Rudy Provoost appointed as new Chairman of Vlerick Business School
Dean Marion Debruyne commits to a fourth term
On 20 October 2026, the General Council of Vlerick Business School appointed Rudy Provoost as the new Chair of Vlerick Business School, on the recommendation of the Board of Directors. He succeeds Louis Jonckheere, who has chaired the school since May 2025. Rudy Provoost had already served as Vice-Chair since May 2025 and as Chair of the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors also reaffirms its confidence in Dean Marion Debruyne. She has led the school since 2015 and will continue for a fourth term.
The Board of Directors thanks Louis Jonckheere for his commitment to the school. As a member of the Board of Directors and the General Council since 2017, as Vice-Chair from 2021 and as Chair since May 2025, he made a valuable contribution, drawing on his experience as a technology entrepreneur and his strong connection to the school as an alumnus.
Louis Jonckheere: “With my move to the United States and my full focus on Aikido, this is the right moment to hand over the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Vlerick Business School. I have every confidence in Rudy Provoost as my successor and am convinced that his experience and vision will further strengthen the school. I believe that my greatest contribution to Vlerick now is to build Aikido into a global player from the US, inspiring our students and alumni to pursue equally ambitious entrepreneurial goals and push their boundaries internationally. Live. Learn. Leap. That is what Vlerick stands for, and precisely what I want to continue putting into practice myself.”
Rudy Provoost is an alumnus of Vlerick Business School (PUB 1983). He is a versatile executive, entrepreneur and board member with extensive international experience, including as CEO of Philips Consumer Electronics, Philips Lighting and Rexel, and as a former member of Randstad’s Supervisory Board and board member at Elia Group. He is currently Chair of Jensen-Group and a board member at GIMV and Pollet Group. His term as Chair of VOKA ends in November this year.
Rudy Provoost: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at a school that has nurtured so much talent and shaped my own career. Above all, Vlerick stands for entrepreneurship and provides an essential foundation for our knowledge economy. This entails a threefold mission: translating academic excellence into societal and economic impact, encouraging and facilitating lifelong learning, and developing resilient and innovative leaders. More than ever, as a leading European business school, Vlerick has the strengths to continue fulfilling this mission in a complex, constantly changing world. I look forward to working with the Dean and the Vlerick team to make this happen.”
Continuity at the helm of the school
The Board of Directors also reaffirmed its full confidence in Marion Debruyne as Dean. Marion Debruyne was appointed Dean in 2015. Under her leadership, Vlerick has strengthened its international position, expanded its programme portfolio and invested in digital learning and research.
Marion Debruyne, Dean of Vlerick Business School: "I would like to thank Louis for his trust, his energy and his entrepreneurial perspective on our school. He was a true sparring partner. I am grateful to the Board of Directors for its renewed confidence and look forward to working with Rudy, whom I have known for many years as an engaged and wise board member. Our ambition remains the same: to be a leading business school in Europe and a home for entrepreneurial leaders who make a difference in business and society."
About Vlerick Business School
Founded in 1953, Vlerick Business School is an independent, international business school with KU Leuven and Ghent University as its parent universities. Vlerick holds triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA and is recognised by the Financial Times as the best business school in the Benelux. The school recently reached the global top 10 for Masters in Management.