On November 12, AmCham welcomed Members and distinguished guests to its annual Going for Gold Dinner at the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with Lard Friese, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Aegon, as keynote speaker and U.S. Ambassador Joe Popolo as Guest of Honor.
During his keynote, Lard Friese shared the story behind Aegon’s evolution from a Dutch-rooted international insurer into a business primarily focused on the U.S. life insurance and retirement market. Reflecting on the company’s 180-year history, he explained how its strategic decisions have shaped its future, including the planned relocation of its headquarters to the United States in early 2028 and the transition to the Transamerica Inc. name, while preserving its Dutch heritage.
In their remarks, AmCham President Jan-Willem van der Schoot and Ambassador Popolo emphasized the value of the economic relationship between the Netherlands and the United States. The dinner brought together the business community to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of operating across the Atlantic.
AmCham thanks Delta Air Lines and Uber for sponsoring the event, as well as table sponsors Aegon, DLA Piper, Google, JPMorganChase, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley and The NetworKing for their contributions.
