Huib van Walsem appointed CEO of the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) effective March 1, 2026
Published at 17 December, 2025The Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) announced Huib van Walsem as CEO at its Annual General Meeting on December 13, effective March 1, 2026. He will succeed Lucas Hendrikse, who held the position on an interim basis.
Huib (62) has a business background and a broad expertise in international business, coaching, philanthropy, and volunteering. He held senior management positions at Coca-Cola, Mattel, and Young & Rubicam, among others, where he was responsible for marketing and sales, sponsorship, financial management, and setting up and leading teams and organisations, including those in Eastern Europe. In recent years, he has primarily been active as a coach, study choice advisor at Kieswijs, and career counselor, and as a volunteer at Zuidermarkt and WarChild.
Van Walsem is well-known in the cricket world. He was chairman of Rood en Wit cricket club in Haarlem. In this role, he worked closely with the KNCB and led the relocation and fundraising for new facilities, working with municipalities, clubs, and partners. This experience further strengthened his understanding of governance, financing, and community building within the sport.
As a cricketer, he played for CC Groningen, Kon. UD, Bloemendaal, and MCC Medan, in addition to his roots at Rood en Wit. He is also active with the Flamingos (organisers of the 100th Anniversary Flamingo Junior Tournament in 2025) and The Fellowship of Fairly Odd Places (FFOP). In 2014, he co-founded the Halfway Trophy with ACC, VRA, Bloemendaal, and Rood en Wit: a Wednesday evening T20 league to get former members back on the field and introduce new players.
Regarding his appointment, Huib van Walsem says: “Cricket has significantly shaped my life. It's no coincidence that the saying goes: ‘A friend in cricket is a friend for life.’ This has given me a large network, both inside and outside the cricket community. For me, the sport represents connection, perseverance, and a shared goal. I feel strongly about the KNCB's ambition to further professionalise and grow cricket in the Netherlands. I look forward to building a strong, future-proof organisation together with the board, the national team office, clubs, and volunteers, and playing a guiding and unifying role.”
KNCB chairman Guido Landheer is delighted with the appointment: “With Huib van Walsem, we are bringing in a CEO who combines strategic and financial expertise with a genuine commitment to the sport and the cricket community. His experience in both the business world and the non-profit and sports sectors is an excellent fit for the KNCB's current stage. We are confident that, together with the national team and the clubs, he will take important next steps in the development of Dutch cricket.”
With his appointment, the KNCB has chosen an experienced director with a strong combination of strategic leadership, social engagement, and a deep personal connection to cricket. Under his leadership, the KNCB aims to strengthen its organisational effectiveness, ensure a sound financial policy, and further enhance the visibility and social value of cricket in the Netherlands.
