Prof.dr. Niels Rietveld has been appointed as the new Director of the Department of Economics. He will succeed prof.dr. Ivo Arnold, who will step down from the position at the end of March. Niels will officially begin his new role on 1 April 2026.
Prof.dr. Rietveld currently holds a position in the Department of Applied Economics and will leave that department to take up the directorship of the Department of Economics. This appointment marks the first time within the School that a Director has been appointed from another department, reflecting our School’s confidence in cross-departmental leadership and collaboration.
With this appointment, our School gains a dedicated leader who combines strong academic expertise with a clear commitment to the academic community. Niels has indicated that he views the directorship as a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the School in a governance role and to support its ongoing academic development. As he notes: “With dedication, I will aim to help the Department of Economics flourish in education, research, and societal impact. I hope, as Director, to contribute to a department in which the talents of colleagues strengthen one another in pursuit of our shared ambitions.”
In his new role, Niels will work closely with colleagues across departments, and with the Department of Applied Economics in particular, to further strengthen research and education. Encouraging alignment, openness, and constructive collaboration will be central to his approach.
The School’s Management Team expresses its sincere gratitude to prof.dr. Ivo Arnold for his commitment and leadership during his tenure as Director of the Department of Economics. His dedication and contributions have been of great value to both the department and the School. The School warmly welcomes prof.dr. Rietveld to his new role and wishes him every success in this position.
