Introduction

Dr. Herman Daems is the Chairman of the Board of BNP Paribas Fortis and KU Leuven, one of Europe’s oldest universities. From July 1999 till the end of 2014, Herman Daems was Chairman of the Board of Barco and Chairman of the Board of Gimv from May 1999 till June 2011. Daems made a career in academia, policy-making and consulting. He is an emeritus professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management of K.U. Leuven, Belgium. He was the chairman of the European Association of Private Equity and Venture Capital in 2004-2005, a member of the executive committee of EVCA between 2002 and 2006 and Chairman of IPEV from 2005 till 2012.

He has chaired the Belgian Corporate Governance Committee, which sets the governance code for boards of listed companies in Belgium. Professor Daems is a member of the executive committee of the VBO/FEB, the Belgian employers association and holds several board positions. He received the hereditary title of Baron from his Majesty the King of Belgium in April 2014.