Team

At AvH, it’s all about people. All of us work to deliver our common vision: Achieve a better future for all by creating sustainable growth.

John-Eric Bertrand
John-Eric Bertrand
co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee
Piet Dejonghe
Piet Dejonghe
co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee
Tom Bamelis
Tom Bamelis
Member of the executive committee, CFO Member of the executive committee, CFO
Ivo Berckmoes
Ivo Berckmoes
IT Support IT Support
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John-Eric Bertrand
co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee

John-Eric Bertrand (º1977, Belgian) 

Following his studies as a commercial engineer (UCL - 2002), John-Eric Bertrand obtained a master's degree in international management (CEMS - 2002) and an MBA (Insead - 2006). He worked at Roland Berger as senior consultant and at Deloitte as senior auditor.

Since 2008 at Ackermans & van Haaren

John-Eric Bertrand
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Piet Dejonghe
co-CEO, co-Chairman of the executive committee

Piet Dejonghe (º1966, Belgian)

After his studies for a law degree (KU Leuven - 1989), Piet Dejonghe obtained a postgraduate degree in management (KU Leuven - 1990) and an MBA (Insead - 1993). He worked as a lawyer for Loeff Claeys Verbeke (now A&O Shearman) and as a consultant for Boston Consulting Group.

Since 1995 at Ackermans & van Haaren

Piet Dejonghe
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Tom Bamelis
Member of the executive committee, CFO

Tom Bamelis (º1966, Belgian)

After completing his studies as a commercial engineer (KU Leuven - 1988), Tom Bamelis also obtained a master’s degree in financial management (VLEKHO -1991). He joined Touche Ross (now Deloitte) and later Groupe Bruxelles Lambert.

Since 1999 at Ackermans & van Haaren

Tom Bamelis
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Ivo Berckmoes
IT Support

Ivo Berckmoes joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2022 as IT Support. With more than 15 years of experience in IT administration and support, Ivo has worked as, among others, Senior IT Support Engineer at Essentiel Antwerp and IT Operations Engineer at Ogone.

Ivo Berckmoes
Isabelle Bernaerts
Isabelle Bernaerts
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Piet Bevernage
Piet Bevernage
Member of the executive committee, secretary general Member of the executive committee, secretary general
Ann Bex
Ann Bex
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Heleen Boonen
Heleen Boonen
Legal counsel Legal counsel
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Isabelle Bernaerts
Personal assistant

Isabelle Bernaerts joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2018 as a receptionist. Since 2023 she is working as a Personal Assistant for the legal team. She obtained an A2 Secretarial Languages degree. Isabelle previously worked as an administrative assistant for Yellow Pages and Ambius.

Isabelle Bernaerts
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Piet Bevernage
Member of the executive committee, secretary general

Piet Bevernage (º1968, Belgian) 

Piet Bevernage holds a law degree (KU Leuven - 1991) and an LL.M. (University of Chicago Law School -1992). He worked as a lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department at Loeff Claeys Verbeke.

Since 1995 at Ackermans & van Haaren

Piet Bevernage
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Ann Bex
Personal assistant

Ann Bex joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2018 as Personal Assistant. She obtained a Bachelor of Translation and a Bachelor of Secretarial Management Languages. Ann previously worked as PA at Besix, Lawfort, PwC, Fieldfisher, Sensient, Curia and AR Metallizing.

Ann Bex
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Heleen Boonen
Legal counsel

Heleen Boonen joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as a Legal Counsel. She holds a law degree (Ghent University – exchange at the University of Auckland) and subsequently obtained an LLM from NYU School of Law. Before joining AvH, she worked as a corporate lawyer in the Global Transactions Department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an international law firm in Brussels, and as a Legal Counsel at Droia Ventures, a biotech venture capital fund focused on oncology and genetic diseases. Heleen is a member of the New York Bar.

