Rob van Kessel (71) has been appointed honorary member of PEC Zwolle. Van Kessel, who is retiring as a board member of the Regio Zwolle United foundation (the social heart of the club), was surprised with that title on Friday evening before PEC Zwolle – AZ. This happened during the anniversary party of Regio Zwolle United. Van Kessel has made an important contribution to sports in (the region of) Zwolle and to the foundations of PEC Zwolle.
Vision on sports
Van Kessel was chairman of the board of Landstede Groep for many years, from which he retired on 1 October 2014. Since 2000, Van Kessel has aired his vision on the function of sports, education and healthcare on the north side of Zwolle to the board of mayor and aldermen, the municipal council and stakeholders. He converted this into action with, among other things, the realisation of the Theatre of Sports / Landstede Sports Centre and the Centre for Sports and Education (CSE) / PEC Zwolle Football Academy. Van Kessel also made an important contribution to the realisation of the current stadium.
MAC3PARK stadion
From this vision, Van Kessel has advocated for the construction of the current MAC3PARK stadium (opened in 2009, then still under the name FC Zwolle Stadium). Landstede’s long-term lease agreement in the MAC3PARK stadium has contributed significantly to the feasibility of the business case for the new construction of the current stadium.
Centre for Sports & Education
In 2004, Landstede acquired the former office building with storage hall of the Netherlands Purchasing Centre (NIC) under the leadership of Rob van Kessel. The office building was transformed into the current Landstede Sports Centre and the location for the Sports and Exercise course. The current building of the CSE Topsportacademie (right next to the stadium) was also acquired by Landstede (around 2008). The CSE Topsportacademie is the foundation of the PEC Zwolle Football Academy and the combination of education, talent development and top-level sport is unique in the Netherlands. Van Kessel is one of the founders of the football academy as it is today.
Region Zwolle United
In mid-2014, ANBI foundation Regio Zwolle United was founded, originating from PEC Zwolle and connected to the club as a social organization. Van Kessel took a seat on the founding board and provided the foundation with an important function for, among other things, the regional positioning of PEC Zwolle, the regional positioning of the facilities in the stadium environment and as a platform/catalyst for Regio Zwolle. In doing so, Van Kessel made an impact on a social and economic level.
Honorary Member
Van Kessel, who was awarded the honorary medal of the city of Zwolle in 2010, was proclaimed an honorary member by Meine Breemhaar on behalf of the PEC Zwolle Foundation Board. This took place under the watchful eye of over 100 social partners and relations who were present at the tenth anniversary party of Regio Zwolle United.
Photography: Marco Slot
