The Port of Antwerp-Bruges Board of Directors has appointed twenty-year port authority veteran and former Chief Operations Officer Rob Smeets as CEO for a six-year term. Smeets, who recently served as interim chief, succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren to ensure absolute operational and strategic continuity across Europe’s second-largest shipping hub.
Antwerp | June 5, 2026 – The Board of Directors of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has officially appointed corporate veteran Rob Smeets as Chief Executive Officer of the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority for a six-year term. Smeets, who recently held the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO), succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren.
Smeets emerged as the definitive choice following a highly competitive, multi-week executive recruitment process overseen by a dedicated selection committee from the Board of Directors. Having stepped in as interim CEO immediately following Vandermeiren’s departure announcement, Smeets’ transition to the permanent role ensures absolute continuity at Europe’s second-largest shipping hub.
A Two-Decade Legacy of Port Leadership
Smeets brings more than twenty years of deep operational and institutional tenure to the helm of the integrated port authority. His trajectory within the organization highlights a comprehensive command of complex maritime infrastructure:
- 2014: Appointed Head of the Towage Department.
- 2017: Promoted to Director of Nautical Operations.
- 2019: Elevated to the Executive Committee as Chief Operations Officer (COO).
- 2026: Designated Interim CEO, leading to his permanent appointment.
This extensive operational history provides Smeets with an unrivaled understanding of the port’s vast industrial footprint, multi-layered logistics chains, and intricate stakeholder ecosystem. The Board of Directors underscored their confidence in his capacity to pilot the authority through an era defined by aggressive capital investment, escalating geopolitical complexities, and structural economic headwinds facing European heavy industry.
Executive Commentary
Rob Smeets, newly appointed CEO, said “I am profoundly grateful to the Board of Directors for their trust. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges holds an elite position on the global stage, backed by outstanding teams, resilient customer networks, and strategic partners. Moving forward, our collective mission is to build a port that continuously scales its economic impact, proactively adapts to tomorrow’s challenges, and reinforces its dominance as a premier global maritime hub.”
The port authority’s leadership highlighted that Smeets’ deep-rooted familiarity with the port’s day-to-day operations makes him uniquely qualified to execute immediate strategic goals.
Johan Klaps, Chair of the Board of Directors, said “We are exceptionally pleased to secure a new chief executive within such a swift timeframe, securing uninterrupted stability for our organization. Rob understands this port authority and its broader industrial landscape better than anyone. He is a highly respected figure both internally and across our external networks, bringing a proven ability to align diverse commercial interests. Backed by a strong track record managing major capital expenditures and structural change management, Rob’s pragmatic leadership style is exactly what the Port of Antwerp-Bruges requires in an era where execution is paramount.”
Dirk De fauw, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, said “Our selection process was accelerated yet meticulously rigorous. The intense international and domestic interest we received for this vacancy underscores the prestigious global standing of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Ultimately, Rob’s operational brilliance, vision, and deep leadership qualities set him apart as the strongest candidate. I have absolute faith that he will work alongside the Board, the executive management team, and our commercial tenants to build an even more resilient port.”
About the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
As a vital engine for the European economy, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges serves as one of the world’s premier maritime hubs and Europe’s second-largest shipping port. Formed through the strategic merger of the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, the unified port authority handles hundreds of millions of tons of international cargo annually, operating as a critical gateway for global container traffic, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) logistics, and chemical processing.
Positioned at the crossroads of major global trade lanes, the port integrated a sprawling industrial footprint with cutting-edge green energy infrastructure. It plays a pioneering role in the European energy transition through large-scale hydrogen import, carbon capture, and alternative marine fuel initiatives, securing its status as a resilient, future-ready engine for international trade.
Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges