On 22 June the Board of Vlerick Alumni, the official alumni association of Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, has appointed a two-person team to chair the Board in succession of Jean-Luc Deleersnyder. Dirk Bontridder is the new Chairman of the Board; Saskia Schatteman becomes Vice-Chairman. Dirk has already been Vice-Chairman of the Association for four years, thus ensuring continuity.

The choice of a tandem was inspired by the team in charge at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School today: Dean Philippe Haspeslagh and General Director Patrick De Greve. Through working with a dual team, the School, and now its alumni association also, are responding to the increasingly complex challenges that business leaders face today. The choice of a two-person team of one man and one woman with complementary skills was intentional, in order to represent and inspire all its members. Today, nearly 20% of all Vlerick alumni are women.

Chairman Dirk Bontridder

He obtained a Masters in Computer Science at VUB, began his career with Alcatel Bell and subsequently became IT Manager at Getronics and Software AG. Having obtained an MBA at Vlerick, he joined McKinsey & Company in 2000, as a management consultant for clients involved in banking, high-tech and transport & logistics. In 2004, he became General Manager of Nova & Hessenatie Stevedoring (NHS), part of PSA Hesse-Noord Natie (Port of Singapore Authorities). In 2008, Dirk was made Group Executive Vice President of Eurofins Scientific, a listed company with sales in excess of USD 1 bn p.a. and 9500 staff spread over 150 units in 30 countries.
Dirk Bontridder is married with two children.

Since graduating from Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, Dirk Bontridder has been a driving force within the alumni association, first as chairman of the MBA section and as Vice-Chairman of Vlerick Alumni since 2007.

Dirk Bontridder: “The Board is extremely grateful to outgoing Chairman Jean-Luc Deleersnyder for his limitless commitment in the last seven years. Under his leadership, the Association has grown to be a professional, accessible alumni organisation, with nearly 3,500 active members. I am looking to build on this success story further, with our taking new initiatives which, in line with the School, will support the Association's international character and reputation.”

Vice-Chairman Saskia Schatteman

Saskia Schatteman is one of the leading businesswomen in Belgium. She began her career at Kraft Jacobs Suchard, successfully putting Côte d’Or on the map in South-East Asia. Then she climbed the marketing ladder at Procter & Gamble, with positions in Belgium and abroad. She joined De Lijn as Commercial Director in 2005. Her innovative drive put De Lijn firmly in the spotlight, winning her the title of Marketeer of the Year in 2008. She then joined Telenet as Executive Vice President Marketing in 2009/2010, and has been Chairman of Flanders DC since June 2011, yet more evidence of her interest and personal record in creativity and innovation.
Saskia is married with three children.

Saskia attended a General Management course at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in 1992, and is an active member of Vlerick Alumni.

Saskia Schatteman: “In an increasingly connected world, Vlerick Alumni also plays a connecting role, putting its alumni in touch with one another, keeping them up to date with management knowhow and helping them build great careers at home and abroad. I am pleased to be able to help create the next step in this successful alumni association.”