Herman P. Spruijt became president of the International Publishers Association (IPA) on 1 January 2009. A member of the IPA Executive Committee since 1996, he was appointed special advisor to the president of IPA in 2001 and vice president in 2004. Over the years, he has held positions in the Dutch Institute of Executive and Non-Executive Directors; the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers; and the International Council for Scientific and Technical Information. He holds a degree in Sociology of International Organisations and Law of International Organisations from the University of Leiden.