As announced before, CEO Jan Lagasse indicated to leave North Sea Port on 1 September 2020. From then onwards, the company will be managed by the other CEO Daan Schalck.
In this past period, the supervisory body – that exercises control of the most important decisions – together with CEO Daan Schalck traced out the future management and administration. The port authority has simplified its management structure in order to increase decisiveness, create more commitment and realize an improved decision process. It is within this framework that the number of managers is increased from two to four people.

Career opportunities

From the start of the merger (on 1 January 2018) a promise was made to the staff members that there would be development opportunities within the merged company. Consequently, the search for suitable candidates was conducted internally.

After having completed the procedure, the supervisory body appointed the following people as managers, in addition to CEO Daan Schalck:

• Dick Engelhardt (Chief Development & Nautical Operations Officer)
• Sofie Monteyne (Chief Financial Officer)
• Peter Van Parys (Chief Operating Officer)

The supervisory body opted for a balanced composition of the management, taking into account different aspects such as competences, gender and a balance as to representation from both branches of the company. The employees council (SE-OR) advised favourably on this procedure and on the candidates.

Within the framework of the unity of leadership and personal union, the new managers will also be appointed as managers of both ‘subsidiaries’ of North Sea Port: North Sea Port Netherlands plc and North Sea Port Flanders limited liability company under public law.