This evening, BECI's Executive Committee appointed its new CEO. Thierry Geerts will take up his post on 1 June, replacing Olivier Willocx, who announced his departure in February.
His first task will be to strengthen the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and the Union of Enterprises in Brussels in order to defend the interests of Brussels businesses in a rapidly changing world, marked by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, environmental challenges and international crises. This mission will be carried out in collaboration with all the political and socio-economic players in Brussels and beyond, in order to make the most of the Brussels-Capital Region's assets as a Belgian and European capital.
Thierry Geerts has extensive experience in the business world, particularly in Brussels. In the 90s, he ran an industrial laundry in Schaerbeek and Molenbeek, before holding various management positions in media at Mediahuis. In recent years, he has been involved in developing Google in Belgium.
Annick Hernot, chair of BECI
‘I am delighted that Thierry Geerts has been chosen as the new CEO of BECI. With his passion for Brussels and his years of experience as a CEO and entrepreneur, I am convinced that Thierry will make BECI's role as an advocate for Brussels entrepreneurs even more impactful.’
Thierry Geerts
‘I am looking forward to representing the entrepreneurial community in our vibrant capital. Together with Annick and the Executive Committee, I want to continue BECI's development as a leading figure in Brussels economic scene and as a responsible partner in the Brussels ecosystem. Brussels has many assets that are recognised abroad, but which we do not exploit enough.'
About BECI
BECI (Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry) is the result of a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and the Union of Enterprises in Brussels: two private non-profit organisations, financed and managed by their members. BECI represents two-thirds of employment in Brussels and more than 35,000 businesses. The organisation is over 300 years old.
About Thierry Geerts
At the beginning of this year, Thierry Geerts decided to leave Google, which he had headed since 2011. Prior to that, he worked for VUM (now Mediahuis) for 15 years. In the 1990s, he was Managing Director of an industrial laundry, Euroblan, first in Schaerbeek and then in Molenbeek. He studied commercial engineering at the Solvay VUB and was born in Ixelles.
He has written two books on the impact of the digital revolution and AI on people and society: Digitalis, How to reinvent the world and Homo Digitalis, how digitalisation is making us more human, which have sold a total of 50,000 copies. He is also co-founder of the Be Central digital campuses in Brussels and Wintercircus in Ghent.
For any questions
Maïlys Charlier Zenari, press officer at BECI.
+32 484 86 28
06
mcz@beci.be