Port of Antwerp-Bruges has confirmed Rob Smeets as its new Chief Executive Officer following a competitive selection process overseen by a committee of Board members.
Smeets is a long-standing figure within the organisation, having spent more than two decades at the Port Authority. He led the Towage Department from 2014, was appointed nautical operations director in 2017, and joined the Executive Committee as Chief Operations Officer in 2019.
He had been serving as interim CEO following the departure of Jacques Vandermeiren.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for one of Europe’s largest port complexes, with significant capital investment programmes underway, a shifting geopolitical landscape, and mounting pressures on European industry.
Rob Smeets, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their trust. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strongly positioned internationally and has outstanding employees, customers and partners. 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.”
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Johan Klaps, Chair of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “We are particularly pleased to have been able to appoint a new CEO in a short space of time, ensuring continuity for our organisation. Rob knows the Port Authority and the port like no one else. 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.”
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Dirk De Fauw, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, added: “We ran a swift but thorough selection process, with a selection committee, in-depth interviews and a strong pool of candidates. The fact that so many people expressed interest in this role confirms Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ national and international appeal.
“Based on his experience, knowledge of the port and leadership qualities, Rob came out of that process as the strongest candidate. I have every confidence that Rob, together with the Board of Directors, the leadership team, the organisation and our customers, will make our port even stronger and prepare it for a challenging future.”
For more information:
Port of Antwerp-Bruges – https://www.portofantwerpbruges.com/en
