NETHERLANDS - The Dutch Association of Industry-wide Pension Funds, the Vereniging van Bedrijfstakpensioenfondsen, has named two new chairmen.

The VB said Benne van Popta succeeds Gerard Beuker as the employers' chairman while Hans van der Windt takes over from Ton Wennekus. Van Popta will be acting chairman in 2005. The appointments take effect as of January 1.

Van Popta is director of European Affairs at MKB Nederland, the Dutch Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, as well as being chairman of the industry-wide pension fund for the retail trade. He has been a member of the VB's board since November 2003.

Van der Windt is a national union executive officer at FNV Bondgenoten, the Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions.

He chairs the industry-wide pension fund for the metal-working and electro-technical industry, or PME. He's also a member of the board of the pension fund for metalworking and mechanical engineering (PMT).

Van der Windt was not previously a member of the VB board.