Paul Maertens

Professional Focus

• Executive search and senior leadership advisor with over 30 years’ experience in corporate affairs, public policy and corporate governance, including consulting, senior management, political and board roles
• Background in a range of public, private and professional organizations, including telecoms and energy industry leaders
• Specialised expertise in boards and audit committees, internal auditing, public affairs, regulatory affairs; government-level senior advisor credentials
• Business author, a.o. Stroom onder Stoom: Elektriciteit Vandaag en Morgen, book on Belgian energy policy (2017)
• Fluent in Dutch, with proficiency in English and French, and a working knowledge of German

Business Expertise

• Senior independent advisor providing corporate affairs and governance support to various board and audit committee assignments
• Head of Energy Systems & Solutions at Agoria
• Director of Corporate Affairs at EDF Luminus
• Chief Auditor at Proximus (formerly Belgacom); earlier roles included Chief Regulatory and Public Affairs Officer, General Manager Public Affairs and Secretary of the Executive Committee
• Director of External Affairs, Belgium-Luxembourg at The Coca-Cola Company
• Chief of Cabinet to Belgian Prime Minister
• Director at Centre for Political, Economic and Social Studies
• Started career in banking at KBC (formerly Kredietbank) as staff member of economic research department and investment advisor

Practice Membership

Global Industry Practices

• Technology

Global Cross-Sector Practices

• CEO & Board Services

Additional Expertise

• Public Sector
• Social Impact
• Energy
• Telecoms

Education & Certifications

• Master’s degree in economics from University of Leuven
• Master’s degree in modern history from University of Leuven
• Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from University of Leuven
• Advanced Negotiation Program, Stanford University Graduate School of Business
• Certified Information Privacy Professional - Europe (CIPP-E), International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
• Board Effectiveness Certificate, GUBERNA, the Institute for Directors
• Certified Internal Auditor, Institute of Internal Auditors

Affiliations & Awards                

• Former Audit Committee Chairman and Board Member, University of Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven
• Former Board Chairman and Board Member, Imeldaziekenhuis (hospital)