Mathilde de Winter

Podcast conversation with Mathilde de Winter, Executive VP HR and Communications at Royal Vopak, discussing her career journey, the company’s collaborative decision-making process, and its cultural transformation.

About the role

As Executive Vice President Human Resources and Communications at Royal Vopak, you act as a strategic business partner, shaping the organization’s global workforce and culture to support both energy security and the energy transition. The role combines HR and communications to ensure the company has the right talent, structure, and mindset to navigate continuous change and new supply chains worldwide.

About the company

Royal Vopak is the global leader in tank storage, operating 76 terminals across 22 countries. For over four centuries, Vopak has provided infrastructure for vital products—energy, chemicals, and edible oils—that power daily life. The company connects global supply and demand, playing a central role in both energy security and the energy transition. Vopak’s culture is built on three pillars: Trust, Collaboration, and Courage, which guide decision-making and foster an inclusive environment where individual strengths thrive.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic business partner to the executive team, aligning HR and communications with Vopak’s global business strategy.
• Drive organizational transformation by ensuring the right culture, structure, and talent are in place to adapt to evolving market conditions (e.g., AI, geopolitical shifts).
• Oversee global HR and communications initiatives, including workforce planning, skills development, and change management.
• Champion Vopak’s cultural pillars—Trust, Collaboration, and Courage—to unite employees and guide decision-making.
• Facilitate inclusive decision-making through global employee sounding boards, ensuring diverse perspectives shape key initiatives.
• Act as the "moral compass" during transformations, ensuring alignment with company values and long-term goals.
• Lead the evolution of Vopak’s brand and messaging (e.g., shifting from "we store vital products with care" to "we help the world flow forward").

Qualifications

• Proven track record in senior HR and communications leadership roles, preferably in a global, complex organization.
• Experience guiding large-scale transformations and cultural change.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align HR strategy with organizational goals.
• Natural ability to connect with people, build trust, and foster collaboration across diverse teams.
• Strategic mindset with a practical, hands-on approach to execution.
• Passion for people development and organizational effectiveness.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving in dynamic environments.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Change leadership and resilience in high-stakes transformations.
• Cultural awareness and ability to work across global teams.
• Strong influencing skills to drive alignment at all levels of the organization.