AAL Programme appoints new Director
Brussels, April 24th, 2017 – The Executive Board of the AAL Association selected Mr Klaus Niederländer as the new Director of its Central Management Unit.
The AAL Programme funds applied research for developing ICT-based (Information & Communication Technologies) innovation in order to enhance the quality of life of older people.
Under the supervision of the Executive Board Mr Niederländer will be in charge of the operations to develop the AAL Programme in a fast moving market environment for age friendly technologies. Mr Niederländer will be instrumental in driving the engagement of member countries and stakeholders in AAL projects in close cooperation with the European institutions and in particular the European Commission. Mr Niederländer, a German and Belgian national, took office on 5th April 2017. He was previously Director of Cooperatives Europe, the European Association of Cooperative Enterprises, which he led for the last six years. Next to his longstanding European leadership experience, he has a track record in SME development, as well as in management consulting and investment finance. Mr Niederländer holds a Master Degree in European Economics as well as a bachelor degree in European Business.
“With more than ten years of professional experience in various management positions in the Brussels scene– said Dr Rafael de Andrés Medina, President of the AAL Association – and with his strong record in successfully leading European organisations, we will count on Klaus to strengthen our constituency and develop our programme into the future.”
I am looking forward to this new professional challenge in another crucial European domain – said Mr Niederländer. Demographic change and the accompanied need for active & healthy ageing is not only a challenge, it also provides great opportunities for our societies. Digital technologies and social innovation on inclusiveness can hereby play an important role in achieving these changes smoothly. I look forward to collaborating with the 19 countries composing the AAL Association and with the European Commission and other stakeholders, in order to advance this societal cause.