Arno Peels (Eindhoven, 1956) obtained his title of engineer in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology in 1980. Four years later he obtained his doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Twente. Contiguous to this he was affiliated with that university for a year as associate professor. For a period of 16 years after this he fulfilled various management positions with Philips Semiconductors at home and abroad, eventually acting as vice President and General Manager Business Line RF. After this he was Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Thales Nederland B.V. (headquarters Hengelo) and vice President and Group Executive of the Thales Group, an internationally operational group of electronics companies.

A magnificent service record and the exceptional combination -Delft, Twente, Eindhoven- appears to be great asset in particular to appoint him Chairman of the Executive Board. Peels is amused: “Me being the ideal 3TU synthesis? You will have to ask other people about this.” He thinks that other factors are important also for his appointment. “I have gained a wealth of experience with both universities and the business community, where I was mainly involved with the high-tech sector. I know what it is like to hire engineers and how to integrate academics into a chain of companies.”

Thanks to his position with Thales Peels explains that he has been able to build up a great many contacts with the government, the Second Chamber and employers’ and employees’ organizations. “All in all, I think that these elements form a good fit for the position I will be occupying at TU/e.”

Of course, he will be expected to set targets. Which ones? “That is an item which I should like to discuss and flesh out further with my colleagues within the Executive Board and the Departments. In 2010 the future strategy for TU/e will be a very specific item we shall be looking into.” (FvO)/.