Stage Entertainment Announces New CEO

 Henk Kivits, who announced his move from President of the Executive Board of Holland Casino to the international theater company founded by Joop van den Ende today, will take the leadership of Stage Entertainment. Starting  September 1st, Kivits will be Stage Entertainment's Chief Executive Officer. In 1998 he became President of Holland Casino's Executive Board. His thorough knowledge of the various aspects of the entertainment industry was further cultivated by his chairmanship of the Opera Zuid in Maastricht and commissioner's positions at the Parade in Den Bosch (chairman), the Chassé Theater in Breda, the MECC in Maastricht, and theme park De Efteling.

Joop van den Ende will be chairman of Stage Entertainment's Supervisory Board, which he will present to the public today. He founded this theater company in 1998. It is active in twelve countries now, realizing a turnover of more than € 600 million. In addition to owner Joop van den Ende, the Supervisory Board will consist of Ewald Kist (former chairman of the Executive Board of ING Group), Wim Dik (former chairman of Unilever Nederland and former chairman of the Board of Management of KPN), and Aat Schouwenaar (former chairman of the Executive Board of Endemol).

Henk Kivits takes the position of CEO of Stage Entertainment, leading an executive board consisting of Bart van Schriek, Maik Klokow, Caspar Gerwe, and Erwin van Lambaart. Van Lambaart already had the day-to-day leadership of the Dutch theater branch. He will now also be on the Executive Board of the international enterprise. Maik Klokow is responsible for Stage Entertainment's strong growth in Germany, where he orchestrated the establishment of a robust commercial organization with a network of eleven theaters in Hamburg, Berlin, Essen, Oberhausen, and Stuttgart. Bart van Schriek has been working as Chief Financial Officer for Stage Entertainment since its foundation, and has captained the company's rapid expansion in Europe. Caspar Gerwe, former board member of Endemol Entertainment, has worked for Stage Entertainment, with a position on the company's Executive Board, since 1998. His responsibilities include company development and human resources.

Joop van den Ende has structured his many activities very clearly in the last period: Stage Entertainment (theater company), VandenEnde & Deitmers (private equity), and Living City Property Performance (real estate development). On his 65th birthday, he announced his intention to retire from the day-to-day leadership of these enterprises. He wants the new generations of entrepreneurs, managers, and creative people to be able to benefit from his knowledge and experience by functioning as a largely external non-executive director and coach. Van den Ende will remain the owner and the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the afore-mentioned companies. 

Aside from his managerial functions, he will co-direct the development of new, original musicals for Stage Entertainment in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and England, such as Ich war noch niemals in New York, featuring Udo Jürgens' main hits, for the German market, and Ciske de Rat de Musical and André Hazes de Musical for the Dutch market. Joop van den Ende will also be closely involved in the construction of the VandenEnde Theater at the Zuidas in Amsterdam and the construction of the Nieuwe de la Mar Theaters in Amsterdam, a project of the VandenEnde Foundation, whose management both he and his wife Janine contribute to.