)
Van Leeuwen Asia (Singapore)
Van Leeuwen Australia (Sydney)
Peter Rietberg, our former chairman of the Management Board, is on a farewell tour in our Van Leeuwen organization, to meet with management and teams. So far, he has visited Asia, Australia and most recently Central-Europe. A great opportunity to say goodbye to people he has worked with for many years. His formal farewell is organized on 9 October 2025.
In 2024, we kicked off our first Sustainability Week, a week focused on raising awareness and taking action for a greener future. This year, we brought the initiative back in the form of a global Sustainability Day, held on May 6. Across our locations, colleagues took part in all kinds of activities, from picking up litter to getting active with sports. Through Viva Engage, teams shared their contributions and snapshots from the day. Below, you’ll find a slide show with some of the highlights.
Across our international network, several recent and upcoming management changes are taking place. We took this opportunity to ask the colleagues stepping into these new roles to share their thoughts on their position and ambitions within the Royal Van Leeuwen company.
In our next edition of the VL Together after the summer, we will interview Lars about his first impression of Van Leeuwen and his role as Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany and Austria.
Lars Lehmann, Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany
As of 20 January 2025, Lars Lehmann is Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany. He holds a postgraduate degree from the Munich School of Management and has held various senior leadership positions in different companies. Before starting at Van Leeuwen, Lars was General Manager of URSA, a manufacturer of building insulation materials in Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia and Denmark. During the last five years at URSA, Lars implemented significant changes to the German organization by restructuring the commercial department, optimizing production facilities and by improving the overall brand, which significantly improved employee satisfaction and profitability.
Dennis Andersen, General Manager of Helens Rör A/S
Effective August 4, Dennis Andersen will take on the role of General Manager at Heléns Rör A/S in Denmark, succeeding Stig Rex, who will retire. Dennis has a technical background and was originally trained as a construction blacksmith. Over the years, he has held various managerial roles in the hydraulics industry. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Dunlop Hiflex in Denmark, a leading manufacturer and supplier of hydraulic and industrial hoses, fittings, and fluid handling systems.
We asked Dennis about his new role as General Manager of Heléns Rör A/s: “I’m both proud and humbled to step into the family of Royal Van Leeuwen within the role as General Manager at Helens Rør in Denmark
My background began as a trained smith, followed by further education in production technology and a mini MBA. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to build more than 10 years of leadership experience in similar roles. That said, I am fully aware that every company has its own unique culture, challenges, and strengths
I’m entering this position with great respect for the company’s history and the skilled people who have built it. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to listening, learning from all of you, and working together to shape the future of Helens Rør Denmark.”
We asked Ruud about his new role as Managing Director of the Global Project Organization: “I'm excited to step into my new role as MD of the Global Project Organization (GPO), where I’ll be working closely with the GPO teams and our colleagues in key markets across the Van Leeuwen group.
Together, we aim to accelerate our growth as a trusted project specialist and further enhance our overall performance.
Van Leeuwen holds a unique position in the global capex project space—built on a strong reputation and a footprint that is truly second to none. One of my key goals is to build on this solid foundation and translate our strengths into sustained, strategic growth.
I look forward to expanding my network and collaborating closely with teams across the VL Group to make this ambition a reality.”
We asked David about his new role as Managing Director Van Leeuwen Asia: “I am very much looking forward to my new challenge and building on the success of previous Asia Regional Managing Directors, most notably Joop Sassen, Hans Weerstra and Ruud Langeveld. With a deep understanding of the market in Asia and long relationships with our team members, suppliers and customers in the region I hope to bring continuity and a drive for further growth”
Ruud Langeveld, Managing Director Global Project Organization (GPO)
As of September 15, Ruud Langeveld will assume the position of Managing Director of the Global Project Organization (GPO). Ruud joined Van Leeuwen in 2012 and has held several leadership roles, including General Manager in Indonesia and Malaysia. Since 2018, he has served as Regional Managing Director Asia, based in Singapore. Over the years, Ruud has built strong local teams and contributed significantly to the company’s regional success. In his new role, he will be responsible for the GPO teams in Zwijndrecht, Paris, and Houston, as well as the project offices in the Middle East and our procurement office in China.
David Abernethy, Regional Managing Director Asia
On July 15, David Abernethy will start in his new role as Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Asia. After holding various commercial positions in the United Kingdom, David was appointed Regional Commercial Manager at Van Leeuwen Singapore in 2010. He has since taken on several interim roles in Thailand, Malaysia, and the Middle East, and currently leads the GPO organization in Asia. In his new position, David will be responsible for our operations in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
We asked Frits about his new role as Director Infra Pipelines Europe: “I’m eager to further grow our Infrastructure Pipeline business in other European countries. With our proven track record over the last years, we can bring a lot of added value for these complex projects.
With our experienced teams and ambitious plans, I’m confident that we can expand with more opportunities in the near future!”
Frits Veraa, Director Infra Pipelines Europe
Starting September 1, Frits Veraa will take on the role of Director Infra Pipelines Europe. Frits has been with Van Leeuwen since 2006 and has held various commercial roles within the distribution company in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands. Since 2018, he has served as Commercial Director at Van Leeuwen Stainless in Beesd. In his new role, Frits will focus on further professionalizing and expanding our business activities in the Infra Pipelines segment across Europe.
