Dirk Stikker

Dirk Uipko Stikker (5 February 1897 – 23 December 1979) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Liberal State Party (LSP) and co-founder of the defunct Freedom Party (PvdV) and of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman. He served as the Secretary General of NATO from 21 April 1961 until 1 August 1964.Stikker worked as an accountant for the Twentsche Bank from 1922 until 1926 and as a Director of a branch of the bank from 1926 until 1928 when he worked as a regional manager for the Twentsche Bank from 1928 until 1935. Stikker worked as chief financial officer for Heineken N.V. from 1 July 1935 until 1 August 1948. Following the end of World War II Queen Wilhelmina ordered a Recall of Parliament and Stikker became a Member of the Senate taking the place of the deceased Samuel van den Bergh, taking office on 20 November 1945. On 23 March 1946 the Liberal State Party was renamed as the Freedom Party. Stikker was one of the co-founders and became the Leader of the Freedom Party and Chairman. On 24 January 1948 the Freedom Party (PvdV) and the Committee-Oud and the choose to merge to form the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Stikker was one of the co-founders and became the first Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. After election of 1948 the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives Pieter Oud opted to remain in the House of Representatives instead of accepting a ministerial post in the new Cabinet Drees–Van Schaik and endorsed Stikker who had been serving as the Deputy Leader as Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 7 August 1948. The Cabinet Drees–Van Schaik fell on 24 January 1951 and was replaced by the Cabinet Drees I with Stikker continuing as Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 15 March 1951. In February 1952 Stikker announced that he would not stand for th