Our People

Michel van Elk, CEO, has overall responsibility for the company’s business and investment strategy. He is also Ad Interim responsible for the company’s marketing and business development strategy and activities.

Michel has more than 23 years of asset management experience. He joined ING in 1985. In 1999, Michel was promoted to CEO of ING Investment Management Australia, servicing both retail and institutional clients. Michel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and obtained his VBA degree (CFA) in 1989. He joined the ING IM Europe board in January 2003.

Jan Straatman, has overall responsibility for the investment strategies managed by ING Investment Management Europe. He is also responsible for Proprietary Advisory Services (PAS).

Jan has over 25 years of experience in the international asset management industry. Before joining ING Investment Management he was CEO/CIO of Pearl-Axial Investments. Prior to that, he held various positions in the field of asset management and pensions, including those of CIO Capital Markets of ABP Asset Management, Director of Asset Management at Achmea Global Investors, and Senior Vice President of GIM Capital Management in Eindhoven and New York. Jan obtained an MBA from the University of Hasselt in Belgium and is a member of the AIMA Hedge Fund Industry Investor Steering Committee (ISC).

Martin Nijkamp, Head of Business Strategy, is responsible for investigating opportunities for non-organic growth, the development of strategic partnerships/distribution channels and the expansion of greenfield markets in Emerging Europe. He is also responsible for Implemented Client Solutions.

Martin joined ING in 1987. Prior to his current position, he was Managing Director Institutional Business Development, responsible for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His career within ING has included positions such as General Manager for Europe & Emerging Markets, Portfolio Manager and Chief International Economist. Martin obtained his Master’s degree in Macro-Economics from Groningen University, Netherlands in 1984. He subsequently spent nearly four years as Assistant Professor of Macro-Economics at Tilburg University.

Jonathan Atack, Chief Financial & Risk Officer, is responsible for the company’s accounting, finance and risk management.

Jonathan joined ING Group in January 2004 as Head of Investor Relations. Prior to working at ING, Jonathan has built up over 18 years of experience in a variety of investor relations, finance and investment banking roles including Head of Investor Relations at Royal Bank of Scotland, Six Continents and easyJet. He also has a background in financial planning and corporate finance, including positions at Bass International Brewers, Close Brothers, Cazenove & Co. and Kleinwort Benson. Jonathan studied Engineering Science at Pembroke College, Oxford University, Corporate Finance at the London Business School and holds an MBA from London Guildhall University.

Maaike van Meer, Head of Legal & Compliance, is responsible for managing the company’s Legal, Tax and Compliance activities.

Maaike started out as Head of Legal Services at ING Investment Management in 2005. Before joining ING, she was a civil law notary and partner at the law firm Van Doorne in Amsterdam. Her specific areas of expertise include Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, Capital Markets, Asset Finance and Project Finance. She started her career at law firm NautaDutilh in 1993, first as a candidate civil law notary and from 1998 at NautaDutilh in London. She was appointed as partner in 2001. She obtained a Master’s degree in Law from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

David Eckert, COO, is responsible for the company’s technology and operations.

David spent 14 years working for JP Morgan in global leadership in the field of Technology, Operations, IT and Infrastructure in the US, Europe and Asia. In his last position as Chief Information Officer, he was responsible for the worldwide IT infrastructure and applications development for JP Morgan Asset Management. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Investment Banking from the University of Wisconsin.

David Suetens, Chief Risk Officer.

Since September 2008 is David Chief Risk Officer for ING Investment Management Europe. Previously David was active as the Global Head of Compliance, Legal and Risk Management for ABN AMRO Asset Management and member of the Management Team. He continued in this role with Fortis Investments after the separation from ABN AMRO Group till June 2008. David was also Chair of different SICAV Boards in Luxembourg. He worked for ABN AMRO since 1998, where he held various senior global positions within ABN AMRO Bank in London and Amsterdam. Before joining ABN AMRO he was a product-manager with EUROCLEAR for two years. He started his career with Bank Brussels Lambert, Brussels.David holds a degree in Investment Advice from St Aloysius University (Brussels) and is a Faculty of Law – Juris Doctor from the Catholic University Leuven. He holds a Masters degree in International Banking Law and Finance from Boston University School of Law.

Tom Reinders, Regional HR Director for ING Investment Management Europe.

Tom has over 20 years of experience in human resources management in the financial services industry. He joined ING in 1985 in a special training programme. Tom has led the Global Human Resources function for the Risk Management and Corporate Audit Services departments of ING Group, as well as provided strategic human resources support to the HR department of ING Netherlands and the Chief Risk Officer of ING Group. He has also performed various roles within other ING business lines, including Operations & IT, Postbank and ING Bank.