Henk Rottinghuis

A Man Who Is Not Afraid Of Being Disagreeable

Henk Rottinghuis (54) is campaigning for the presidency of the federation for equestrian sports FEI

By our editor
Danielle Pinedo

For years Henk Rottinghuis had a leading position in trade and industry. Now he has set his sights on a leading position in worldwide equestrian sports. People who know him say he is charming and very direct.

When Frank Kemperman checks his stack of mail after the yearly show jumping event in Aachen, it will always include a handwritten note from Henk Rottinghuis. “Henk is a man with a big heart”, says the director of the prestigious equestrian event. “Anyone else would have asked their secretary to write a thank you note after a pleasant visit. He prefers to write it himself.”

Engaging. That is how people who have known Henk Rottinghuis over a longer period of time describe him. But also as a man who knows exactly why he does what he does. Some time ago, as president of the Rijksmuseum Trust Foundation, he offered to pay the bill during a dinner with a group of wealthy American art lovers. “A generous gesture”, according to Wim Pijbes, director of the Rijksmuseum. “But also a clever way to nudge things along in the right direction.”

The former CEO of Volkswagen importer Pon Holdings, ranked last year by business magazine FEM as one of the top-100 most influential Dutchmen, needs both his head and his heart to achieve this very different position: the presidency of the international federation for equestrian sports FEI. The much coveted position has been held by the Jordanian Princess Haya over the last four years. And she seems to be determined to continue for another term.

Who is Henk Rottinghuis? The question itself immediately reveals the main problem of his candidacy. As CEO of a family business, Rottinghuis (54) for many years worked behind the scenes, and with a great deal of success. Under his management Pon grew to be a concern with an annual turnover of 7.5 billion euro – but never to his own greater honor and glory. And so, the question is how he will get the support of the majority of the horse federations that will vote on November 5 during the FEI’s General Assembly. Kemperman: “Henk is a celebrity in the national equestrian sport, but an outsider in the international equestrian world.”

His answer to this problem is as original as it is characteristic. Some time ago Rottinghuis started a 100-day propaganda action of which he presented the results on his website this week. The candidate to president asked equestrian sports federations about their opinion on the management of FEI. In this way, Rottinghuis hopes not only to sketch a complete picture of the current state of affairs in the equestrian sport, but also depicts himself as a manager who listens.

“If I am elected, one of my most important aims will be to listen first and then to act”, he confided to the international equestrian press last week. “We all share a tremendous passion and enthusiasm for the sport. I think, too often, we are inclined to forget this.”

Characteristic for Rottinghuis is that he has already been able to hitch a number of resounding names to his election cart. Recent letters of recommendation appearing on his website include votes of confidence from Anky van Grunsven, Prince Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Balkenende. Even though the value of some of those references (“is there anyone in South American who knows Balkenende?” wonders Kemperman) is arguable, it does indicate that some of his renowned countrymen, enjoying the highest regard, are prepared to back his candidacy. “My earliest memories of Mr. Rottinghuis go back to the beginning of the 70’s”, writes the crown prince on www.henkforfei.org. “I saw an energetic volunteer walking around at the then CHIO in Rotterdam. I think it speaks in favor of today’s sports managers if they understand that it’s the volunteers that are the people who make those events possible!”

Jaap Werners is not surprised by Rottinghuis’ plan of action. The former board member of the KNHS horse union still remembers very well how at the beginning of this century, Rottinghuis as chairman of an amalgamation committee managed to forge seventeen horse clubs into one federation. “That was a bumpy procedure thanks in large part to the differing backgrounds of the members. From the hunting club to the Friesian harness horses – Henk had to get them all on one line of thought. How did he do that? With his calm charisma, knowledge and straightforwardness.”

There are colorful anecdotes in circulation regarding that directness, in particular. It seems that Rottinghuis rarely deviates from his points of view. Whoever wants to make him change his mind has to come up with some very good arguments. “Henk is not afraid of being disagreeable”’ says Bernard Wientjes, president of employers’ organization VNO-NCW. “And he can be like that, because he is charming and socially involved. I remember I had once organized a consultation on the interests of multinationals in the Catshuis. Many influential people were present, including host Balkenende. A couple of days later I received an angry mail: had I forgotten that there were large family businesses in the Netherlands? And why had those companies not been invited to that consultation. I immediately called the Prime Minister to make another appointment.”

Museum director Pijbes describes Rottinghuis’ social intercourse as “businesslike, friendly and to the point”. According to Pijbes, during their visits to wealthy American art lovers on behalf of the museum foundation, the former CEO did not cringe from quickly getting down to business. “Tonight is not only about art, but also about money”, he once said during a speech. And a benefactor was told, “I find your contribution a bit low in view of your income.”

ROTTINHUIS DOES NOT CRINGE FROM QUICKLY GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

Rottinghuis’ strength lies in the fact that he dares to take a calculated risk without weighing the legal pros and cons. A characteristic that is needed in the equestrian world, given the rising criticism on president Haya’s opaque management. It is said the princess will not take a stand on the drawn out doping debate. And European countries – where the central point of equestrian sport has lain from way back – cannot share her call to globalization. In this respect, the fact that Rottinghuis is an outsider could work to his advantage, according to tournament director Kemperman. “Many members are dissatisfied with the present course of things. And Henk has nothing to do with that: he is better known as a successful businessman than as a horse zealot.”

On his farm in Vogelenzang (close to Hillegom), surrounded by meadows and horses, former dressage rider Rottinghuis prepares in silence for the fight that is to come. To win it, he will not only have to leave the Jordanian princess Haya behind him, but also de Swedish vice-president Sven Holmberg. “If he doesn’t manage to become president now, he surely will in four years’ time, says Kemperman. “He has my vote.”