Brussels, July 1, 2025 – EY Belgium opens a new chapter today with the official appointment of Steven Claes as CEO. He succeeds Patrick Rottiers, who led the organization for the past eight years. Under his leadership, EY Belgium became a leading player in the professional services landscape. With Steven Claes taking the helm, EY is clearly choosing continuity and ambition. Steven brings 24 years of experience within EY, including strong international expertise, in-depth knowledge of the Belgian market, and a clear vision for the future of the organization.
New Executive Committee ready to continue growth trajectory
Together with Steven Claes, a renewed Executive Committee is also taking office. It will focus on sustainable growth, technological innovation, and talent development across EY Belgium’s various divisions:
- Eef Naessens – Head of Assurance
- Chris Vandermeersche – Head of Tax & Law
- Michel Brabants – Head of Consulting
- Tristan Dhondt – Head of EY Parthenon
- Yannick Grécourt – Head of Financial Services
- Paul Eelen – Markets Leader
- Wim De Wit – HR Leader
- Christophe Ballegeer – Chief of Staff
The new Executive Committee brings together a powerful mix of experience, expertise, and energy, with a strong focus on multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in serving clients.
"It is a great honor to take on the role of CEO as of today. Together with this strong and complementary team, we want to build an organization where our people make the difference. My role is to inspire, connect and support our people so they can reach their full potential. Our ambition is clear: to focus on sustainable growth, attract and retain talented people, and help our clients navigate change — whether in technology, sustainability, or strategic decision-making.”
Building on a strong foundation
Steven Claes takes over from Patrick Rottiers, under whose leadership EY Belgium grew to an organization with over 2.700 employees, a revenue of more than €486 million, and a leading position in Belgium. The organization places a strong emphasis on ESG, digitalization, and diversity — themes that will remain central under the new leadership as well.
Biography – Steven Claes
Steven Claes was Chairman of the Board and Head of the Tax & Law practice at EY Belgium. Since joining EY in 2001, he has built an impressive career. He was appointed partner in 2006, and in 2017 took the lead of the tax practice. Under his leadership, the tax division has grown to become EY Belgium’s largest, with €177 million in revenue and 800 employees.
His international experience includes four years as head of the Belgian and Luxembourg Tax Desk in New York, where he positioned Belgium as an attractive investment destination for global companies. He also worked in EY Luxembourg’s tax practice, where he specialized in cross-border taxation.
Claes holds a Master of Law and an LL.M. in Taxation and is known for his strong focus on teamwork and inclusivity. He is ideally positioned to lead EY Belgium forward. Since 2017, he has also overseen HR policy and operational support for the 2,700 employees within the Belgian organization.
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EY is a global leader in auditing, tax, consulting, strategy and transactions. With our in-depth sector knowledge and broad network, EY supports clients in a variety of industries. Operating from 9 offices, EY Belgium has 2.700 employees. Worldwide, the organisation has 390.000 employees. Thanks to our international network, we can bring in experts from other countries to support Belgian clients, while our local teams are also often involved in international projects.
For more information on this appointment, or to schedule an interview with Steven Claes, please contact:
Christophe Ballegeer
Press Officer, EY Belgium
+32 475 98 33 10
christophe.ballegeer@be.ey.com
EY Belgium under new leadership: Steven Claes appointed CEO with renewed Executive Committee