Erwin Verstraelen – CDO of the year 2022

For me, the following elements contributing to the storm come to mind:

-	__Exponential technology growth__: This has been going on for some time and leads to disruptive moments such as the emergence of large language models at the end of last year, providing a quantum leap forward in how we use and interact with Artificial intelligence
-	__Geopolitics__.In 2018 focus was on trade sanctions with Russia, trade restrictions under the administration of President Trump and…. Brexit. Compare that with the geopolitical context of today, where we all feel this might just the beginning of something that can become even more volatile. In 2018 globalization was alive and kicking, today friend shoring and deglobalization are heavily debated and we see signs that it’s actually happening
-	__The poly crisis__ starting by climate change that triggers an energy crisis, food crisis and water crisis and in trying to stop it a raw material crisis

So how do you deal with this, leave alone how you will transform this massive challenge into an opportunity.

The time has come for more resilience in our companies. I like to call it ‘business continuity whatever happens’. Challenging everything you have come to take for granted and reflect on the simple question: What if it’s no longer there ? How impossible that may sound, it can actually happen. Take for example the digital infrastructure of the company. A successful cyber attack is a plausible scenario, although an obvious one. Have you ever thought about what to do to keep the organization to some extend operational while you try to rebuild the IT platforms and applications ? From my own experience: triggering that kind of questions in the organization is pretty interesting one. The output will prevent panic when it happens. But think further than just cyber: lack of electricity or water are also becoming more and more plausible scenario’s. 

However, I see an opportunity to think further, beyond resilience: How to become antifragile. It means that you emerge stronger out of crisis, creating (competitive) advantage against anyone and everyone. 

I think Chief digital officers (CDO) are well suited to trigger and be involved in that kind of debate. We tend to see the world in a different way, used to challenge and trigger reflection. So why not lead and make sure you prepare you own organization for an increasingly volatile world. Or as someone once said it: we live in a word of known- unknowns that are going to be associated by a lot of unknown – unknowns. 

So antifragile as a positive opportunity to explore. The other option on the table is to have hope. But my dear friends, …. Hope is not a strategy, it never was and it never will be !


The Perfect Storm

CDO of the Year - Hero

CDO of the Year 2025 - Hero

And the CDO of the Year 2024 winners are…

__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

CDO of the Year 2024

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 27__. You will give a presentation during the jury meeting on __Wednesday October 9__. The award ceremony will take place on __Thursday October 17__.

For more information and to submit your dossier, please contact [luc@destraffemannen.be](mailto:luc@destraffemannen.be), +32495 23 99 25.

Look who has won the previous CDO awards. 

[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

Bruno Segers

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

Robert van der Eijk

Lieven Verhaevert

Christophe VanDriessche

Jury 2024

#### 18:00 Cocktail Reception
#### 19:15 Welcome
#### 19:30 Starter
#### 20:30 Rebel Rebel
#### 20:45 Main course
#### 21:45 Never Normal
[Peter Hinssen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/phinssen/ "Peter Hinssen")
#### 22:20 Awards Ceremony
Chief Digital Officer of the Year 2024
#### 23:00 Dessert and afterparty
#### 01:00 Closing