Executive Management

Executive Leadership

Bekaert's organizational structure consists of four Business Units and four Global Functional Domains. The Bekaert Group Executive (BGE), led by Oswald Schmid, CEO, focuses on value growth and higher-level performance.

Business Units

• The Business Unit Rubber Reinforcement (serving the tire industries that use tire cord and bead wire) is led by Arnaud Lesschaeve, Divisional CEO Rubber Reinforcement.
• The Business Unit Steel Wire Solutions (serving industrial, energy & utility, agricultural, consumer and construction markets with a broad range of steel wire products and solutions) is led by François Desné, Divisional CEO Steel Wire Solutions.
• The Business Unit Specialty Businesses (including building products, fiber technologies, combustion technology and hose reinforcement wire) is led by Yves Kerstens, Divisional CEO Specialty Businesses.
• Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group (BBRG, including the ropes and advanced cords businesses) is led by Curd Vandekerckhove, Divisional CEO of BBRG.

The business units have global P&L accountability for strategy and delivery in their distinct areas and therefore have dedicated production facilities and commercial and technology teams within their respective organization. This helps them develop a customer-centric approach aligned with the specific needs and dynamics of their markets.

Global Functions

• Taoufiq Boussaid is Chief Financial Officer.
• Juan Carlos Alonso is Chief Strategy Officer.
• Yves Kerstens is Chief Operations Officer, next to his role as Divisional CEO Specialty Businesses.
• Kerstin Artenberg is Chief Human Resources Officer.
• Gunter Van Craen is Chief Digital and Information Officer.

The functions take a role as strategic business partners, accountable for providing specific expertise and services across the Group and ensuring the business has the right capability to deliver on short and long term goals. 

Executive & Senior Vice Presidents

• Jan Boelens
  Senior Vice President Steel Wire Solutions EMEA
• Bruno Cluydts
  Chief Strategy Officer BBRG
• Philip Eyskens
  Chief Legal & Compliance Officer
• Katiana Iavarone
  Chief Procurement Officer
• Raj Kalra
  Senior Vice President Rubber Reinforcement Sales, Marketing & Strategy 
• Patrick Louwagie
  Senior Vice President Global Engineering and Operational Excellence
• Dirk Moyson
  Senior Vice President Rubber Reinforcement Global Operations 
• Raf Rentmeesters
  Senior Vice President Building Products
• Adam Touhig
  Senior Vice President Rubber Reinforcement Asia
• Geert Voet
  Senior Vice President Steel Wire Solutions Americas
• Daming Yu
  China President and Vice President Steel Wire Solutions Asia
• Zhigao Yu
  Senior Vice President Rubber Reinforcement Technology