Arjan Paans, our beloved editor-in-chief who always was the conscience of Innovation Origins, passed away Tuesday morning. Eight months ago, he was diagnosed with cancer; last month, he learned that no more treatments were possible. We wish his wife Loes, his son Wolf and all his loved ones all the strength they can use.

Arjan has been the editor-in-chief of Innovation Origins since April 2018. He was also co-owner of the parent company Media52. Before joining Innovation Origins, Arjan had already had an impressive journalistic career. Partly for that reason, Innovation Origins felt honored to have such a powerful journalism leader. His most outstanding value over the past five years lays in his contribution to the professionalization of our editorial team and, thus, our entire company.

Three transitions

There are three transitions in which Arjan has been essential to Innovation Origins.

The first transition is that of our company, Media52. Arjan helped us, as a small team, originally from Eindhoven, to a position as a pan-European company. In doing so, we made grateful use of Arjan’s strong German network, which ultimately ensured that journalists in fifteen European countries started working for us. This gave Innovation Origins its own, recognizable image that resulted in an audience around the world.

Second, Arjan shaped our editorial transition. Thanks to him, we grew into a full-fledged editorial team, with Arjan being the guardian of journalistic independence that ultimately proved to be the best foundation commercially as well. As the “heart and conscience” of our team, he kept everyone on their toes: always sharp, always creative, and always looking for the best in each of our colleagues.

The third transition is that of our society as a whole: with the result of Arjan’s journalistic choices, we can show the world that there is hope for generations to come. Every day, his reporters and editors delivered insights to give our readers a new and more complete perspective on the world. In his legacy, they will continue to do so.

Perspective

Arjan stirred something in everyone who worked with him. His perspective on the world, including the changes needed for the whole and each person individually, made us aware of what really matters. Not that we didn’t know it before, but it took an Arjan to make it palpable. So that we could share it again with others.

We will terribly miss Arjan’s physical presence. His spirit will stay with us forever; in his style, we will continue to make the choices necessary to make the mission of Innovation Origins – also coined by Arjan – succeed.