Nomination Hans Robertus as Director Design Platform Eindhoven

May 19, 2009

Eindhoven, The Netherlands - Hans Robertus has been nominated to the position of Director Design Platform Eindhoven. He will fulfill this position in 2 days per week next to his role as Senior Director Research, Development & Innovation at Philips Design.

Design Platform Eindhoven organizes the yearly Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.

Hans Robertus: “I am delighted with this position. My objective is to really make Dutch Design Week the week of the Dutch Design community. In my vision, the Dutch Design Week will be a platform for Design in total and the week will be the start of a New Year cycle of design. Together with the “Design Academy”, the “The faculty of Industrial Design of the Technical University Eindhoven”, “Design Platform Eindhoven” and “Philips Design”, ‘VanBerlo’ and many other design consultancies, this region has become a pivotal for design in the Netherlands and Europe.”

“My focus will lie on the added economical value of the Dutch Design industry. In my new role I will establish and maintain vital connections between Design parties to bring Dutch Design to the next level and to build goodwill. Already the Southern Netherlands is identified as the center for product design by the Dutch Ministry of Education.”

Stefano Marzano, CEO & Chief Creative Director Philips Design:”In this new role Hans Robertus brings a strong network in the Dutch Design community and a deep understanding of design in business. By combining this Design Platform Eindhoven role with his position in Philips Design, I expect new opportunities to arise for the mutual benefit of Philips and the local design community”.

Harry Hendriks, CEO Philips Electronics Nederland B.V.:”I fully endorse this new nomination of Hans Robertus. More than half of the revenues of Philips come from products which did not exist two years ago. Design is one of the key differentiating elements to keep this innovation engine going.”

Hans Robertus will succeed John Lippinkhof, a former colleague of Philips Design, as Director Design Platform Eindhoven.

About Hans Robertus
Hans started his working career at a small design consultancy firm in the Netherlands. After a year he joined the design team at Océ van der Grinten, a company specialized in photocopying and printing technology. In 1990 he joined Philips Design, initially working on professional broadcasting products. After that he became the Design Manager of the Professional Product Design Team in Eindhoven. On becoming Senior Studio Director in 1999 he assumed responsibility for the product and communication design teams, at the Philips Design headquarters in Eindhoven. Hans was born in 1952 in the Netherlands. He graduated from the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven, the Netherlands in 1978.

About Philips Design
Philips Design, with 8 branch studios in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific, is one of the largest and longest-established design organizations of its kind in the world. Its creative force of some 500 professionals, representing more than 35 different nationalities, embraces disciplines as diverse as psychology, cultural sociology, anthropology and trend research in addition to the more 'conventional' design-related skills. The mission of these professionals is about creating solutions that satisfy people's needs, empower them and make them happier, all of this without destroying the world in which we live.

About Dutch Design Week 2009 – 17 till 25 October
During Dutch Design Week 2009, the city of Eindhoven will for nine full days completely be dedicated to design. The largest design event in The Netherlands offers a platform to established design bureaus, well-known designers, talented upcoming designers and recently graduated designers.

For further information, please contact:
Philips Design/ Communications
Corine Koopmans
Tel: +31 6 11039136
E-mail:corine.koopmans@philips.com

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.