LEUVEN, Belgium – April 28, 2014 – Option (EURONEXT Brussels: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY) today announced that Mrs. Sabine Everaet, Mr. Jan Vorstermans and Mr. Dimitri Duffeleer have been nominated to join its Board of Directors as non-executive directors. Frank Deschuytere, CEO of Option, has been nominated as executive director whilst Olivier Lefebvre has accepted to renew his mandate as independent director for a period of one year. The changes will be subject to vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders on May 28, 2014.
Sabine Everaet — CIO Europe, The Coca-Cola Company
Mrs. Sabine Everaet, 47, has a proven track record of establishing business driven IT strategies. She has gained an expertise in driving change based on creative and strategic thinking, conceptualizing innovative operating models across different geographies and executing major programs with significant business impact. As CIO Europe of The Coca-Cola Company she holds the end-to-end responsibility for IT in Europe. She serves as a member of the European Management Team, leads the Social Enterprise (digital marketing) and Big Data programs on an international level and is member of the customer digital taskforce to assess eCommerce opportunities & operating models. Before joining the The Coca-Cola Company she worked for Price Waterhouse Management Consultants and KPMG Management Consultants.
Jan Vorstermans — Strategic vision and innovation capabilities coupled with efficient implementation
Mr. Jan Vorstermans, 54, has a broad experience in managing technology, service and operations with a strong background in finance, HR, sales and marketing. Till July 2013 he was COO at Telenet and member of the Executive team. At Telenet he also held the position of Executive Vice President Technology and Infrastructure. He previously worked for BT Global Services where he was Vice President Networks and Service Operation. Mr. Vorstermans is currently Board Member at iMinds, Cable Europe and Cable Europe Labs, amongst others.
Dimitri Duffeleer — Managing Director of investment fund Quaeroq, broad knowledge of ICT-industry
Mr. Dimitri Duffeleer, 43, is Managing Director & Co-founder of the investment fund Quaeroq. Quaeroq actively invests in listed small- en midsized companies in different industries across Europe with a long term approach, all based on its own research and analysis. They come with a co-owner mindset and work in close relationship with the managements of the companies they invest in. Mr. Duffeleer has acquired a broad knowledge of and experience in the ICT industry through his studies and professional activities. He is on the Board of Directors of several companies including RealDolmen, Generix Group, Fountain and Connect.
At the same time the Company points out that the mandates of Lawrence Levy and Philip Vermeulen as members of the Board will end on May 28, 2014. The Company would like to thank Lawrence Levy and Philip Vermeulen for their year-long commitment to Option. Their valuable insights and wisdom shaped the company and have taken it through challenging times.
After the changes, and if approved at the General Meeting of Shareholders, Option’s Board of Directors will include 7 members: Jan Callewaert, Frank Deschuytere, Dimitri Duffeleer, Sabine Everaet, Olivier Lefebvre, Francis Vanderhoydonck and Jan Vorstermans.