Jos De Vuyst (stow Group) wins the Vlerick Enterprising Leader Award 2025 and Liesbeth Ceelen (BioLizard) wins the Vlerick Venture Award 2025

The Vlerick Enterprising Leader Award is bestowed by Vlerick Business School on a business leader and Vlerick alumnus with a convincing track record in the areas of leadership and entrepreneurship, and whose organisation has a positive impact on society. The company will have grown into a major player in a sustainable way.

Jos De Vuyst, CEO of stow Group: “I am deeply proud and truly honoured to receive the Vlerick Enterprising Leader Award. This is a very special moment for me, and one I will always remember. My journey began right after completing the one-year Vlerick programme, when I joined stow. I still vividly recall the many unforgettable moments from that year, and above all, the entrepreneurial spirit that was instilled in us. That spirit of entrepreneurship and leadership continues to live on today in the stow Group, which has since grown into a global leader. This recognition feels even more meaningful coming from Vlerick Business School, a place that has been both the cradle and the home of so much of Flanders’ entrepreneurial spirit, and indeed far beyond. But I truly believe this award is not just about one individual. It reflects the entire entrepreneurial journey of stow over the past 36 years, and more recently of Movu. Above all, it celebrates the incredible strength, resilience, and dedication of the people around me – my team, my colleagues, and our partners. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine. We all know that today’s economic environment is complex, and entrepreneurs operate in a world of constant change. Yet our values, combined with the capabilities of our teams, give us the strength to keep growing and developing our companies. My role in this journey is to provide a clear vision, to align our people around it, and to ensure we continue to innovate and transform wherever it is needed.”

The Vlerick Venture Award puts a young, entrepreneurial Vlerick alumnus in the spotlight as the owner or founder of a rapidly growing company that has a positive impact on society. Liesbeth Ceelen, CEO of BioLizard and alumna of the Executive MBA (2024), has won the award.

Other nominees for the Vlerick Business School Venture Award 2025 were:

• Thomas de Groote – Founder and CEO of River Cleanup
  Alumnus of the Masters in Financial Management (2004)
• Tim Dieryckx – Owner and CEO at Voxdale
  Alumnus of the Executive MBA (2016)

Marion Debruyne, Dean of Vlerick Business School: “The nominees for the Vlerick Award are all fantastic role models for our students because of their entrepreneurship and leadership. They also illustrate the impact of the school's alumni. On behalf of the professors and staff of Vlerick, I would like to congratulate them on the progress they have made and am already looking forward to seeing what they do next.”

About Jos De Vuyst

• CEO of stow Group
• Alumnus of PUB 1988

Jos De Vuyst started at stow Group 36 years ago, where he played a key role in growing the company into a European market leader in industrial storage solutions. Under his leadership, the company has evolved from a family business into a division of a listed company and, since a management buyout with private equity in 2013, into an innovative independent player.

He describes the private equity phase as the most challenging and exciting period of his career. In 2022, stow Group achieved a revenue of 1 billion euros, with excellent profitability and more than 2200 employees. Jos is highly committed to international expansion, for example in the US. In 2022, he founded stow Robotics (now Movu Robotics), which has grown to become a groundbreaking player in warehouse automation.

Jos studied civil engineering at Ghent University and obtained an MBA from Ghent University and Vlerick Business School. He is also active on various boards of directors.

About Liesbeth Ceelen

• CEO of BioLizard
• Alumna of the Executive MBA (2024)

With a strong scientific background and proven leadership experience, Liesbeth Ceelen is a dynamic CEO known for her strategic vision in driving biotech companies forward.

After earning her degree in Veterinary Medicine and completing a PhD in Veterinary Sciences, she began her career as a Study Director at Johnson & Johnson, where she deepened her scientific expertise and developed strong project management skills.

Motivated by a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, Liesbeth moved into the fast-paced world of start-ups and scale-ups, contributing to several pioneering companies in the biotech and healthcare sectors. In 2024, she further strengthened her business acumen by completing an Executive MBA at Vlerick Business School.

Her extensive experience spans operational management, quality assurance, project leadership, scientific business development, sales and general management.

Currently, Liesbeth serves as CEO of BioLizard, where she is focused on positioning the company as a leading bioinformatics consultancy across Europe and the US. Her leadership style emphasises growth, collaboration, and innovation, inspiring her team to excel and achieve sustainable success.

Liesbeth is deeply committed to empowering others, demonstrated through her active roles in professional organisations such as the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Women on Board, and the TOPX Network for Women in Life Sciences. She has been recognised as an Inspiring Fifty Award Winner in Belgium, underscoring her influence and impact within the industry.

In addition to her professional achievements, Liesbeth is a proud mother to Lore, Elise, and Lukas, embodying her values of balance and dedication in both her personal and professional life.