twentse magnaat verdwenen met 50 miljoen
Twente, zaterdag, 14 februari 2026.
Gerard Sanderink, de voormalige baas van Centric, is onvindbaar terwijl hij nog 50 miljoen euro moet ontvangen van de verkoop van zijn bedrijf. De rechtbank in Den Haag heeft hem onlangs geschorst als bestuurder van zijn aandelenstichting. Bronnen melden dat Sanderink zich verschuilt in een dorp bij Kleef in Duitsland. Post aan zijn adres ligt ongeopend opgestapeld, waaronder belangrijke documenten. Zijn verdwijning werpt vragen op over de toekomst van zijn bedrijfsimperium. De uitkering is vast komen te zitten vanwege juridische onduidelijkheden en schuldeisers. Decennia lang beïnvloedde Sanderink de Nederlandse IT-sector vanuit Twente. Nu wacht het land op antwoorden.
disappearance amid financial reckoning
Gerard Sanderink, the controversial entrepreneur behind IT firm Centric, is currently unreachable despite being entitled to a 50 million euro payout from the sale of his companies [1]. As of February 2026, repeated attempts to contact him have failed, according to a ruling issued by the Hague District Court on February 13, 2026 [1]. His whereabouts remain unknown, though evidence suggests he resides near Kleef, Germany, where unopened mail—including legal notices—has accumulated at his postal address [1][3]. This disengagement complicates the distribution of funds tied to the dissolution of his corporate empire.
fall from grace after empire’s collapse
Once a dominant figure in the Netherlands’ ICT sector, Sanderink built a business group including Centric, Strukton, and Antea Group, collectively valued at approximately 620 million euros in 2019 [2][4]. However, governance issues plagued his leadership, culminating in a December 2025 decision by the Enterprise Chamber that identified serious misconduct linked to his close associate and later spouse, Rian van Rijbroek [2][4]. The court found her influence contributed significantly to administrative breakdowns across the businesses, prompting intervention to prevent further deterioration [2][4]. Control of the holding entities was transferred away from Sanderink prior to liquidation proceedings.
legal suspension and successor appointment
On February 13, 2026, the Hague District Court formally suspended Gerard Sanderink as director of Eukairos B.V., the foundation managing his shares [1]. The judgment explicitly criticized his non-cooperation, noting that even direct visits to his German residence yielded no communication [1]. To restore order, the court appointed Robbert Jan van der Weijden, an Amsterdam-based lawyer, as new administrator tasked with resolving outstanding liabilities and ownership disputes [4]. Sanderink and his representatives declined participation in the hearing, attempting but failing to send a Spanish attorney instead [4]. Administrative chaos continues to block asset distribution.
blocked payout due to creditor ambiguity
The 50 million euro sum owed to Sanderink stems from proceeds generated by the sales of subsidiaries under Centric Holding B.V., now renamed Eukairos B.V. [1][4]. Despite these funds sitting in company accounts, transfer remains impossible due to unresolved claims from creditors and unclear financial obligations [4]. One law firm involved in earlier litigation has already placed a lien on part of the equity over unpaid fees [4]. With Sanderink absent and refusing cooperation until clarity emerges, interim managers cannot release payments without risking legal liability [4]. The situation underscores systemic risks arising from concentrated personal control in private conglomerates [GPT].