The board of directors of Belgium’s Dutch-language public broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT) has appointed Leo Hellemans as new CEO. This follows the departure, due to illness, of Sandra de Preter.
Hellemans has been assigned to draw up an operational plan to guide the public broadcaster in the midst of the new government’s drastic cost-cutting scheme.
“I would like to thank both the Flemish government, and the VRT board of directors for putting their confidence in me,” said Hellemans. “The assignment is ambitious — to implement a cost-cutting plan and to draw up and execute the VRT’s plans for the future. I gladly accept this challenge and feel strengthened by the support of station management and the great team of creative and enthusiastic collaborators with the VRT.”
Hellemans joined VRT as sports and news reporter and became the broadcaster’s chief news editor before his appointment as general manager of Production and Media.
— Marc Maes
