Rob Bertholee

Lieutenant General (ret.) Rob Bertholee served as the Director-general of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) from 2011 to 2018. During an exceptionally turbulent period, he and his team transformed the AIVD from a budget-cut target into an indispensable partner for both government and industry. He placed strong emphasis on fostering international cooperation among intelligence and security agencies.

Throughout his military career, he studied in the United States, was deployed to the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, and served in various staff and operational positions in the Netherlands and Germany. After one and a half years as Vice Chief of Defense and nearly four years as Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army, he concluded over 36 years of service in uniform.

Today, he is a member of the Advisory Boards of the Dutch Data Protection Authority and the District Court of The Hague. He is also actively involved in The Alphen Group, an independent international think tank.

“My professional life has always been dedicated to promoting and safeguarding security in the broadest sense. I firmly believe in the necessity of international cooperation, built upon a strong national foundation. At FGS Global, I am committed to using my knowledge and experience to help maintain and strengthen national security capabilities.”

Timeline

• 2025 Associate Partner, Hague Corporate Affairs

• 2023 Advisory Board Member, Dutch Data Protection Authority

• 2022 Advisory Board Member, District Court of The Hague

• 2022 The Alphen Group

• 2019 Advisor, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

• 2011 Director-General, General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)

• 2008 Commander, Royal Netherlands Army

• 2006 Vice Chief of Defense