Heleen Boonen
Bart Bressinck
Bart Bressinck
Accountant Accountant
Gloria Burihabwa
Gloria Burihabwa
Receptionist Receptionist
Emmanuel Carlier
Emmanuel Carlier
Investment manager Investment manager
André-Xavier Cooreman
André-Xavier Cooreman
Member of the executive committee Member of the executive committee
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Bart Bressinck
Accountant

Bart Bressinck joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2001 as an Accountant. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Accountancy from the Karel de Grote-Hogeschool Antwerpen, a postgraduate degree in Taxation from the Belgian Chamber of Accountancy and a postgraduate degree in Specialisation in Accountancy-Auditor from the Hogeschool Antwerpen. Bart previously worked as an Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants.

Bart Bressinck
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Gloria Burihabwa
Receptionist

Gloria Burihabwa joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2024 as a receptionist. She has previous experience as a receptionist at CEPA and later worked as a hostess in the 2 Michelin stars restaurant The Jane Antwerp.

Gloria Burihabwa
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Emmanuel Carlier
Investment manager

Emmanuel Carlier joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as Investment Manager. He obtained a Master in Commercial Sciences from KU Leuven (2006) and a Master in Financial Management from Vlerick Management School (2007). Emmanuel started his career as an Equity Research analyst at Petercam. He then worked as a Senior Equity Research analyst at ING & Van Lanschot Kempen, where he was also responsible for the Research department and a member of the Securities Management Team.

Emmanuel Carlier
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André-Xavier Cooreman
Member of the executive committee

André-Xavier Cooreman (º1964, Belgian) 

Following his law degree (KU Leuven - 1987), André-Xavier Cooreman studied international law (at the Johns Hopkins University, Bologna Campus - 1988) and tax management (ULB - 1991). He worked for the International Development Law Institute (course assistant, Italy), the Shell Group (legal counsel, The Netherlands), Fortis Bank (Corporate & Investment Banking), McKinsey & C° (consultant) and Bank Degroof (public sector manager).

Since 1997 at Ackermans & van Haaren

André-Xavier Cooreman
Hilde Delabie
Hilde Delabie
Senior group controller Senior group controller
Sophie De Vuyst
Associate Investment Manager Associate Investment Manager
Quentin Dumont de Chassart
Quentin Dumont de Chassart
Investment associate Investment associate
Peter Florus
Peter Florus
Tax Officer Tax Officer
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Hilde Delabie
Senior group controller

Hilde Delabie joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 1998 as Group Controller. She studied Economics at the KUL and subsequently took a Postgraduate Course in Business Economics at UCL. Hilde previously worked as an auditor at Deloitte.

Hilde Delabie
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Sophie De Vuyst
Associate Investment Manager

Sophie De Vuyst joined Ackermans & van Haaren in Octobrer f2024 as Associate Investment Manager. She holds a Master degree in Business Engineering (data analytics) from the Ghent University, followed by a Master in International Finance at HEC Paris. Prior to AvH, she was member of the EMEA Energy, Power, Renewables & Mining team at J.P. Morgan Investment Banking (London).

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Quentin Dumont de Chassart
Investment associate

Quentin Dumont de Chassart joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as an Investment Associate. He holds a Master of Laws (UC Louvain - 2014), an LL.M. (University of California Berkeley - 2016) and an Advanced Master of Financial Markets (Solvay - 2018). Quentin previously worked as an Associate at Nielen Schuman and as an attorney in the Banking & Finance department of Baker McKenzie.

Quentin Dumont de Chassart
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Peter Florus
Tax Officer

Peter Florus joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2019 as a Tax Advisor. He is a lawyer (Law UIA) and studied the SLFBO (Tax) programme at Vlerick. After starting as a tax specialist at Price Waterhouse and The Dow Chemical Company, Peter has also been with DEME Group as Head of Tax for 22 years.

Peter Florus
Ann Frans
Ann Frans
HR assistant HR assistant
Sarah Franssens
Sarah Franssens
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Inna Gehrt AvH
Inna Gehrt
Investment Director Investment Director
Michaëla Goelen
Michaëla Goelen
Office Manager Office Manager
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Ann Frans
HR assistant

Ann Frans joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as HR Assistant. Ann previously worked for 23 years at Greenyard as HR officer and 4 years as operations manager at Gecon BV.

