Geert Van Poelvoorde is the new Chairman of Flanders Make

Geert Van Poelvoorde is the new Chairman of Flanders Make. He takes over the helm from Urbain Vandeurzen, under whose chairmanship the strategic research center realized in 10 years a strong innovation ecosystem for the industry, with more than 900 employees in sites spread all over Flanders.

Geert Van Poelvoorde has an impressive professional background in the steel industry. He started at Sidmar in 1989, where he gained extensive experience in process automation and management positions. Through several mergers and holding various management positions for 10 years in Germany, he returned to ArcelorMittal in Gent in 2005.

He started there as COO, then became CEO and 2 years later advanced to the role of Vice President and CEO of the ArcelorMittal Flat Products Division. Since 2021, Van Poelvoorde has been Executive Vice President and CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe.

Van Poelvoorde also guides the steel industry towards a carbon-free and sustainable future, as Vice President and previously also as President of Eurofer, the European Steel Federation.

"Geert Van Poelvoorde has a very good understanding of what is happening in different sectors and how that translates to the manufacturing industry and other industries with manufacturing challenges. We are therefore convinced that as Chairman of our Board of Directors he will be able to make a great contribution to the further growth and development of the organization," explained CEO Grisja Lobbestael.

"It is a great honor to contribute to the further expansion of Flanders Make. It is extremely important to nurture and further develop our industry, the basis of our prosperity. Innovation is one of the most important assets in this respect, and concepts such as that of Flanders Make, with a connection between universities, the government and industry, are crucial for this. With the fantastic work of the team led by Mr. Vandeurzen, I am convinced that Flanders Make is ready to take the next steps in growth, awareness and development," said Chairman Geert Van Poelvoorde.

Strong technological and management background

Geert Van Poelvoorde graduated cum laude as a civil electronics engineer at the University of Ghent in 1988, after which he started his career as a project engineer in process automation at Sidmar Ghent's hot strip mill. Here he climbed to head of process automation and microprocessing.

In 1995 he moved to Stahlwerke Bremen in Germany as senior project manager. In the years that followed, he took on leadership roles in various departments and in 2003 became managing director of Stahlwerke Bremen, with responsibility for operations and engineering.

His leadership was further recognized when he returned to ArcelorMittal in Gent as Chief Operating Officer in 2005 and was appointed CEO shortly thereafter - in 2008. In 2009 he became CEO of the Business Division North within Flat Carbon Europe and in 2014 assumed the role of CEO of Flat Carbon Europe and Purchasing. His vision, leadership skills and expertise in the steel industry were further recognized in his appointment as Executive Vice President and CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe in March 2021.

In addition, he has held multiple management positions, including in Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Texas, Germany and Belgium and also built experience in integrating university research capabilities into the industry.

More information?

Would you like to learn more about our new chairman? Then don't hesitate to contact us.

Linda Corstjens, PR & Communication Manager

Linda Corstjens has more than 20 years of experience in communication & PR in research, B2B and B2C environments. In 2010 she started at Flanders' Drive as PR & Communication Manager and then continued as PR & Communication Manager of Flanders Make in 2014 at the birth of Flanders Make.

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