A Memorable Farewell to Two Xelion Icons

On Wednesday 26 March, Xelion bid a festive and heartfelt farewell to two icons of both our organisation and the IT Telecom sector: founder and tech visionary Micha Cohen, and his commercial right-hand man, Arthur van den Ende. More than three hundred colleagues, partners and associates gathered in the sunlit Foyer of Madurodam for a send-off that truly honoured the extraordinary careers of these two professionals.

For Micha, the location held deep symbolic meaning. At just 15 years old, he took his first steps into public life as an alderman of Madurodam, standing alongside a young Princess Beatrix, who served as mayor. A remarkable detail that brought the story full circle.

In a passionate speech lasting over an hour, Micha took the audience on a journey through the early days of Xelion, his vision of technology, and the many business adventures he experienced along the way. Visibly moved, he paused to reflect on the invaluable relationships he had built over the years and the lasting impact Xelion has made on the market.

Before Micha’s address, Arthur surprised the audience with a masterful presentation filled with humour, gratitude and sincere appreciation for colleagues, partners and—above all—Micha. From the heart, Arthur thanked everyone who helped grow Xelion into what it is today, paying special tribute to the loyal partners who have been there since the very beginning.

With Micha and Arthur’s official farewell, a new generation now takes the reins. Day-to-day leadership has been passed to CEO Thijs van den Ende, who will continue to shape Xelion’s future together with COO Robbert Dekker.

The day concluded with a strong sense of warmth and gratitude—an ode to two passionate individuals who left a lasting mark not only on Xelion, but on the telecom sector as a whole.

On behalf of everyone at Xelion and our partners: thank you Micha and Arthur for your inspiration, leadership, and everything you’ve meant to us.