The board of Mars pension fund consists of people who work for Mars or have done so in the past. But who are the members of the board? In this article, read more about board member Rianne Steenbergen.

Who are you and how did you end up at Mars?

My name is Rianne Steenbergen and I live in the town of Berlicum, not far from the Mars factory in Veghel. I live there with Geert-Jan and our three teenage daughters. Thirty years ago, after I had completed my studies, I went to work for Mars and never left. My application to Mars was my salvation, because otherwise I might have become an accountant – a profession I now know wouldn’t have suited me at all. I have already had many great roles at Mars, from Finance to Business planning & Logistics and Activity management. For the last thirty years, I have been working within Finance again in a general department called Treasury and Benefits, and I have been working on Mars’ pension funds’ investments in the EMEA region.

The best thing about working for Mars is...

The development opportunities and the variety. Mars has always offered me that. I always preferred working in jobs that focus on developing new things and improvement. There is evidence of that in my current job in the investments and in the pension fund too. Now, pension is a long-term thing, but there are always current events, such as the coronavirus crisis or responsible investment, to which we need to respond. That makes working in this field very interesting and dynamic. In addition, the world of investment is also intellectually challenging. As a result, I still learn something new every day and am able to apply that straight away to the Mars pension funds in the region.

I draw inspiration from...

People with ambition who put their all into something, for example a job, an association, a good cause or a hobby they’re trying to excel at. Luckily, I’ve always had the opportunity to use my creativity in my job at Mars, because personally, I struggle to find the time for a very passionate hobby. I have spent my free time doing jobs in and around the house, preferably with my 80-year-old father, who inspires me with his active and energetic approach to life. During the coronavirus crisis, we tackled many a household job together. I hope that we will be able to continue doing that for many years to come.

When did you join the board at Mars pension fund?

Six years ago, I was asked to represent Mars in the pension fund for the confectionery industry. Five years ago, a place became available on the Mars pension fund board and the company called on me to join. Which, of course, I did, because I consider it a tremendous honour to represent the company and my colleagues in the pension fund and to provide a good pension for them.

Did you actually know a lot about pensions before you joined the Mars pension fund board?

My education was in finance and I have always been financially self-sufficient. At home, I am responsible for tax returns, mortgages, insurances etc., but like many people my age, I had only taken a limited interest in my pension. I took a good look at the annual Uniform Pension Overview (UPO) and an occasional visit to the website gave me sufficient confidence in Mars’ pension scheme. It was only when I applied for my current job that I really began to understand it better, and now that I’m on the board, I can play my part in this too.

What do you hope to achieve at the Mars pension fund?

Mars really is a company where I feel at home, and my colleagues play no small part in this. Most of us love getting down to work and we have the energy to help the company together. I want to play my part to ensure that our Mars colleagues in the Netherlands have a good income when they retire. And that applies both to my current colleagues, as well as to my former colleagues: the current pensioners.

What aspect of the pension fund do you believe is important for participants?

I believe it is important that the board continues to do its best and carefully considers the interests of all colleagues and the company. In order to promote those interests well, it is vital that colleagues are committed to their pension. We need to keep them well-informed about their pension and ask them their opinion when necessary. Interesting young people in particular in their pension is a challenge, but when we succeed in doing so, it is a tremendous benefit for all parties concerned – the board and participants of the scheme.

And once that interest has been aroused, there may also be scheme participants who want to contribute on the board. If we could recruit a few more young people and women to the board, for example, that would be good for diversity.

What is your personal pension tip?

Don’t wait until after you’ve retired to start living your life! Try to do all the things you wish to do and will enjoy doing once you’ve retired, right now. But check your pension regularly so you have an idea of your income after retirement, as it could affect your other financial decisions. And if that’s difficult, seek help from your family, friends, colleagues or a professional.