With Lise Fuhr formally starting her new role as GÉANT CEO on Thursday 21 November after the GA meeting, we would like to take this opportunity to say au revoir (never goodbye!) to Erik Huizer, GÉANT CEO for the past seven years.
A member of the Board of Directors at the time, Erik joined as interim CEO in 2017 and at a time of great change for GÉANT. Following the merger of DANTE and TERENA and what became an extended search for the right person to lead the new organisation, Erik’s appointment was an extremely welcome one. Well-known in the GÉANT community, highly experienced, and with a strong understanding of what made GÉANT tick and what was needed to help it flourish, Erik was quickly confirmed in the position in 2018.
They say change needs to come from the top, and Erik has shown that from day one, leading GÉANT out of some challenging times to where we are now: an organisation that has never been stronger or more efficient, yet with a truly embracing, caring culture that makes everybody feel like part of an extended family, with people who continually go the extra mile for each other because they have seen it from their CEO, their Execs, and their colleagues. The scale of change in these past seven years has been quite extraordinary and those of us who have been here a while truly appreciate what it has taken to complete this part of GÉANT’s journey.
Quite a legacy to look back on!
We will also look back on Erik’s colourful wardrobe, of course, often on display at the social gatherings that have helped pull this organisation – and community – closer together. And let’s not forget, ‘GÉANT’ means so many things – we talk of Erik as CEO of the organisation, but GÉANT is an Association of members, a community of NRENs and their user communities, a long-running project, and so many other things.
To lead GÉANT, in all its guises, is therefore quite the challenge. And it’s a challenge that Erik rose to outstandingly well and brought us all along for the ride.
Au revoir, Erik!
