David van Gennep

AAP director David van Gennep steps down as director

General director David van Gennep has decided, to our great regret, to step down from his position on 4 October 2024. David started as a volunteer in 1981 and took over from AAP founders Okko and Riga Reussien in 1991. After 43 years with AAP, 33 of them as director, he feels it is time to pass on the baton.

The introduction of the Dutch positive list for pets on 1 July 2024 is the right time for David to step down as director. He looks back with pride and gratitude on a long career in exotic animal welfare.

"I see a wonderful organisation that stands like a house and in the Netherlands and abroad. AAP has gained enormous influence in recent years, so I feel due pride that I was able to co-lead this special initiative. But 43 years after I joined AAP as a volunteer, the time has come to draw a line under it. The work has been wonderful, the experiences with the animals we have rescued have been great, the people have been beyond fantastic, but both AAP and I are at the beginning of a new era and I feel it is a good time to step back."


The video below is his personal explanation of his decision.

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Tireless

David will be greatly missed by AAP: for decades he worked tirelessly to ensure a better future for exotic mammals. He did this with enormous dedication and passion, and managed to inspire countless people to support AAP’s mission. Later this year, we will reflect in detail on what David meant to exotic animals and to AAP.

David van Gennep in Amstelveen

Future

Until 4 October 2024, David van Gennep will continue to form the Executive Board of AAP together with Erik Peeters. The Supervisory Board is currently discussing the administrative interpretation from 4 October. In the coming months, it will also examine how David’s knowledge and experience can be retained by AAP.

David en Erik
David van Gennep and Erik Peeters

Grateful

AAP is very grateful to David for everything he has been able to do. On behalf of all the animals, staff and volunteers, we would like to thank him very much!

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