Bekaert announces CEO succession

Brussels – Bekaert has named Yves Kerstens as its next chief executive officer, to replace Oswald Schmid who is retiring at the end of August.

Kerstens was already a member of the Bekaert executive team and served as the CEO of the Belgian group’s speciality businesses.

Effective 1 Sept, the appointment will also see the group ‘co-opting’ Kerstens as director until its annual shareholders meeting in May next year.

According to Juergen Tinggren, chairman of the board of directors, Kerstens’ leadership skills have been “critically important in recent years”.

His capabilities, Tinggren added, “will be a key enabler in achieving Bekaert’s high ambitions for the future.”

In particular, Kerstens will work towards repositioning Bekaert as “a technology leader driving the energy-shift, new-mobility, and low-carbon construction solutions provider.”