Wende Van Der Hoeven
About Wende Van Der Hoeven
Wende Van Der Hoeven serves as the Deputy General Counsel and Head of Legal EMEA at SWIFT, where she has worked since 2022. With a background in various legal roles across multiple companies, she specializes in European regulation, antitrust, and corporate matters.
Work at SWIFT
Wende Van Der Hoeven currently serves as Deputy General Counsel and Head of Legal EMEA at SWIFT, a position she has held since 2022. Based in La Hulpe, Walloon Region, Belgium, she is responsible for overseeing legal operations across the EMEA region. Her role involves ensuring compliance with legal regulations and supporting business teams in navigating complex legal matters. Wende's focus is on aligning internal processes and enhancing them through digitalization, which reflects her commitment to making legal operations efficient and effective.
Previous Legal Experience
Before joining SWIFT, Wende held several significant legal positions. She worked as Head of Legal KitchenAid EMEA at KitchenAid Europa Inc. from 2021 to 2022 and served as General Counsel EMEA at Kontoor Brands, Inc. from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, she was Region Counsel WEU at Mastercard from 2016 to 2019 and Solo Legal Counsel at Huawei Technologies from 2015 to 2016. Her diverse experience across various sectors has equipped her with a strong understanding of European regulation, antitrust, and complex commercial negotiations.
Education and Expertise
Wende holds a Master in Law from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, which she completed from 2004 to 2009. She also earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the same institution in 2012. In 2023, she furthered her education at Harvard Business School, focusing on Strategy Execution. Her academic background, combined with a Postgraduate in Chinese Business Development, enhances her business acumen and legal expertise, particularly in corporate, IT, and privacy matters.
Background in Legal Operations
Wende describes her work in legal operations as a personal form of art, emphasizing her ability to untangle complexity and simplify processes for business and corporate teams. She has a strong belief in compliant legal and corporate processes, aiming to avoid disruptions in business operations. Her previous role as an Attorney at Law at Osborne Clarke from 2011 to 2015 provided her with foundational experience in legal practice, further shaping her approach to legal operations.
Interests and Personal Passions
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Wende is passionate about various topics, including aviation, food, permaculture, sustainability, and kindness. She enjoys traveling and has a particular interest in the role of bees in the ecosystem. Her diverse interests reflect a commitment to sustainability and a holistic approach to both her personal and professional life.