Hans Maertens takes over as head of Voka
Flemish chamber of commerce Voka has announced that former journalist Hans Maertens will succeed Jo Libeer as managing director of the organisation in July
Strengthening mission
Maertens, 52, studied communications and law and worked as a journalist before becoming editor of business daily De Tijd and later the company’s CEO. He then became director of magazines for Roularta Media Group before joining Voka West Flanders in 2010.
He takes over from Libeer in July. Libeer, 60, has been with Voka for 32 years and at its head for six. He is considered to be largely responsible for taking the organisation from its beginnings as Kortrijk chamber of commerce to a merger with the Flemish Economic Union and from there to become the representative network for Flemish enterprise.
Libeer has expressed a wish to get back into the field. “It’ll be something at the intersection of culture and economy,” he told De Tijd, “exactly what I can’t say because the final details have not yet been worked out. I’ll be able to say more after the summer.”
Maertens’ first job will be to coax Voka into a new structure. “Hans Maertens has the job of strengthening Voka both in its mission and in its communications, and to work with the different sectors on regional social consultation,” said Voka chair Michel Delbaere.
Photo courtesy Twitter/ @VOKA_HMaertens
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