What time do you usually wake up on weekdays? 

6 am 

How do you spend the first hour of your day? 

I’m 2 to 3 hours ahead of my colleagues in other regions, so morning is key to start the day with focus time before entering a round of calls / e-meetings 

What sparked your interest in finance? 

The infinite possibilities and no restriction to a certain industry 

Can you share some career highlights and defining moments? 

I’m a finance nomad: worked for PwC on 3 continents, worked as a CFO in DRC, South Africa and now Mauritius 

How do you handle professional challenges? 

“Just do it” – delaying or sitting on it will only increase stress and tension.

Address it the best way you can, and get it done. 

What future goals are you excited about? 

Getting a more global role (not only regional), but also getting a bit more on the entrepreneurship 

Have you had any international or different cultural experiences in your career?  

Absolutely! Worked in Liege (Belgium), Luxembourg, New York, Lubumbashi (DRC), Johannesburg and Ebene (Mauritius), but also WITH Argentina, India, Japan, China, Switzerland, etc. I’ve crossed many cultures. 

What key skills should a newly qualified accountant develop on their path to becoming a CFO? 

Flexibility (thinking out of the box) and Passion (dedication, willingness to perform, etc.) 

How do you balance your personal and professional life?  

It is a tough exercise, especially when you travel a lot as I do (10 to 15 weeks a year). But the most important is to get the partner that is a good match to keep your life in order. The rest can follow, and you can adapt yourself to ensure that when you are either with the family or at work, you are 100% there. 

What are your interests outside of work?  

If I’m not in office, this is time to be spent with family. We love to travel, go to restaurants, follow the kids at their sport activities, etc. We enjoy being on a boat as well. And, obviously, as Christians, we love to spend time with the community. 

How do you contribute to the development of others in your field? 

Mentoring. This is key to “real” success. What you leave behind is what will stay after you. One of my greatest success is to see some of my junior auditor replacing me as CFO today. 

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be a CFO? 

Get ready. because while it’s an exciting journey, it also comes with a lot of tough and rough decisions. And be a business partner, not an accountant! 

What’s your favorite quote or mantra? 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens – i.e.

Keep it humble when you are at the top, and understand that the lows are temporary. 

Share your favorite leadership lesson. 

The most difficult part of the job is human resources, but also the best part of it 

What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your business bio? 

As a good Belgian, I love to buy houses rather than renting ! 

What’s your favorite non-business app on your phone?  

YouVersion 

If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?  

Systematically find the right person for the right place at first glance 

What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays? 

Regular walk to the coffee machine! 

If you could relive one day from your professional career, which day would it be and why?  

When my mentored guy became CFO. Funny enough, we worked together in 3 different companies. Then one day he’s calling me, full of stress because the second company called him back to become a CFO. This was actually for me a day full of joy, even though it was rough to let him go.