Bessel Kok
Bessel Kok ( born December 13, 1941 in Hilversum, full name André Frans Bessel Kok ) is a Dutch manager and chess organizer.
Professional career
From 1959 to 1964 he studied economics at the University of Amsterdam. In 1971 he was among the founders of the company SWIFT, whose CEO, he worked from 1980 to 1989. From 1989 to 1995 he was CEO of the Belgian telecommunications company Belgacom, from 1995 to February 2004 he worked as vice president of the formerly state-owned Czech company Český Telecom, as well as the mobile operator Eurotel.
Chess organizer
Kok, who is himself an avid chess player, made during his time at SWIFT name as a well-paid organizer of chess tournaments.
In 1985 he founded together with Garry Kasparov, the Grandmaster Association ( GMA) with the aim of representing the interests of professional chess player and acquire sponsorship. Kok was until 1991 chairman of the GMA and responsible at that time for the organization of several Grand Prix tournaments. But then there was a falling out with Kasparov, who then founded the Professional Chess Association and played a world championship match without the participation of the World Chess Federation FIDE. 2002 Kok was involved as a mediator in the Prague reunification plan, which was to unite the two rival world champion title. The agreement achieved, however, was ultimately not implemented.
2006 was a candidate for the presidency of FIDE Kok. His election platform The Right Move, which was supported by many top players, criticized the FIDE as " lazy, complacent and bureaucratic". In the election in June, however, he lost to the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with 54:96 delegate votes. In December, he agreed with Ilyumzhinov about starting a company Global Chess, based in Amsterdam. This will have a registered capital of 4.5 million euros and in future be responsible for the marketing of the FIDE World Championships.
Others
Kok produced the film The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton (2002), which won an Emmy.
In 2004 he organized the art exhibition Cow Parade in Prague.