Smeets has been appointed chief executive of the Port Authority for a six-year term, succeeding Jacques Vandermeiren
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges board of directors has appointed Rob Smeets as the new CEO of the Port Authority for a six-year term.
He succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren, who announced on 14 April that he would be stepping down as CEO.
Smeets has worked for the Port Authority for more than 20 years and has held several senior roles.
Since 2014, he has led the towage department; in 2017 he became nautical operations director; and since 2019 he has been a member of the executive committee as chief operations officer.
Following the announcement of Vandermeiren’s departure, he took on the role of interim CEO.
”With extensive experience within the organisation, in-depth knowledge of the port and its operations, and strong familiarity with a wide stakeholder landscape, Rob Smeets has a solid foundation to lead Port of Antwerp-Bruges,” the board of directors noted.
The board stated it is confident Smeets can guide the Port Authority through a period marked by significant investment, a shifting geopolitical context and challenges facing European industry.
Smeets said he is grateful to the board for the trust it has placed in him.
”Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strongly positioned internationally and has outstanding employees, customers and partners,” he outlined.
”Together, we want to continue building a port that keeps increasing its impact, is ready for tomorrow’s challenges, and further strengthens its position as a leading global port. I am looking forward to it.”
Johan Klaps, chair of the board of directors, said it was pleased to have been able to appoint a new CEO in a short space of time, ensuring continuity.
Rob knows the Port Authority and the port like no one else,” said Klaps. ”He is a familiar face both within and beyond the organisation, knows our stakeholders well and is able to reconcile different interests.
”He also has extensive experience managing large budgets, investment programmes and change processes.
”At a time when delivery and execution are paramount, we are convinced that Rob, with his pragmatic leadership style, is the right person to lead Port of Antwerp-Bruges,” Klaps added.
