Frits Philips

Frederik Jacques "Frits" Philips was born on 16 April 1905 in Eindhoven, the only son of Anton Philips and Anne de Jongh. His father, of Dutch Jewish origin, joined the Philips electronics company after it was founded in 1891 by his own father Frederik and brother Gerard; Anton became a partner and later co-owner, but the company was originally established by Gerard Philips and Frederik Philips. Frits had two sisters, Annetje and Jettie, and his grandfather Frederik Philips was a first cousin of Karl Marx. He studied mechanical engineering at Delft University of Technology from 1923, earning his degree in 1929. In 1934, he became involved with the Oxford Group, a Christian movement that later evolved into Moral Re-Armament and Initiatives of Change.

On 4 July 1929, Philips married Sylvia van Lennep in The Hague. The couple had seven children: Digna, Anton Frederik, Anne Jetje, Sylvia, Warner, Frederik, and Maria. The Oxford Group remained a lifelong influence on both him and his wife.

Philips was appointed a managing director of Philips in 1939. When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, his father Anton, nephew Frans Otten, and other family members fled to the United States with company capital. Frits stayed behind and helped keep the company running during the occupation. From 30 May to 20 September 1943, he was held in the Vught concentration camp due to a strike at the Philips factory. During the war, he saved 382 Jews by convincing the Nazis they were essential to Philips’ production. In 1996, Yad Vashem recognized him as a Righteous Among the Nations. He became president of Philips in 1961, serving for ten years until Henk van Riemsdijk succeeded him in 1971.

After World War II, Philips helped pioneer European business aviation. He established the Philips flight department with a Beechcraft Super G18, and the fleet later grew to include Dassault Falcons, Fokker F27s, and Beechcraft King Airs. In 1977, he founded the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) in Eindhoven with 12 founding members; the association hosts the annual EBACE conference in Geneva. He also played a key role in building the civilian terminal at Eindhoven Airport.

Known affectionately as "Meneer Frits" by the people of Eindhoven, Philips was deeply popular for treating factory workers and board members alike. He often chatted with workers on the shop floor.