As a leading health technology company, Philips is committed to improving people's health and healthcare outcomes, as well as making care more accessible, inclusive, connected, and sustainable. As SVP and Global Head of Sustainability at Philips, Robert leads all Philips’ activities in sustainability. He drives the company’s strategy towards innovative, sustainable business models (with a focus on digital and circularity) and embedding sustainable ways of working across the value chain. In particular, Robert and his team are driving all activities with regards to Philips' environmental responsibility, with a focus on climate action and circular economy, and expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities, in line with universally agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Robert was recently named by Business Insider as one was named one of the top 10 sustainability leaders for driving commitments around environmental, social, and governance issues. Under his leadership, Philips became carbon neutral in its operations in 2020. Very recently Philips became the first health technology company to have its Scope 3 greenhouse gas reduction targets assessed and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which means all the company’s climate change targets are now SBTi approved.

Before joining Philips, Robert worked at McKinsey & Company as a consultant where he gained 5 years of experience in strategy and innovation in the high-tech, healthcare and public sectors. Robert has a background in journalism, science publishing (Science/ AAAS) and academic research (physics).