Rob Smeets has been named as the new chief executive of the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority for a six-year term, following a competitive selection process that attracted strong interest from candidates nationally and internationally.
Smeets succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren, who announced in April that he would step down from the role. Having served as interim chief executive since that announcement, Smeets now takes the position on a permanent basis.
The appointment follows a selection process led by a committee of board members, who assessed a broad field of candidates before identifying Smeets as the strongest choice to lead one of Europe’s most important ports.
A veteran of the port authority, Smeets has more than two decades of experience within the organisation. He has held a series of senior leadership positions, including head of the Towage Department, nautical operations director and, since 2019, chief operations officer and member of the executive committee.
“Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strongly positioned internationally and has outstanding employees, customers and partners,” said Smeets.
“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.”
The board said Smeets’ extensive operational experience, deep understanding of the port and established relationships with stakeholders made him ideally suited to guide the organisation through a period of major investment and increasing geopolitical and industrial uncertainty.
“We are particularly pleased to have been able to appoint a new CEO in a short space of time, ensuring continuity for our organisation,” said Johan Klaps, chair of the board of directors.
“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.”
Vice-chair Dirk De fauw added that Smeets emerged from a ‘swift but thorough’ recruitment process as the standout candidate and expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen the port’s future competitiveness.
