Albert Jan Thomassen is the executive director of FBNed | Familiebedrijven Nederland, the leading association of family businesses in the Netherlands, advocating a good business climate for family owned businesses. He is an experienced resource, advisor and educator on ownership, governance and succession topics for family owned businesses and enterprising families.

Albert Jan is co-founder and first president of both the Family Business Network International (FBN) and the International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA). A fellow to the Family Firm Institute and IFERA. Next to his work for FBNed he was the executive director of the Family Business Centre at Tias Business School connected to Tilburg University. He started his career at Groningen University where he created the first Master course on Family Business Management in the Netherlands. He is a graduate from Groningen University where he completed his Msc in Business Administration with an award-winning thesis on succession in family businesses.

He enjoys moderating and facilitating family business meetings, conferences and stakeholder events. Albert Jan has presented to family businesses audiences in numerous countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America.

Together with his team at FBNed Albert Jan has developed an active and well-known advocacy and public affairs department that serves the interest of family businesses, strengthens the understanding of the economic and societal contribution of family business and strives for a good business climate for families that start enterprises, strengthen their continuity and pass them on to next generations.

Contact: thomassen@fbned.nl