“My career has been a level of serendipity all along. I've never planned anything out more than a few years. All the places we lived - the 12, 13 countries - and the companies I worked for were a combination of circumstances.”

Dutch business executive and author

Paul Polman is a Dutch business executive and author. He is known for his leadership in global business and for writing on business, sustainability, and long-term value. Polman has held senior roles in major international companies, and his public work often focuses on the responsibilities of business beyond short-term profit. As an author and speaker, he is associated with ideas about sustainable growth, corporate purpose, and leadership that looks beyond the immediate quarter.