Bjorn Van Reet - CDO of the Year 2021

### The customer in change
In recent years, digitalisation has pampered the customer. Not only can customers now shop 24 hours a day every day, they also have complete control over their data and the process.

By now, most customers have smoothly found their way to online shopping. We buy some garments, try them on quietly at home and send back what we don't like. So companies need to get not only the delivery process but also the returns process right to keep their customers happy. 

On top of that, thanks in part to Coolblue, 'next day delivery' has become the new norm. Coolblue is a wonderful company that has understood its customers' needs very well. Speed & simplicity are the basis of their success. So basically, we have all the shops of the 21st century just sitting in our pocket, with our mobile phone. If we want to buy something at home, at a café, at a friend's, ... with a few clicks, we have ordered it and it is on our doorstep the next day. Haven't we spoiled our customers too much in recent years? Or is this the 'new normal'? And is this ecologically feasible?

### The business in change
As a company, keeping systems up and running 24/7 is already quite a challenge. Let alone having to take into account the rapidly rising costs for cyber security and/or employee salaries, for instance. Again, customers are quick to overlook this. He does not want to see these costs passed on, but it is the harsh reality for companies. If your website isn't available, doesn't deliver fast enough, or charges shipping costs, we'll just order it from another site anyway. So the race to efficiency and cost savings is a daily challenge for every digital leader. 

Closing days are a thing of the past. Customers want to be able to order anytime and companies will have to respond to this. Because if they don't, there is someone else in the market who will happily serve your customers.

Many business processes consist of online & offline components. Now look at cinema. The customer likes to make his movie choice online from his mobile phone and also wishes to check the tickets quickly & efficiently. Then, he or she goes to the theatre in his or her city and enjoys the film to the fullest (offline experience). Companies that can harmonise the collaboration between their online & offline processes come out much stronger. Successful CIOs & CDOs therefore spend a lot of time understanding, improving and/or complementing their offline processes.

### Technology in full change
Technology evolution is moving faster than ever before. The internet that we all use every day is the basis for connecting people and businesses. Thanks to our telecom operators, we can enjoy high-speed Internet from virtually any location in Belgium. With 3G, we learned about mobile connectivity. That was good for meeting basic needs, emailing and some searches. Then we got 4G, which opened up the world of Facetime & video to us. Today, we are on the eve of 5G. This too will open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Besides the internet & connectivity, other technologies are not standing still. Blockchain, the internet of things (IoT), Saas & Paas platforms, ... You can hardly keep up, let alone that we are going to change the world yet again with Generative AI or ChatGPT. As a digital leader, it is therefore very difficult to keep up with these evolutions and to focus on precisely those technologies that can add value to your business. How can we use technology to improve our online & offline processes!!!?

If you are curious to know how digital leaders in the 21st century balance on this tightrope, we would be delighted to invite you to the 'CDO of the year' gala at Dockx Dome in Brussels on 21 October. We look forward to inspiring you and enjoying speeches together by, among others, Erwin Verstraelen, CDIO Port of Antwerp, at this convivial digital evening. See you then! 


A CDO is the tightrope walker of the 21st century

CDO of the Year - Hero

CDO of the Year 2025 - Hero

These bright minds were the CDO of the Year 2024:

__Karin Van Hoecke__, the CDO of KBC and __Marc Senterre__, the VP global IT at Lhoist have been voted the CDO of the Year 2024. They received their award at the Brussels Docks Event hall with over 500 guests in attendance.

Karin Van Hoecke was lauded for her leadership and the impact of the KBC mobile app and especially the AI-agent Kate. And for global recognition as a pioneer.

Marc Senterre was praised for his vision of ‘digital anywhere, including everyone’ in a company you wouldn't expect to push digital this far.

CDO of the Year 2025 - Info

Who will be the CDO of the Year 2025?

Want to relive the CDO awards gala? 
- [Aftermovie CDO of the Year 2024](https://bsnpq.r.ag.d.sendibm3.com/mk/cl/f/sh/SMK1E8tHeFuBmoLDYg6XZ4X2jC3q/JY1N9PAAXk8J "Aftermovie - CDO of the Year 2024")
- [Keynote Peter Hinssen](https://bsnpq.r.ag.d.sendibm3.com/mk/cl/f/sh/SMK1E8tHeG13ExAAjqG1etpmhUe6/WNyYjQRV7cy_ "Keynote Peter Hinssen - CDO of the Year 2024")
- [Keynote Geert Van Mol](https://bsnpq.r.ag.d.sendibm3.com/mk/cl/f/sh/SMK1E8tHeG7uh5z7v0PVkj8WfnEM/YyGPqKiaTMZT "Keynote Geert Van Mol - CDO of the Year 2024")

Below, you can find the pictures. Credits to Thomas Deboever.

