Umicore announced recently changes to its Management Board. Denis Goffaux, Executive Vice President Recycling, has decided to leave Umicore on May 31st, after a successful and diverse career of nearly 30 years within the Group. He will be succeeded on June 1st by Veerle Slenders, who currently serves as President Region Europe West at Linde Group.

Umicore has furthermore nominated Geert Olbrechts, currently Senior Vice President Research & Technology and Supply at the Automotive Catalysts business unit, as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and member of the Management Board, effective on August 1st. Geert will drive the Group’s long-term technology roadmap and foster technology synergies Group-wide, enabling Umicore’s innovation momentum in line with the RISE 2030 strategy.

 

The CTO organization will be structured around Umicore’s Corporate Research & Development (CRD) activities, which are working hand in hand with the R&D teams in the business units and the New Business Incubation (NBI) and Open Innovation teams to develop mid- to long-term technologies tailored to the specific needs of their customers and end-markets, while, at the same time, defining R&D governance and standards within the Group.

 

“The Management Board and I want to thank Denis for his valuable contributions to Umicore’s Management Board over the past 13 years and to our Group for 28 years. From mandate to mandate, Denis was key in sharpening Umicore’s strategic focus on clean mobility materials and recycling, and in developing our materials technology innovations in line with our strategic ambitions. We wish him the very best for the future,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore.

 

“I am pleased that Veerle will join our Management Board, succeeding Denis, to strengthen the long-term roadmap of our recycling activities. Her international expertise in industrial business development and operations management will further solidify our execution strength in the Recycling Business Group. Veerle’s entrepreneurial spirit, track-record in safety and environment, as well as her people engagement through diversity and inclusion, fit perfectly to Umicore and our values,” Mathias Miedreich continued.

 

Commenting on the appointment of Geert Olbrechts, Mathias Miedreich said: “Geert is both an excellent scientist and accomplished business leader who, over the past 23 years, has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge across Umicore, its technologies and product portfolio. The extent of his expertise and competencies form a sturdy foundation as CTO and add a new dimension to our strongly rooted materials technology and science-based community. Geert joining the Umicore Management Board will provide extra strength to our research and innovation roadmap and technology leadership and I wish him every success in this new role.”