User:IngridBirgitta/sandbox

Koptekst
Wytze Theunis Russchen (* 22-12-1970 DRACHTEN, The Netherlands). His European lobby activities in Brussels ranked Wytze Russchen in the Top 10 of most influential Dutch leaders in the European Union and Brussels. Russchen is consultant to BUSINESSEUROPE and manager of the Corporate Advisory Group. As Managing Director Wytze Russchen served for more than seven years as Conference Director of the European Business Summit (EBS) being responsible for both content and program. He linked 2.000-3.000 political and business leaders worldwide annually. He has been active in several forums and platfoms both on an European governmental level as wel as in Industrial and Business toplevels. On July 1, 2016 Wytze Russchen received a knighthood in the name of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and became Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau.

BIO
Wytze finished his study International Relations at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in The Netherlands where he specialized in European Integration. During his study Wytze Russchen moved to Brussels for his intership stage, a.o. with the European Parliament. After a job regarding policy affairs with the Dutch Liberals (VVD) in the European Parliament he becomes the indispensable right hand of the late Willy De Clercq. For three years Wytze chaired the International Trade Commission, followed bij the Legal Affairs Commission and the Internal Market Commission at the European Parliament.

In 1999 Wytze Russchen becomes spokesperson and consultant of BUSINESSEUROPE, the European corporate employers' organisation. After two years he starts working for the equivalent Dutch national employers organisation VNO-NCW in The Hague in an equal job concerning media and lobby. In 2004 Wytze returns to Brussels as Senior Secretary European Affairs to co-ordinate the Dutch EU-Presidency. During the Luxembourg EU-Presidency in 2005 he was send to the employers organisation FEDIL. Also in 1999 en 2004 Wytze is campaigning as a EP-candidate for the Dutch Liberals (VVD) as well as the Belgian Liberals (Open VLD) for the Brussels Parliament in 2006.

Wytze Russchen started his own lobby agency in 2005 '4P Consultancy' in 2005. Soon after the name changed into 'Russchen Consultants' which developed into a successful PA & PR consultancy serving and advising a wide range of clients. For seven years he acted as Conference Director of EBS-European Business Summit, the largest network event in Brussels. This annual event puts a high focus and aims on top-leaders from international politics and business. Also, Russchen has been managing the Corporate AS Group from BUSINESSEUROPE for nine years. Under his leadership the AS Group developed from 18 Corporate Members in 2005 to 66 Members today. Together these employers provide about 9 mln. jobs. From 2006 until 2013 Wytze was Director of three EU-projects, aiming to prepare employers (and employees as well) in EU candidate-memberstates on their subsequent EU-memberships. When Wytze was diagnosed with Parkinson disease he decided to sell his business in 2014. However, in 2015 he returns as independent lobbyist with 'Access2Europe bvba'.

Next to his professional activities Wytze Russchen has always been voluntary active in facilitating events for people to meet and building networks. He is founder, frm and present President of the Advisory Board of 'Dutch Network Brussels', frm President of 'Nedcafé', Founder of 'Politiek Café Brussel', creator of 'Crazy Orange' en frm Chairman of the Dutch Liberals (VVD) in Brussels and Belgium.

Wytze is columnist and novelist. The proceeds of two of his novels are for research after Parkinson's Disease. Wytze was advisor to the Flamish Parkinson Association and supports the Dutch Parkinson Association, both to strengthen a stronger lobby for patients diagnosed with Parkonson's.

van twee opvallende boeken: 'het Oliemannetje - Toplobbyist in Europa' (2014) en '#Post uit Brussel' (2015). De opbrengst daarvan komt ten goede van onderzoek naar de Ziekte van Parkinson. Wytze, zelf patiënt, was adviseur van de Vlaamse Parkinson Liga en ondersteunt de Parkinson Vereniging Nederland, mede in het kader van een sterkere patiëntenlobby in Europa.

Wytze Russchen wordt alom beschouwd als een van de meest invloedrijke Nederlanders in Brussel. Zijn focus ligt thans op het delen van zijn kennis en ervaring en 'teruggeven', met name aan een nieuwe generatie 'Europeanen'. Dit krijgt vorm door het geven van lezingen, trainingen, coaching, boek-presentaties en -vertalingen en divers (pro bono) advieswerk.

Wytze has worked (2006 - 2013) as director of three successful EC pre-accession projects (BOSMIP), bringing EU and Central Eastern business communities closer together. Russchen sold his company in 2014 but he continues to advise a limited group of clients as CEO of his new firm Access2Europe. After completing his Masters at the University of Groningen (International Relations), and two Brussels' internships, Wytze started his career at the European Parliament. First as assistant to the liberal group and later as political adviser to Willy De Clercq, member of the European Parliament and Minister of State. Wytze assisted De Clercq, former deputy Prime Minister and Commissioner (Delors I) in his capacity as Chairman of the Trade Committee and the Legal Affairs and Internal Market Committee.

In 1999, Wytze Russchen became press and parliamentary officer of BUSINESSEUROPE, the European employers' association. As of 2001, Wytze performed similar functions (spokesman and political strategy) for Dutch employers VNO-NCW in The Hague. As Senior Adviser European Affairs, Wytze returned to Brussels in 2004, with responsibility for the Dutch EU Presidency, followed by a secondment to the Luxembourg employers FEDIL during the Luxembourg EU Presidency first half of 2005.

In 2005 Wytze founded Russchen Consultants, a PR&PA lobby 'boutique' providing advice and support to a broad range of multinationals and trade associations in areas as government relations, communication, funding, event and EU project management.

Wytze was a liberal candidate for the European Parliament (1999 and 2004) as well as the Brussels Parliament (2006). He is author of two books: 'Het Oliemannetje - Toplobbyist in Europa' (2014) and '#Post uit Brussel' (2015), publicist in various (social) media and speaker and moderator at high-level events. Wytze founded the Dutch Network Brussels of which he is currently Chairman of the Advisory Board and is co-founder and driving force behind a vast range of professional and societal networks such as 'The Dutch-EU Industry Round Table', Politiek Café and Crazy Orange. Wytze has recently been elected one of the most influential Dutch persons in Brussels.