Chris Van Steenbergen

Chris Van Steenbergen graduated with a Master’s in Law from Antwerp University. He started his career as Legal Manager International at Bell Telephone (part of ITT Industries) in Antwerp.

After seven years at ITT, Chris moved to Barcelona to join Cadbury Schweppes Europe as VP Legal. His activities focused very much on acquisitions and joint ventures. After two years Chris and his family and the Europe team moved to Connecticut, USA, to manage Europe from the CS Beverages Head Office.

Two years on and Chris got the opportunity to take a senior business position as VP Franchising Europe, based in London. One year later he was promoted to CEO for Schweppes France & Benelux, based in Paris. Four years later Chris took up a senior management position within Cadbury Schweppes Europe in London.

Not much later Chris and his wife decided to move back to Belgium and Chris became General Manager of Interlabor (which he merged with Randstad Belgium). After that Chris took up the position of CEO of Quick Restaurants, at the time listed on the Brussels stock exchange.

After three years at Quick, Chris went back to Cadbury Schweppes as Managing Director North, East and South Europe, based in London (though as a family they continued to live in Belgium). For his next step Chris was asked to take up the position of Human Resources Director of Cadbury, UK, Europe and Africa Middle East. Two and a half years later he was promoted as President Continental Europe, out of Switzerland. So, back in the business. And finally Chris was appointed as Chief Human Resources of Cadbury plc in London.

After the takeover of Cadbury by Kraft Foods in 2010, Chris became CHRO of Royal DSM, with HO in Dutch South Limburg. In 2014 he joined Heineken International as CHRO. He retired from Heineken in 2021.

Today Chris serves on the Board of Directors of 3 companies , does consulting as a Luminary for Accenture and is a mentor/coach for a number of leaders, including for the 40 under 40 program. Chris is passionate about helping leaders and great talents in their development and success.