Philips 2005 Annual Report Download - page 59

Philips Annual Report 2005 59
For the next four years, until the Allies liberated the
Netherlands, he waged a personal war of bluff, deception,
sabotage and clandestine activities, including, at the insistence
of the German occupiers, opening a workshop at a new
concentration camp near Vught. He reasoned that by doing
so he could try to protect the Jewish prisoners’ lives. To a
large extent, he succeeded: of the 469 Jewish prisoners who
worked there, 382 survived the war (in 1996, Frits Philips
received the Yad Vashem medal from Israel in recognition
of his help).
In 1961, he was made head of the company. His presidency
was noted for its commitment to further expanding Philips’
presenceinAsiaandLatinAmerica–Philipswastherst
European company to develop manufacturing operations
in Taiwan, for example – and for the importance he attached
toscienticresearchanddevelopment.Hehadavision
about the role of business in society that was years ahead
of its time. Many of the beliefs he held, such as the
importance of protecting the environment, on the necessity
of communicating with each other, on the importance of
our employees’ welfare, on the role of business in society
–arereectedintheprogramswearedevelopingand
deploying today and in our transformation into One Philips.
Frits Philips retired as president in 1971, but his interest
in the company never faded. He served on the company’s
Supervisory Board until 1977 and continued to offer advice
until the last years of his life. He did so, however, with a
sense of modesty. He would say what he felt he had to say,
while recognizing that it was up to those now in charge to
make the decisions. He was hugely proud when, in 1999,
Gerard and Anton Philips were proclaimed the Netherlands’
greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century, yet he was just
as passionate about Philips’ future. In his last years he took
particular interest in the progress of the High Tech Campus
in Eindhoven, even arranging for 18 mature beech trees to
be moved from his home to the campus grounds and
plantingtherstoneshimself.
On April 16, 2005, he achieved another goal: to live to 100.
Typically, he celebrated it quietly, at home, but thousands
of people took part in celebrations in Eindhoven, underlining
his enduring connection with the city.
Man of the world. Frits Philips makes
another visit to the United States, this
time as president. He is seen here at
New York airport, about to board the
Pan American World Airlines return
ighttotheNetherlands.
In 1962 Frits and Sylvia Philips are
received in private audience by
Pope John XXIII.
Frits Philips being carried shoulder-high
during the company’s 75th anniversary
in 1966.