Brussels – Danny van Assche, former CEO of UNIZO, will join the VBO (Federation of Belgian Enterprises) as an advisor general on December 1, 2025, and will succeed Monica de Jonghe as director-general on July 1, 2026. De Jonghe will remain with the VBO half-time as an advisor to CEO Pieter Timmermans after her transition.
Van Assche’s appointment brings extensive experiance in socio-economic consultation and entrepreneurship support. “Because of his experience at UNIZO, at Horeca Vlaanderen and as a former social consultant at the UNIZO study service, he knows the socio-economic consultation model, both at European, federal and regional level,” Timmermans stated. ”So he brings a whole baggage of knowledge and expertise.”
Van Assche himself noted, “My career has been dominated by social consultation and supporting entrepreneurship for the past 20 years. I am very happy that I will be able to continue this at the highest level.”
The move follows Van assche’s departure from UNIZO in February,announced by UNIZO,stemming from “a difference in policy vision with the board.” He had served as managing director of UNIZO since 2018. Bart Buysse, formerly CEO of Fevia (the Belgian food industry federation), has since taken over as UNIZO’s managing director, having previously held a leadership role at VBO – the same position De Jonghe occupied before him.
