I am an experienced multilingual, result-driven leader with a pragmatic approach built up through more than 30 years’ expertise in a multinational environment in the chemical industry. I have held a number of corporate positions including business & general management, business development, planning & analysis and M&A for the EMEA region. A particular expertise in the Russian market was acquired through local restructuring & integration projects as well as high-level business development projects. I hold a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Karel de Grote University College in Antwerp and a master’s degree in Industrial Business Administration from the EHSAL Management School in Brussels.

Professional background
I was most recently Director Business Development and Planning & Analysis EMEA at Ashland Inc., an 8+ billion USD global specialty chemical company. In this function, I coordinated acquisitions and divestitures in the EMEA region, post merger integration as well as special projects.

Prior to this I was the Integration Director Russia at Ashland Inc. with the objective to integrate the different Russian entities and to harmonize all support functions to prepare the Russian organization for accelerated growth as part of the strategic growth plan.

I also built up Business Development expertise in Turkey.
Special projects, like legal entity mergers and office consolidations were also under my responsibility.

I have managed restructuring & closure projects in France, which provided me with a profound experience in works council negotiations.

In 2008 and 2009, I have prepared and coordinated the 3-year strategic plan for Ashland EMEA.

As of 2008 I was a member of the Ashland European Leadership Board.
I started my career more than 30 years ago at Ashland in sales for the water

treatment division and held later Director positions in Business Management for EMEA and was during 15 years General Manager of Ashland Belgium.

Since January 2012, I started my own consultancy company, InterPro Consulting, specialized in M&A, Strategy and Management Advisory Services.

Education and qualifications
I hold a Master degree in chemical engineering from the Karel de Grote University College in Antwerp and a Master degree in Industrial Business Administration from the EHSAL Management School in Brussels.

Personal
I have the Belgian nationality and live close to Antwerp in Belgium. I am fluent in Dutch, English, French, good knowledge of German and a basic knowledge of Russian.

Jazz music is my passion, and I was during more than 20 years mountain climbing instructor for the Belgian Mountaineering Federation.