It is my mission to encourage organizations to act ethically. Ever since I was a little boy, I couldn’t stand anything that was unfair. That’s why I initially wanted to become a journalist, so I could expose and write about unfair practices.  Other journalists, however, advised me to learn another profession first, and then they would teach me how to write later. If you follow me on LinkedIn, you’ll see that I’ve never completely let go of this ambition. Eventually I chose to study macro-economics, with the ambition to one day invent an economic model that would solve world poverty. I guess I am never short of ambition. Gradually, however, I discovered that the economists are not going to solve the world poverty problem (on their own); the problem is far too complex for that. Nevertheless, I finished the study.

After some wanderings, including working as a volunteer for a Dutch NGO supporting refugees, I accidentally ended up in the compliance profession at large, international financial and logistics services providers. I discovered that I had a talent for implementing laws and standards into practical and understandable policies and procedures. In the period 2002-2007 I became involved in a number of compliance projects, such as the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Law (the predecessor of the GDPR), the Sarbanes Oxley legislation and the Financial Services Act. Subsequently, I was requested to lead an international compliance project for 72 countries.

The year 2007 was a gamechanger for me. I was asked to lead an anti-corruption project for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As a compliance officer, you are already working on preventing and combating unfair practices anyway. This is even more true when it comes to fighting corruption.  Bribery and corruption make it difficult for people to escape the poverty trap, it often makes development aid meaningless, it disrupts public services and undermines society. People can be so disappointed that they decide to flee the country, causing a brain drain, or join a terrorist organization. In drugs crimes, environmental crimes, forced labor, illegal wildlife trade, etc., corruption almost always plays an important role; I often see it as the root of all evil. Therefore, with my company ECMC, I teach ethics & compliance officers how to prevent and fight bribery, corruption and other unfair practices. In this way, I hope to maximize my impact on society.

As head of compliance at two large multinational companies, I rolled out and coordinated whistleblower procedures in many countries between 2007 and 2015. And later also for the clients that I serviced as an interim manager or consultant. Through whistleblower reports I uncovered misconduct that I would otherwise probably not have discovered (so quickly). A good speak-up procedure is an essential part of an effective ethics and compliance program and an important condition for having of a good, open and transparent speak-up culture.

Whistleblowers come in all shapes and sizes, but one trait often stands out. Most of them are driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. And I recognize that of course. Unfortunately reports from whistleblowers are often not handled very well. Sometimes because of a lack of knowledge and experience. Or because the coordinator or the investigation is insufficiently independent. Having independent reporting channels and an independent follow-up on whistleblowing reports is now becoming a legal requirement, however.

This is why I founded The Integrity Coordinator (De Integriteitscoördinator B.V.) in 2020. I hope that many organizations will hire us as their external coordinator of whistleblowing procedures. Or that we may train other integrity coordinators on the good practices in this area. Or contribute in some other way to the integrity of your organization and the protection of your reputation.

Want to know more? Contact us.