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Van Leeuwen Central Europe (Vyškov)
Van Leeuwen Asia (Singapore)
Van Leeuwen Australia (Sydney)
Peter Rietberg, our former chairman of the Management Board, is on a farewell tour in our Van Leeuwen organization, to meet with management and teams. So far, he has visited Asia, Australia and most recently Central-Europe. A great opportunity to say goodbye to people he has worked with for many years. His formal farewell is organized on 9 October 2025.
Frits Veraa, Director Infra Pipelines Europe
Starting September 1, Frits Veraa will take on the role of Director Infra Pipelines Europe. Frits has been with Van Leeuwen since 2006 and has held various commercial roles within the distribution company in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands. Since 2018, he has served as Commercial Director at Van Leeuwen Stainless in Beesd. In his new role, Frits will focus on further professionalizing and expanding our business activities in the Infra Pipelines segment across Europe.
We asked Frits about his new role as Director Infra Pipelines Europe: “I’m eager to further grow our Infrastructure Pipeline business in other European countries. With our proven track record over the last years, we can bring a lot of added value for these complex projects.
With our experienced teams and ambitious plans, I’m confident that we can expand with more opportunities in the near future!”
Ruud Langeveld, Managing Director Global Project Organization (GPO)
As of September 15, Ruud Langeveld will assume the position of Managing Director of the Global Project Organization (GPO). Ruud joined Van Leeuwen in 2012 and has held several leadership roles, including General Manager in Indonesia and Malaysia. Since 2018, he has served as Regional Managing Director Asia, based in Singapore. Over the years, Ruud has built strong local teams and contributed significantly to the company’s regional success. In his new role, he will be responsible for the GPO teams in Zwijndrecht, Paris, and Houston, as well as the project offices in the Middle East and our procurement office in China.
We asked Ruud about his new role as Managing Director of the Global Project Organization: “I'm excited to step into my new role as MD of the Global Project Organization (GPO), where I’ll be working closely with the GPO teams and our colleagues in key markets across the Van Leeuwen group.
Together, we aim to accelerate our growth as a trusted project specialist and further enhance our overall performance.
Van Leeuwen holds a unique position in the global capex project space—built on a strong reputation and a footprint that is truly second to none. One of my key goals is to build on this solid foundation and translate our strengths into sustained, strategic growth.
I look forward to expanding my network and collaborating closely with teams across the VL Group to make this ambition a reality.”
We asked David about his new role as Managing Director Van Leeuwen Asia: “I am very much looking forward to my new challenge and building on the success of previous Asia Regional Managing Directors, most notably Joop Sassen, Hans Weerstra and Ruud Langeveld. With a deep understanding of the market in Asia and long relationships with our team members, suppliers and customers in the region I hope to bring continuity and a drive for further growth”
David Abernethy, Regional Managing Director Asia
On July 15, David Abernethy will start in his new role as Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Asia. After holding various commercial positions in the United Kingdom, David was appointed Regional Commercial Manager at Van Leeuwen Singapore in 2010. He has since taken on several interim roles in Thailand, Malaysia, and the Middle East, and currently leads the GPO organization in Asia. In his new position, David will be responsible for our operations in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
We asked Dennis about his new role as General Manager of Heléns Rör A/s: “I’m both proud and humbled to step into the family of Royal Van Leeuwen within the role as General Manager at Helens Rør in Denmark
My background began as a trained smith, followed by further education in production technology and a mini MBA. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to build more than 10 years of leadership experience in similar roles. That said, I am fully aware that every company has its own unique culture, challenges, and strengths
I’m entering this position with great respect for the company’s history and the skilled people who have built it. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to listening, learning from all of you, and working together to shape the future of Helens Rør Denmark.”
Dennis Andersen, General Manager of Helens Rör A/S
Effective August 4, Dennis Andersen will take on the role of General Manager at Heléns Rör A/S in Denmark, succeeding Stig Rex, who will retire. Dennis has a technical background and was originally trained as a construction blacksmith. Over the years, he has held various managerial roles in the hydraulics industry. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Dunlop Hiflex in Denmark, a leading manufacturer and supplier of hydraulic and industrial hoses, fittings, and fluid handling systems.
In our next edition of the VL Together after the summer, we will interview Lars about his first impression of Van Leeuwen and his role as Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany and Austria.
Lars Lehmann, Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany
As of 20 January 2025, Lars Lehmann is Managing Director of Van Leeuwen Germany. He holds a postgraduate degree from the Munich School of Management and has held various senior leadership positions in different companies. Before starting at Van Leeuwen, Lars was General Manager of URSA, a manufacturer of building insulation materials in Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia and Denmark. During the last five years at URSA, Lars implemented significant changes to the German organization by restructuring the commercial department, optimizing production facilities and by improving the overall brand, which significantly improved employee satisfaction and profitability.
Across our international network, several recent and upcoming management changes are taking place. We took this opportunity to ask the colleagues stepping into these new roles to share their thoughts on their position and ambitions within the Royal Van Leeuwen company.
In 2024, we kicked off our first Sustainability Week, a week focused on raising awareness and taking action for a greener future. This year, we brought the initiative back in the form of a global Sustainability Day, held on May 6. Across our locations, colleagues took part in all kinds of activities, from picking up litter to getting active with sports. Through Viva Engage, teams shared their contributions and snapshots from the day. Below, you’ll find a slideshow with some of the highlights.
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