CDO of the Year 2025 - Pictures

Have a look at the pictures

Partners

Organised by

CDO of the Year 2025 - Organizations

About us

Are you a candidate for the title of Chief Digital Officer of the Year? Or do you know someone who fits the profile?

Send us your application by submitting a file in which you explain to us why you should win the CDO award.

The file should contain:
- Your motivation
- Your career path
- Your organisation
- Digital projects
- The impact on the organisation and the market 
- Your leadership.

Apply now with a file containing your C.V. (LinkedIn profile), your projects and achievements, a motivation for your application and a high resolution photo.

CDO of the Year 2025 - Apply

How to apply

Please submit your application before __FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14__. You will give a presentation during the jury meeting on __TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23__. The award ceremony will take place on __THURSDAY OCTOBER 23__.

For more information and to submit your dossier, please contact [luc@destraffemannen.be](mailto:luc@destraffemannen.be), +32 495 23 99 25.

Look who has won the previous CDO awards. 

[Karin Van Hoecke](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-van-hoecke-2233772/ "Karin Van Hoecke") (KBC)
[Marc Senterre](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcsenterre/ "Marc Senterre") (Lhoist) 
[Johan Guelluy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-guelluy-1091384/ "Johan Guelluy") (Acerta) [Régis Pitolet](https://www.linkedin.com/in/r%C3%A9gis-pitolet-digital-transformation/ "Régis Pitolet") (I-City) 
[Geert Van Mol](https://www.linkedin.com/in/geert-van-mol-1779812/ "Geert Van Mol - LinkedIn ") (Belfius)
[Erik Cuypers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-cuypers-aa6432/ "Erik Cuypers - LinkedIn ") (Maxeda)
[Bjorn Van Reet](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornvanreet/ "Bjorn Van Reet - LinkedIn ") (Kinepolis) 
[Erwin Verstraelen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erwin-verstraelen-a885974/ "Erwin Verstraelen - LinkedIn") (Haven van Antwerpen-Brugge) 
[Benoît Degotte](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beno%C3%AEt-degotte-3833a724/ "Benoît Degotte - LinkedIn ") (Centre Hospitalier Regional de la Citadelle) 
[Pierre-André Rulmont](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-andr%C3%A9-rulmont-672373/ "Pierre-André Rulmont - LinkedIn ") (MIVB) 
[Cécile Gonfroid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilegonfroid/ "Cécile Gonfroid") (RTBF) 
[Benjamin Bostoen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bostoen/ "Benjamin Bostoen - LinkedIn ") (Thomas & Piron ICT) 

Apply - extra text

Of course you want to attend the CDO Awards Night. We got two formulas. You can reserve 1 or more seats at 400 euro each or reserve a table for 10 people at 3.700 euro (excl. VAT).

This includes parking fee at <a href="https://www.docksdome.be/en/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Docks Dome event hall</a>. Get your tickets now.

For more information about registrations, sponsoring or partnerships, please contact Nicolas Demeure.

[nicolas@destraffemannen.be](mailto:nicolas@destraffemannen.be) - 0478 65 20 34

CDO of the Year 2025 - Attend

Want to attend the awards night?

The jury consists of the winners of the previous editions and many prominent personalities from the Belgian digitisation biotope. We are proud that they all want to participate.

President of the Jury is Luc Blyaert, Partner at De Straffe Mannen.

Maarten Bosmans

Danielle Jacobs

Erik Cuypers

Geert Van Mol

Georges Ataya

Jan De Schepper

Jurgen Van De Sompel

Koen De Witte

Lode Peeters

Luc Blyaert

Katja Schipperheijn

Pierre-André Rulmont

Suyin Aerts

Wendy Knaepen

Yin Oei

Nicolas Demeure

Cécile Gonfroid

Bjorn Van Reet

Tom Olislagers

Sofien Ben Sassi

Jurgen Strijkers

Paul Kaisin

Erwin Verstraelen

Benjamin Bostoen

Johan Guelluy

Régis Pitolet

Lieven Verhaevert

Nico Huybrechts

Karin Van Hoecke

Marc Senterre

Dimitri De Ruelle

Maarten De Schepper

Mieke De Ketelaere

JURY 2025

#### 18:00 Cocktail Reception
#### 19:15 Welcome
#### 19:30 Starter
#### 20:30 No Karin, No Kate, No Glory 
Karin Van Hoecke (KBC) 
#### 20:45 Main course
#### 21:45 China’s race to technology supremacy  
Pascal Coppens (Nexxworks)
#### 22:20 Awards Ceremony
Chief Digital Officer of the Year 2025
#### 23:00 Dessert and afterparty
#### 01:00 Closing