Profile of a key challenger to the FIDE Presidency post:
Bessel Kok
Who is he? Here is his profile:
Education:
1954 -1959 Secondary School (HBS-A)-Amsterdam
1959 -1964 Economic Sciences Municipal University of Amsterdam
1982 -1990 Lecturer Strategic Management Vrije Universiteit Brussels
Career structure:
1965 till 1970 – Apprentice, then Staff member in Compagnie Belge des Participations Paribas (Financial Holding of Paribas ) Brussels
1968 – 1972 – Director of Business Intelligence Services Ltd London (B.I.S.)
1971 till 1989 – Cofounder of S.W.I.F.T in Belgium, (Society for World Wide Interbank Telecommunication) International Banking Network currently providing payment services to 110000 banks in 124 countries.
From 1971 – Deputy CEO of S.W.I.F.T – Brussels
From 1980 – President and CEO of S.W.I.F.T – Brussels (1200 staff)
1989 till 1995 – President and CEO of Belgacom (The Belgian National Telecom Operator). On request of the Belgian government to transform the Belgian RTT state administration (26000 staff) and prepare it for privatization.
1995 till February 2004 – Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Cesky Telecom
1995 till February 2004 – Rotating Chairman of Eurotel (Czech mobile operator with 4,5 million customers). Same mission as for Belgacom.
March 2004 till November 2004 – Advisor Morgan Stanley in Czech Republic
From November 2004 – Advisor Cerberus Captital Management New York
From January 2005 – Chairman Scarlet Telecommunications group Holland / Belgium
Professional Experience:
In depth knowledge of European telecommunication sector (both fixed as mobile). In depth knowledge of relationships between representatives of public shareholders and operating management. 15 years experience in governance of State Telecom enterprises.
Other activities:
Member of the Board of Vaclac Havel Foundation
Organizer of Cow Parade Prague 2004 (largest art exhibition ever held in Czech Republic)
Advisory member of Film Studio Verein Babelsberg-Berlin
Producer of Film Nicholas Winton, the power of Good – Emmy Award 2002
Chairman of World Chess Grandmaster Association from 1985 till 1991
References:
Ben Verwaayen, CEO British Telecom
Ad Scheepbouwer, CEO KPN
Vaclav Havel, Former President Czech Republic
Prof. Dr. Steven Schuit, Partner Alan & Overy, Amsterdam
Languages:
Fluent Dutch, English, French, German. Basic knowledge of Czech.
Personal:
Born: 13.12.1941 – Hilversum – The Netherlands 
What a great picture of her! Goodness, she sure doesn’t show her age, either! How does she do it…as a matter of fact she’s nearly as good looking as Susan!
Susan, we are not interested in his other activities than chess. Please tell us what he did for chess.
GM Susan,
Not complaining, but why the pic ? :).
– Vinay
Regarding Mr. Kok:
“I had a discussion yesterday with one of the more well-connected personalities in Fide during the past 30 years, Joaquim Durao. He is currently the president of the Portuguese Chess Federation, and in the past was candidate for Fide presidency in ’94 and served briefly as vice-president. He is universally respected and is considered a moderate.
He had met up recently with several key Fide officials at a Minds Sport championship held just outside of Lisbon, and had a chance to discuss the upcoming election with them. Earlier he had also been contacted by the Kok team, who was looking for his vote.
It appears that Europe is not as gungho behind Kok as I had expected. The French candidate will take not just a few European allies with him. Joajuim’s own vote (Portugal) will only be given to that side that he thinks will offer the best conditions to himself (Portugal), to other Fide member nations and to all chessplayers, not just the elite. He has decided that the Fide election should be about issues and not personalities.
He thinks that it is unlikely that Kok has a realistic chance unless Kirsan withdraws, which few see as a possibility. The solid support from third world countries is a big trump that a newcomer like Kok can not easily overcome. Even with most of Europe and South/North America supporting his ticket Kirsan would emerge an easy victor.
However, things are still early in the game and some surprises can be expected. By the beginning of March things should be more or less settled.
The Kok official website is beginning to draw criticisms from various corners for its orientation on Kok’s ”celebrity”, and for the lack of issues being discussed. Few of those who have come forward to support Kok have any voting rights in the upcoming election, or have any support from their own Federation!
Some have also questioned whether Kok’s interest in doing something for chess would not be better served by supporting Lautier’s ACP.
Kevin “
Actaully. all his non-chess attributes are very relevant because his job would be to interract and build chess in the Non-chess world.
vinay, I was going to have an editorial comment about the candidates. That was why my pic was up. Then I changed my mind. I wanted people to read about the candidate’s credentials before I say something 🙂 So you’re stuck with my pic 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
And a fine pic it is!:)
“stuck with your pic” ? GM Susan, if you haven’t heard already, a million times, you look very beautiful in that pic.
– Vinay
Susan, Watch out for Vinay, he’s a mover!:o
Chesstraveller,
what is a ‘mover’ ?
– Vinay
Vinay, Someone that lifts heavy furniture. Just kidding, it’s not important, it was only an attempt at some humor; tongue-in-cheek if you will…don’t ask.
lol
“So you’re stuck with my pic :)”
(btw that charm looks very interesting now that the pic has become such a topic of conversation, a heart maybe on the left?? yet not symetrical)
So who is involved in actually voting for the FIDE pres??
Qxg5+, oh, wait, this isnt a puzzle. Silly me.
well, the fact is, Susan looks very sexy in this pic!!
She doesn’t need to wear less cloths for it.
I got a good laugh out of this one. It looks like the picture is of Bessel Kok and I did not know he was so good looking.
Thanks for the good chuckle Susan.
Is it true you have to pay a million dollars to even be eligible to run? This seems excessively antidemocratic. I don’t understand why the members of FIDE would agree to such an exclusionary practice, which effectively eliminates wonderful chess diplomats from poorer backgrounds and countries. Disgusting. I shake my head in incomprehension.
Being “stuck” with your pic Susan is fine with me!!! 😉 By the way, thank you for all you with popularizing chess, especially with children. You’re wonderful!
Mr.Bessel Kok gave an interview for WorldChessNetwork. This was one of the first steps in his RightMove campaigne, I’m surprised no one has mentioned it.
Interview with Bessel Kok
Goran
Hi I have a blog about would you like to exchange links?
Hi I have a blog about would you like to exchange links?