Man of many faces

Frits Philips’ long life was almost entirely devoted to Philips. His fascination with technology, his international outlook on the company and his ideas about the role of business in society live on in Philips.

He was intrigued by technology, and for him a factory visit wasn’t complete until he knew exactly what was being manufactured and had been able to talk to the people on the factory floor about how the machinery worked. He saw the potential of technology and thus laid the foundation for many of Philips’ pioneering products in the 1970s and 80s, such as the compact disc, the energy-saving lamp and the video recorder.

He also strengthened our position as a global concern by expanding our presence in Latin America and Asia. He literally had a world view: he traveled to the four corners of the Earth and came into contact with people who played an important role in the world of politics or religion. What he saw and experienced on his travels influenced his vision for the development of the company.

Frits Philips was ahead of his time in his thinking on the role of business in society, e.g. in terms of protecting the environment or the need for communication. His beliefs live on in our programs, for instance in the field of sustainability.

What I – and everyone else in Philips who knew him – will remember most about Frits Philips is his tremendous passion for the company. In him we have lost a warm-hearted, caring man and spirited entrepreneur, whose long life was marked by a strong commitment to Philips and close involvement with the world around him. Frits Philips did so much for our company and its employees. We shall always remember him with gratitude.


Gerard Kleisterlee
CEO Royal Philips Electronics