After starting his career within the AMRO Bank N.V. in 1964, he was co-founder and first general manager of the fully independent Triodos Bank N.V. in 1980, a new banking institution operating on the basis of the anthroposophical way of life. For this work he received a special award from Prince Claus in 1981, the FEM/PA medal for socially innovative entrepreneurship.

From 1986 to 1993 he worked in the healthcare sector as general manager of various institutions (mainstream, anthroposophical and alternative).

From 1993 to 1996 he was employed as managing director of a number of affiliated, privately runned foundations in the field of national and international environment management, humanitarian aid, healthcare and peace initiatives, among them an organisation of which the former president of the Soviet Union, Michail Gorbatchov, was honorary president.

He has been employed by Rabobank Nederland since 1 August 1996.