Ann Frans
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Sarah Franssens
Personal assistant

Sarah Franssens joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 1997. She obtained a degree in Modern Languages at the Karel de Grote Hogeschool Antwerp.

Sarah Franssens
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Inna Gehrt
Investment Director

Inna Gehrt joined Ackermans & van Haaren in November 2024 as Investment Director, Head for the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Inna holds an MBA from the University of Mannheim. She is a seasoned private equity investor with more than 15 years of experience in the German-speaking midcap market as a managing partner and/or member of investment committees.

Inna Gehrt AvH
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Michaëla Goelen
Office Manager

Michaëla Goelen joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2011 as receptionist and general secretary. She has since evolved into Office Manager / Prevention Advisor, and since 2023 AvH’s fleet management. Michaëla previously worked as a receptionist at Alcatel and later STMicroelectronics.

Michaëla Goelen
Nele Govaert
Nele Govaert
Legal counsel Legal counsel
Hilde Haems
Hilde Haems
Chief human capital officer Chief human capital officer
Miro Halfon
Miro Halfon
Personal assistant Personal assistant
An Herremans
An Herremans
Member of the executive committee Member of the executive committee
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Nele Govaert
Legal counsel

Nele Govaert joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2017 as Legal Counsel. She holds a law degree (Ghent University) and subsequently obtained an LLM in European Competition Law from King's College London. Before joining AvH, she worked for 10 years at several international law firms, including White & Case (Brussels) and Allen & Overy (Antwerp), as a lawyer (trainee), where she developed particular expertise in M&A, Private Equity and Capital Markets.

Nele Govaert
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Hilde Haems
Chief human capital officer

Hilde Haems joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2019 as Chief Human Capital Officer. She obtained a Master in Clinical Psychology from Ghent University and an Executive Master in Human Resource Management from Vlerick Business School. Hilde started her career at ING and then worked as HR Director at Allen & Overy, in various roles in USG Group and as CHRO at SDWorx.

Hilde Haems
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Miro Halfon
Personal assistant

Miro Halfon joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as a Personal Assistant. He obtained a Secretarial Language degree. Previously, Miro advised self-employed people on business start-up and social legislation in Belgium.

Miro Halfon
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An Herremans
Member of the executive committee

An Herremans (°1982, Belgian)

After completing her studies as a commercial engineer (KU Leuven, 2005), An also obtained a master’s degree in Financial Management at Vlerick Management
School (2006). An began her career as a consultant at Roland Berger (2006 - 2011), and subsequently worked as Corporate Business Development
Manager and Strategy Office Manager at Barco (2011 - 2014).

Since 2014 at Ackermans & van Haaren.

An Herremans
Philip Heylen
Philip Heylen
International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer
Thijs Hoste
Thijs Hoste
Investment Manager Investment Manager
Gilles Huyghebaert
Gilles Huyghebaert
Group controller Group controller
Koen Janssen
Koen Janssen
Member of the executive committee Member of the executive committee
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Philip Heylen
International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer

Philip Heylen is International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer at Ackermans & van Haaren since December 2016. He obtained a Master of Laws from the University of Antwerp (1993).

Prior to joining AvH, Philip was Vice Mayor of the city of Antwerp for Culture, Economy, City Maintenance, Property Management and Public Worship.

Philip Heylen
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Thijs Hoste
Investment Manager

Thijs Hoste joined Ackermans & van Haaren as an Investment Associate in 2020. He holds a Master in Commercial Engineering from the University of Ghent. Thijs previously worked as consultant at EY Transaction Advisory Services, and as equity research analyst at Degroof Petercam and Kempen & Co.

Thijs Hoste
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Gilles Huyghebaert
Group controller

Gilles Huyghebaert joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2017 as Group Controller. He holds a master's degree from Maastricht University and the Vlerick School of Management. Gilles previously worked as a financial consultant at KPMG and then NX Partners.

