Janssen (1964) studied and received his doctorate in chemistry from KU Leuven. He spent the first thirty years of his career at DSM, where he held various positions. “I started in 1991 as a research scientist in the polymer field and slowly moved up to group leader, department head and eventually went to the business side of the company, where I held various management and administrative positions.” In 2022, he traded DSM for the TNO Brightlands Materials Center to become managing director there.

With just two years under his belt at TNO, Janssen was not looking for a new job until he was approached to apply for the position of TU/e president. “They said my profile fit nicely with what they were looking for in Eindhoven. So, I opened myself up and started reading into it.” And with success, because in March he can officially call himself president. “Fulfilling the role of president of TU/e is a highlight in my career. By doing this I get to go back to the core, because everything starts with education and research.”

Why are you the right person for this job?

“The future will tell, I always say. I try to be humble about that. Why? Because once you step inside, you'll get a story that you'll have to work on together with colleagues. What I bring to the table, is that I'm a connecting leader. I am really open to feedback and interactive thinking because in the end we have to work together to further grow the TU/e.

In addition, I'm good at an integral approach; making sure that we start defining a point on the horizon that we all move towards. It is important that everyone subscribes to that point, because from that point we are going to further facilitate things. I hope to do that together with everyone, with all layers. You need all perspectives to make a decision like that. I think I have the right experience to manage that kind of process.”

Are there any themes you specifically want to work on?

“It's still very early in the process, of course, but important themes for me include social safety, participation and support. Even if we make decisions that not everyone agrees with, you have to be able to justify it. Especially in a scientific environment, I find that essential.

In addition, sustainability is a passion of mine. You see so much happening in the world and that concerns me, so I want to make my contribution. I also have children and grandchildren and I want to give them a future which is as good as my own.

And education in general. How can we help the younger generation get the best out of themselves? These and more are essential themes that need to come together, because only from a stable foundation you can grow.”

There is a lot going on at the university right now. Take the budget cuts from The Hague, the growth plans because of Beethoven, or the governance. Does it feel like a challenge to start at this particular time?

“It is a challenge, but if it weren't, I wouldn't have taken the job. I'm not someone who sits around. I actively seek challenges because I want to contribute something. I have been given a lot by society and I feel it is my duty to give something back within my means, together with my colleagues. The more challenging the environment, the better I become.

And yes, the challenges here at TU/e are great, I am well aware of that. But our university is a professional organization that has already accomplished a lot so I'm not starting from a blank page either.”

What do you do when you're clocked out?

“When I'm home it's family time, which I think is incredibly important. I have three children and three grandchildren and we put a lot of time into that. Hence Wednesday is 'grandpa day' and I work from home. I really enjoy those moments.

Besides that, I like to travel. And as a Flemish Burgundian, I can't deny that I love wining and dining. Often together with friends. I am very simple in that respect. I'm not looking for fancy things, I just want to enjoy life. That also keeps you energized to excel at work.”