Frits Van Paasschen

Profile

Frits van Paasschen is a seasoned global executive and the author of The Disruptors' Feast.

His thirty years of experience inside global companies has afforded him a unique perspective on the current trends that are impacting business around the world. Frits shares his deep understanding of the forces that are disrupting the status quo to help businesses evolve and thrive in changing environments.

Frits served as CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts from 2007-2015. Before that, he spent three years as CEO at Coors Brewing Company. Frits also held several management positions at Nike, ultimately becoming Nike's President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Prior to working for Nike, he worked in finance in Disney's Consumer Products Division. While Frits has a long history of executive roles, his career began in management consulting. At The Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company, he primarily served retail and consumer clients.

Advising on strategic direction is a passion of Frits' and he has served on a variety of boards throughout his career. He has been a Non-Executive Director at Barclays (FTSE) and as a member of the board of Directors of two NYSE-listed companies, Jones Apparel and Oakley. While at Nike, Frits served as Chairman of the European-American Industrial Council, and he later served on the boards of the U.S.-India and U.S.-China business councils. For several years, he was a member of the board of the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International.

Frits holds a BA in Economics and Biology from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. At Harvard, he was also a Teaching Fellow in Economics. Originally from the Netherlands, Frits holds dual U.S. and Dutch citizenship. A passionate traveller, he speaks five languages and has visited more than 110 countries. In his free time, he enjoys endurance sports, including marathons and triathlons. He has been married for 25 years and has three children.

Expertise

Talking Points

The Disruptors' Feast: How to avoid being devoured in today's rapidly changing global economy

Are digital technologies, global development, urbanization, and industry disruption presenting your business with unprecedented challenges? Do you feel ill-equipped to face this level of disruption and volatility? Drawing from his bestselling book The Disruptor's Feast, Frits van Paasschen gives a unique look into the trends that are shaping the world of the future, and provides a guide on how to avoid being eaten alive in a world that is changing exponentially today. In this keynote, Frits will reveal what individuals and organizations can do to prepare for this change and how to stay relevant in a tumultuous environment.

Inspiring Change and Giving Hope In The Exponential Age

Are you drowning in data and searching for some wisdom to help negotiate your business through this hyper-connected, competitive world? Is your business being overwhelmed by technology and disruption? In this lively and intimate talk, Frits van Paasschen draws on his experience as a global business leader to offer organizations advice on how to prepare for, and even thrive in, this exponential age of disruption while inspiring change and instilling hope in his audience.

Workshop: Customized Advising On Strategic Direction

Is your organization stuck on an issue? Would you like some guidance to find answers to your newest challenges from a seasoned veteran? Frits van Paasschen is a seasoned global executive and the author of The Disruptors' Feast. His thirty years of experience inside global companies have afforded him a unique perspective on the current trends that are impacting your business. In this highly customizable presentation, van Paasschen will share his deep understanding of the forces that are disrupting the status quo to advise your business or organization on how to evolve and thrive in a changing environment.