Rockets Appoint Eelco Meenhorst as Chief Sports Officer

The Rockets are delighted to announce the immediate appointment of Eelco Meenhorst as its new Chief Sports Officer. In his new role, Meenhorst will be responsible for shaping the team’s sporting policy and strategy, and translating this into concrete action plans to achieve its performance objectives.

Born in 1973, Eelco Meenhorst has an extensive track record in elite sport. As Head Coach of the Dutch Rowing Team, he led the Netherlands to unprecedented international success, including multiple world titles and an outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

With four gold, three silver, and one bronze medal, the Netherlands became the most successful rowing nation in the world, and rowing was the country’s best-performing sport at the Games.

Alongside his coaching career, Meenhorst has a strong entrepreneurial background. He successfully founded several companies, honing his skills in team management, innovation, and operational leadership. His ability to combine strategic vision with a deep understanding of high-performance environments makes him a valuable asset in both sport and business.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome someone of Eelco’s caliber to our organization,” says Bas Tietema. “His track record as both a respected coach and an innovative entrepreneur makes this appointment a significant milestone for the Rockets. His leadership and expertise will be a catalyst for us to reach new heights.”

“Having someone with Eelco’s experience on board is also a valuable learning opportunity for our entire organization. As we continue to grow and take the next steps in building this team, his knowledge will help us develop further.
Our long-term ambition is clear: to compete in the Tour de France. Bringing in Eelco is an important step on that journey, and I am convinced that together we can build the foundations needed to get there.”

“I am excited to take on this new challenge with the Rockets,” says Eelco Meenhorst. “The conversations I had with the team made me very enthusiastic, and I strongly believe in the vision set out by Bas, Devin, and Josse. I have great respect for what has already been built over the past years and truly appreciate the passion within the team."

"After twelve extraordinary years with the Dutch Rowing Team, I could proudly say: my mission is accomplished. Now, I look forward to this new adventure and to sharing my experience with the Rockets in order to achieve our ambitious goals.”