The Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges has appointed Rob Smeets as CEO of the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority for a six-year term. He succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren, who announced on 14 April 2026 that he would be stepping down as CEO.
The appointment follows a selection process carried out over recent weeks, during which a wide range of candidates were assessed by a selection committee made up of members of the Board of Directors. Rob Smeets emerged as the strongest candidate.
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Rob Smeets is no stranger to Port of Antwerp-Bruges. He has worked for the Port Authority for more than twenty years and has held several senior roles. Since 2014, he has led the Towage Department; in 2017 he became nautical operations director; and since 2019 he has been a member of the Executive Committee as Chief Operations Officer (COO). Following the announcement of Jacques Vandermeiren’s departure, he took on the role of interim CEO.
With extensive experience within the organisation, in-depth knowledge of the port and its operations, and strong familiarity with a wide stakeholder landscape, Rob Smeets has a solid foundation to lead Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The Board of Directors is confident he can guide the Port Authority through a period marked by significant investment, a shifting geopolitical context and challenges facing European industry.
Rob Smeets, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their trust. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strongly positioned internationally and has outstanding employees, customers and partners. Together, we want to continue building a port that keeps increasing its impact, is ready for tomorrow’s challenges, and further strengthens its position as a leading global port. I am looking forward to it. ”
Johan Klaps, Chair of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “We are particularly pleased to have been able to appoint a new CEO in a short space of time, ensuring continuity for our organisation. Rob knows the Port Authority and the port like no one else. He is a familiar face both within and beyond the organisation, knows our stakeholders well and is able to reconcile different interests. He also has extensive experience managing large budgets, investment programmes and change processes. At a time when delivery and execution are paramount, we are convinced that Rob, with his pragmatic leadership style, is the right person to lead Port of Antwerp-Bruges.”
Dirk De fauw, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “We ran a swift but thorough selection process, with a selection committee, in-depth interviews and a strong pool of candidates. The fact that so many people expressed interest in this role confirms Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ national and international appeal. Based on his experience, knowledge of the port and leadership qualities, Rob came out of that process as the strongest candidate. I have every confidence that Rob, together with the Board of Directors, the leadership team, the organisation and our customers, will make our port even stronger and prepare it for a challenging future.”