Gilles Huyghebaert
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Koen Janssen
Member of the executive committee

Koen Janssen (º1970, Belgian) 

After his studies as a civil engineer, electromechanics (KU Leuven -1993) Koen Janssen also obtained an MBA (IEFSI, France - 1994). He worked for Recticel, ING Investment Banking and ING Private Equity.

Since 2001 at Ackermans & van Haaren

Koen Janssen
Yuliya Leysen
Yuliya Leysen
Receptionist Receptionist
Bruno Maes
Bruno Maes
Controller Controller
Lydie Makiadi
Lydie Makiadi
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Anne Mampaey
Anne Mampaey
Accountant Accountant
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Yuliya Leysen
Receptionist

Yuliya Leysen joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2023 as a receptionist. She obtained her Bachelor Hotel Management from the Erasmushogeschool in Brussels. Yuliya previously worked as a receptionist at Hotel Julien, boutique & Design hotel in the heart of Antwerp.

Yuliya Leysen
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Bruno Maes
Controller

Bruno Maes joined Ackermans & van Haaren as Controller in 2023. He holds a Master in Applied Economics: Business Economics from the University of Antwerp. Bruno previously worked in the audit practice of KPMG, and subsequently as financial controller at Fiberklaar.

Bruno Maes
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Lydie Makiadi
Personal assistant

Lydie Makiadi joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2000 and was in charge of the general secretariat. She has since evolved into Management Assistant. Lydie previously worked at the secretariat of Radio2 Antwerp.

Lydie Makiadi
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Anne Mampaey
Accountant

Anne Mampaey joined Ackermans & van Haaren as Accountant in 2023. Previously she worked as Accountant in real estate development at Brody.

Anne Mampaey
Christophe Maters
Christophe Maters
Investment director Investment director
Iris Meirlaen
Iris Meirlaen
Paralegal Paralegal
Robin Muller
Robin Muller
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Nihir Nemani
Investment Manager Investment Manager
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Christophe Maters
Investment director

Christophe Maters joined Ackermans & van Haaren as an investment director in May 2023. He obtained a Master in Commercial Engineering from Solvay Business School (ULB, 2007) and an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University, 2011). Christophe previously worked at Bain & Company, Qatar National Bank and Quintet Private Bank before joining Ackermans & van Haaren.

Christophe Maters
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Iris Meirlaen
Paralegal

Iris Meirlaen joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2022. She obtained a professional Bachelor's degree in Business Management / Legal Practice. Iris previously worked as a Paralegal at Agfa-Gevaert, Clifford Chance and Linklaters.

Iris Meirlaen
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Robin Muller
Personal assistant

Robin Muller joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2014 as a receptionist and made the step up to Personal Assistant in 2022. Robin holds a professional Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from Plantijnhogeschool Antwerp and previously worked in several hotel functions.

Robin Muller
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Nihir Nemani
Investment Manager

Nihir Nemani joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2024 as Investment Manager, based in our Mumbai office. He holds an MBA from S.P.Jain Institute (Mumbai) and Cornell University (USA), alongside a degree in Engineering from the Mumbai University. Nihir is an investment professional with experience across industries including consumer, media, technology, business services, financial services and healthcare. Prior to AvH, he was with Emeral, the Asia fund of KKR.

Bénedith Oben, AvH
Bénedith Oben
Associate Investment Manager Associate Investment Manager
Subin Oswal
Subin Oswal
Analyst Analyst
Filip Portael
Filip Portael
IT manager IT manager
Hari Rajmohan
Hari Rajmohan
Investment manager Investment manager
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Bénedith Oben
Associate Investment Manager

Bénedith Oben joined Ackermans & van Haaren in September 2024 as Associate Investment Manager for our Life Siences participations. She  studied biomedical science at the Hasselt University, after which she obtained a PhD. Prior to AvH, Bénedith was member of the business development team of Hyloris, a Belgium-based listed pharmaceutical company that focusses on reinventing/reformulating existing medications.

Bénedith Oben, AvH
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Subin Oswal
Analyst

Subin Oswal joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2022. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from NMIMS, a Master’s degree from University of Mumbai and has cleared CFA Level 3. Subin previously worked as IB Analyst at PwC India.

