Managing Director of Kioti UK Ltd, Piet van der Pols, has announced the death of his father Cees van der Pols.
Patrick Desmond, General Manager for Kioti, described Cees as a “great and much-loved figurehead”, as well as an influential mentor and friend.
“He was well known throughout the groundscare industry,” he said. “His contacts went back many years and all have great tales to tell of their experiences doing business with Cees.
“The family have been taken aback by the high volume and warmth of the messages that have received from across the world. No one can believe that a man who, right to the end was full of so much life and vitality.”
Cees, who was 70, suffered a heart attack and died surrounded by his family the following evening.
Piet van der Pols said: “It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that our father, husband and grandfather Cees van der Pols, passed away. We feel deflated and words cannot express our loss.
“Led by Cees van der Pols, initially with his brothers, our family business, founded in 1933, has grown over the last 40 years into a leading company in the groundscare- and recycling industry. With his entrepreneurship and great business vision, Cees has managed to secure many import contracts for the Dutch market and helped our company to grow to it’s current position.
“In 2015 Cees had decided to take a step back and let the next generation take over the business. As passionate and lively as Cees was, he was still heavily involved and working on a daily basis in the company.
“Since 2016 one of his pet projects and passions was the launch of Kioti UK. The success of the company was a result of his energy and vision.”
