Fintech Belgium Announces New Board Members and Leadership Transition
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, Belgium, September 10th, 2024 - Fintech Belgium Welcomes Five New Board Members, Announces Leadership Transition, and Appoints David Jacob as CEO
Fintech Belgium is excited to announce significant changes to its leadership team, aimed at reinforcing its mission to connect, collaborate, and innovate within the financial services industry. Toon Vanagt has been named as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to guide Fintech Belgium's strategic direction. Additionally, five new members have joined Fintech Belgium's Board of Directors: Amélie Breitburd, Brent Dedecker, Magali Van Bulck, Nico Vincent, and Robert Masse. Their collective expertise will strengthen the organisation’s ability to drive innovation and address challenges within the sector.
Reflecting on his new role, Toon Vanagt shared, “As one of the co-founders of Fintech Belgium and long-term master of ceremonies, I’m honoured by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to continue fostering connections within our vibrant ecosystem. It’s been truly rewarding to see our community grow to over 120 members, strengthening key relationships among banks, insurers, the financial services industry and their counterparts. I look forward to continuing this work by facilitating match-making between these key players, enhancing collaboration, and supporting innovation within our fintech community”.
Introducing the New Board Members
Amélie Breitburd brings over 30 years of experience in leading businesses, strategy, innovation, transformation, development and finance, holding executive roles at Lloyd’s Europe and AXA. She has actively supported InsurTech innovation and serves on the board of CNP Assurances. Motivated to help Europe tackle decarbonisation, demographics, and deglobalisation through technology, Amélie believes Fintech Belgium is well-positioned for this mission. She states, "I aim to promote dialogue and serve FTBE's purpose, bringing strategic vision, energy, and network to support the team, and convene stakeholders in FinTech, adding a focus on InsurTech, solidifying the great work already done and accelerating.”
Brent Dedecker brings an energetic entrepreneurial spirit and a demonstrated commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the fintech and startup sectors. As a co-founder of the investment fund Seven Capital and accelerator Seven Camp, his efforts have reshaped Belgium's startup landscape. With a track record of successfully launching and growing six companies, his passion lies in positioning Belgium as a leading hub for startups. “I intend to use my network and expertise to bridge gaps between emerging fintech companies and potential investors, facilitate meaningful partnerships, and drive innovation within the sector. My commitment is to create an ecosystem that not only supports fintech businesses in their growth and development but also promotes Belgium as an attractive destination for fintech innovation worldwide.” Brent shared
Magali Van Bulck, currently serving as the Head of Policy (EMEA) at Wise, brings extensive experience in the fintech sector, particularly in improving transparency in cross-border payments and advocating for financial inclusion. She is also actively involved in various industry boards and initiatives, including as board member for the International Association of Money Transfer Networks (IAMTN) and PayBelgium and as working group chair at the European Fintech Association. She also founded Accept My IBAN, a platform for consumers to report IBAN discrimination. Motivated by her belief in the transformative power of financial technology, she states, “I am delighted to channel my experience into driving growth and strengthening the powerful voice of Fintech Belgium. Our fintech scene tends to be hugely underrated. I want to help steer our community towards a future where Belgian fintech not only competes but leads on the international stage.”
Nico Vincent, a seasoned industry leader and founding partner of Sailpeak, brings nearly two decades of experience in Financial Services and Digital/Tech. With impactful roles at Google, PayPal, Qover, and more, he has successfully led transformative projects, driving growth and innovation. His motivation is rooted in a genuine passion for fintech and entrepreneurship, stating, "I aim to bridge the gap between fintech startups and financial services corporates by implementing key initiatives to solidify Belgium’s position as a leading FinTech hub in the years to come”.
Robert Masse, an alumnus of Solvay Business School and ULB Law School, brings extensive experience in business setup, administration, and SME management. As the founder of several Belgian fintech companies like Giftify, Paynovate, Fintronik, and Loyalpay, he also serves as a business angel, investor, and coach to other ventures. Robert states, "I'm driven to help Fintech Belgium expand and enrich the local Belgian fintech landscape, leveraging my expertise and background to cultivate growth and innovation within our community."
Leadership Transition
We are also pleased to announce that Alessandra Guion will be transitioning from her operational role as CEO to join the Board of Directors of Fintech Belgium. After more than eight years of exceptional leadership, Alessandra has been instrumental in creating and fostering a strong Belgian collaborative ecosystem and driving innovation within the financial industry. Her presence on the board will ensure the continuity of her visionary leadership. “As a board member, I am committed to promoting the development of digital finance in Belgium through leveraging my extensive network, representing our ecosystem, and utilising my communication expertise. My goal is to further strengthen FinTech Belgium’s presence, solidifying Belgium’s position on the fintech scene, and ensuring ongoing collaborations with key stakeholders” Alessandra shared.
Additionally, we are happy to announce David Jacob as the new CEO of Fintech Belgium. He brings a remarkable track record to Fintech Belgium, having successfully co-founded a business and grown it to a robust organisation with 150 employees and 45 mio revenue. His deep understanding of business, starting and scaling an organisation will be invaluable to our growth and development. “I am excited to lead Fintech Belgium into its next chapter, focusing on Demand, Capital, Talent and Policy. My vision is to build on the solid foundation laid by Alessandra and drive the organisation forward by expanding our network, and creating more opportunities for our members and partners,” David stated.
Gratitude to Departing Board Members
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our departing board members, Jean-Louis Van Houwe, Béatrice de Mahieu, and Pieter Lambrechts, for their significant contributions and dedication to Fintech Belgium. Their efforts have been instrumental in shaping the organization, and we wish them the very best in their future endeavours.
The newly expanded Board of Directors and leadership team will focus on creating a robust collaborative ecosystem. This collaborative approach not only strengthens the Belgian financial industry but also contributes positively to the broader economy, fostering sustainable development and competitiveness.
About FinTech Belgium
FinTech Belgium asbl/vzw is the independent federation by and for Fintechs active in Belgium. Created in 2015, our grassroot non-profit organisation is also the first and largest community of FinTechers in Belgium, gathering financial professionals, startup entrepreneurs and investors, who are interested in discovering and discussing disruptive business models and new technology, for the financial services industry. Our mission is threefold: to promote fintechs, be their SPOC for regulators and other parties, and share information and best practices for Fintech, RegTech, PayTech, Insurtech, Wealthtech, … In other words, make the magic happen!
For more info: www.fintechbelgium.be