Cardano Development Appoints Jordy van der Drift and Niels Vermeijden as Venture Directors

Strengthening leadership to accelerate venture development and expand impact in emerging markets

Cardano Development is pleased to announce the appointment of Jordy van der Drift and Niels Vermeijden as Venture Directors, as they join the organisation’s Senior Management Team. These appointments form part of a structured succession plan for CEO Joost Zuidberg, who is expected to transation into an advisory role at Cardano Development, in the coming two to three years.

In their new roles, Jordy and Niels will help drive Cardano Development’s venture development agenda and will become members of the Executive Committee alongside the existing leadership team. Their appointments underscore the organisation’s continued commitment to building and scaling innovative financial solutions that address structural financing gaps in frontier and emerging markets.

Niels Vermeijden brings extensive expertise in risk solutions, governance, and strategic execution, having a strong track record in building robust platforms at the intersection of finance and development. Jordy van der Drift contributes deep experience in venture building, blended finance, and institutional capital mobilisation, with a proven ability to develop and scale investment platforms focused on development impact.

Together, they offer highly complementary capabilities across venture development, capital mobilisation, risk solutions, and governance. Their addition strengthens Cardano Development’s ability to scale existing initiatives and originate new platforms, supporting growth across the group.

These appointments also represent an important milestone in Cardano Development’s long-term leadership development, to position the company for its next phase of sustainable growth and impact, as we continue to expand our development capacity and reinforce the institutional foundations.

Cardano Development looks forward to the journey ahead.