Lessons from the Ajax Board Crisis
How Governance Onravels - Interview and Podcast at BusinessWise
Lessons from the Ajax Board Crisis
Insights by Ineke Kooistra – ELiN Partners Executive Search & Leadership Advisory
In recent months, AFC Ajax has faced one of the most turbulent governance crises in its history. Several members of the Supervisory Board stepped down, the club dismissed its head coach, and internal instability dominated public headlines. What unfolded in Amsterdam wasn’t just a football story. It was a corporate governance case study, happening inside a listed company.
In the BusinessWise Weekly podcast, a panel of experts explored the deeper causes behind the crisis and what it would take to restore order and leadership. I joined the conversation, alongside governance expert Marilieke Engbers and former SC Heerenveen CEO Luuc Eisenga, to reflect on what organisations — sports or corporate — can learn from this moment.
A company without clarity will drift
Ajax is not only a football club; it operates as a public company. And when a public company loses board continuity, clarity and shared direction, the instability quickly spreads. Eleven supervisory directors have departed since September 2023. That number alone signals a structural issue rather than a series of unfortunate events.
Good governance requires defined roles, aligned expectations and the discipline to act within those boundaries. As Marilieke Engbers explained in the podcast, the absence of role clarity often creates noise, informal coalitions and decision-making chaos.
Leadership starts with listening
When asked how I would approach such a situation, my instinct was simple and practical: listen first.
“Listen to the people in the organisation before you start recruiting — and only after that, build the plan.”
Any incoming leader needs a complete picture of what is happening beneath the surface. Culture, dynamics and trust levels often explain more than any formal document. You cannot restore structure at the top without understanding the energy, the concerns and the truth within the workforce.
A crisis that can deter future candidates
Beyond the operational challenges, this kind of instability also affects the talent market. Highly qualified board or CEO candidates may hesitate to step into a situation where unity is lacking and roles are unclear.
“Who has the courage to pick up the phone and save Ajax?”
That was my reflection during the discussion. Not as a criticism, but as a reality: the best leaders want to build, not navigate constant internal conflict.
Plan before action
The heart of the issue lies in governance fundamentals. Without a shared plan and clear allocation of responsibilities, any organisation — listed company, sports club or multinational — will continue to drift.
Stability requires:
- a clear mandate for the Executive Board
- a Supervisory Board that understands its oversight role
- a shared direction on performance, culture and long-term vision
- and the discipline to act consistently within those roles
When these elements fall apart, even the strongest brands can lose their footing.
Lessons for every organisation
While Ajax’s situation played out in the spotlight, the underlying lessons apply far beyond football. Companies in transition — mergers, leadership changes, accelerated growth — often face similar pitfalls.
The key insights from this case:
- clarity beats charisma
- listening precedes leadership
- structure is not bureaucracy, but the foundation for performance
- and in times of crisis, teams look for calm, not noise
A moment for reset
The crisis at Ajax is also an opportunity to rebuild healthier governance, strengthen culture and restore trust. When an organisation dares to reset — honestly, transparently and with discipline — stability returns faster than people expect.
True transformation begins when someone picks up the phone and says:
“Let’s fix this together.”