Subin Oswal
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Filip Portael
IT manager

Filip Portael joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2009 as IT Consultant and strategic IT partner. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science in 1994. Filip previously worked as an Analyst-Programmer and network administrator at Bank Delen.

Filip Portael
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Hari Rajmohan
Investment manager

Hari Rajmohan previously worked as a tech VC investor, with a global fintech mandate, at Standard Chartered Bank's innovation arm SC Ventures. Prior to that, he was a growth-stage private equity investor based out of Singapore and Dubai covering SEA and the Middle East respectively for a number of years.

Hari Rajmohan
Melissa Slabbaert
Melissa Slabbaert
Sustainability expert Sustainability expert
Brigitte Stockman
Brigitte Stockman
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Garry Suy
Garry Suy
Care taker Care taker
Thomas Ternest
Investment director Investment director
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Melissa Slabbaert
Sustainability expert

Melissa Slabbaert is a bioengineer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology (Ghent University – 2013). She previously worked as a soil specialist at Sertius Environmental & Safety services and as Head of sustainability at Deep C Industrial Zones.

Melissa Slabbaert
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Brigitte Stockman
Personal assistant

Brigitte Stockman joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 1990 as personal assistant.

Brigitte Stockman
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Garry Suy
Care taker

Garry Suy joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 1988 as a maintenance man. He obtained a degree in A3 Mechanics. Garry previously worked in the metal industry.

Garry Suy
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Thomas Ternest
Investment director

Thomas Ternest joined Ackermans & van Haaren as an investment manager  November 2018.

He obtained a Master in Commercial Engineering (KU Leuven, 2003) and an MBA from Vlerick (2015). Thomas previously worked at BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity as Investment Director.

Petra Van de Velde
Petra Van de Velde
Personal assistant Personal assistant
Jeroen Vangindertael
Jeroen Vangindertael
Investment manager Investment manager
Jens Van Nieuwenborgh
Jens Van Nieuwenborgh
Investment director Investment director
Chris Van Raemdonck
Chris Van Raemdonck
Communication & Investor Relations Communication & Investor Relations
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Petra Van de Velde
Personal assistant

Petra Van de Velde joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2001 as Personal Assistant. She obtained a Medical Secretarial Degree from the Higher National Institute for Paramedical Professions in Ghent. Petra previously worked as an assistant at the Nationale Investeringsmaatschappij.

Petra Van de Velde
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Jeroen Vangindertael
Investment manager

Jeroen Vangindertael joined Ackermans & van Haaren as an Investment Associate in 2020. He holds both a Master and PhD in Biochemistry & Biotechnology (KU Leuven – 2016). Previously he worked at the Private Equity and Sustainable Business departments of BNP Paribas Fortis. 

Jeroen Vangindertael
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Jens Van Nieuwenborgh
Investment director

Jens Van Nieuwenborgh is Investment Director at Ackermans & van Haaren (since September 2014), where he obtained extensive experience as board member at both private and listed companies across Europe, the UK and India.

He obtained a Master in Civil Engineering from the University of Ghent (2005) and an MBA from Harvard Business School (2009). Prior to AvH, Jens worked at McKinsey & Company as an associate partner.

Jens Van Nieuwenborgh
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Chris Van Raemdonck
Communication & Investor Relations

Chris Van Raemdonck joined Ackermans & van Haaren in May 2024 as Communication and Investor Relations manager. Chris holds a dregree in Communicaitons. Prior to AvH he fulfilled similar functions at Omega Pharma, Movetis and Smartphoto.

Chris Van Raemdonck
Bart Vercauteren
Bart Vercauteren
Sustainability manager Sustainability manager
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Bart Vercauteren
Sustainability manager

Bart Vercauteren joined Ackermans & van Haaren in 2021 as Sustainability Manager. He obtained a Master in Commercial Engineering from the University of Antwerp and is currently following a European Executive MBA programme with a focus on Sustainable Business. Bart previously worked as Director at Deloitte Sustainability team for 17 years.

Bart Vercauteren