The sale of Booking.com to Booking Holdings in 2005 for 110 million Euros established the financial foundation for Kees Koolen, who remains a central figure in both international business and rally raid competitions. Born in 1965 in Bergeijk, the Dutch entrepreneur has balanced roles as a corporate executive with his career as a motorcycle and rally driver.
Business Trajectory
Koolen studied technical business administration at Twente University before leaving to act as an advisor and angel investor. As a founder of Booking.com, he served as the company's CEO until 2011. Following his exit, his professional reach expanded to include roles such as COO at Uber and the establishment of Agri Brasil, a conglomerate focused on dairy farming. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Koolen Industries, a firm concentrated on clean energy. In 2013, his net worth was estimated at 115 million euros, ranking him as the 232nd wealthiest individual in the Netherlands.
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The Dakar Rally has served as a consistent arena for Koolen, starting with his 2009 debut on a Honda CRF450, where he finished 69th in the motorbike classification. His participation evolved through various vehicles, including the McRae Enduro buggy and his self-developed GoKoBra. By 2014, he reached a milestone by becoming the first individual to finish the Dakar Rally in all four vehicle classes: motorbike, quad, car, and truck. His truck team that year, powered by Super B, finished in 37th place.
Performance and Incidents
Koolen’s racing career has been marked by both technical success and regulatory friction. In 2017, he achieved his first stage win, completing a 219 km segment between Tupiza and Oruro in a Barren Racing quad of his own design. His record is also notable for several setbacks. He was disqualified from the 2011 Dakar Rally for missing a check point and faced questioning by Chilean authorities in 2015 after driving through a protected area in the Atacama Desert. A further incident in 2016 involved a helicopter causing his quad to fall fifty meters, ending his competition in that year's event.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Bergeijk
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary occupations: Entrepreneur, motorcycle racer, rally driver
- Education: Twente University
- Booking.com CEO tenure: Until 2011
- 2013 Net worth estimate: 115 million Euros
- First Dakar Rally participation: 2009
- Current role: Chairman/CEO of Koolen Industries
Questions readers ask
What record did Kees Koolen set at the Dakar Rally in 2014?
He became the first participant to complete the Dakar Rally in all four categories: motorcycle, quad, car, and truck.
What is the current business focus of Koolen Industries?
Koolen Industries operates as a conglomerate focused on clean energy.
Achievements
- Affiliated with booking.com
