Steven Claes succeeds Patrick Rottiers as CEO of EY Belgium as of 1 July

• EY Belgium is proud to announce that Steven Claes will assume the role of CEO as of 1 July 2025.
• He succeeds Patrick Rottiers who is stepping down after a successful career as EY CEO and partner.
• With this appointment, EY Belgium gains an experienced leader set to continue steering the organization on its path of growth, innovation and sustainability.
   

Steven Claes: an experienced leader with international expertise

Steven Claes is currently chairman of the board of directors and head of EY Belgium's Tax and Law practice. Starting at EY in 2001, his career has been impressive. Appointed partner in 2006, he became head of the Tax and Law practice in 2017. Under Steven's leadership, the Tax and Law practice has since grown to become EY's largest department in Belgium, with a turnover of €177 million* 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 international companies. He also worked in the tax practice at EY Luxembourg, specialising in cross-border taxation.

With a master's degree in law and an LL.M. in taxation, combined with a strong focus on teamwork and inclusiveness, Steven Claes is well positioned to lead EY Belgium. Moreover, since 2017, he has also been in charge of the Human Resources policy and operational support for 2.700 employees within the Belgian organization.
 

Patrick Rottiers: a strong legacy of growth and innovation

Taking over as CEO of EY Belgium in 2017, Patrick Rottiers has played a key role in the organisation's growth and transformation. Active in the organization for more than 30 years, he served on EY's Europe West executive committee. Under his leadership, EY Belgium grew its turnover to more than €486 million, operating with 150 partners and more than 2.700 employees. This growth reflects the organisation’s success and resilience, as can be seen in all departments.

With the move to a new headquarters and a strengthened focus on ESG, AI and talent development, he positioned EY Belgium as a pioneer. Under Patrick's leadership, EY Belgium remained strongly committed to talent development and diversity. With 69 nationalities within the organization, inclusion plays a key role, contributing to an inspiring work environment where everyone can realise their potential.

Under Patrick's impetus, EY Belgium also took important steps in the area of sustainability: business travel is down 35% from pre-COVID-19 levels, while 80% of the company car fleet is now hybrid or electric.

Patrick Rottiers: "It has been an honour to lead EY Belgium and work with a great team to build an organization ready for the future. In the coming months, I will work with Steven to carefully prepare the transition, with Steven formally taking over as CEO on 1 July. I am convinced that Steven is the right person to continue our growth. His vision and commitment to our values will ensure that EY Belgium continues to thrive and remain a pioneer in our field. I want to sincerely thank everyone for their support and cooperation during my term of office."

Steven Claes on his appointment: "I am honoured to take on the role of CEO and look forward to continuing to build the future with our talented team. We will continue to invest in what is essential: our talent, sustainability and technological innovation. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Patrick for his more than 30 years of commitment to EY, his strong focus on our people and his continued commitment to quality service. My goal is to build on our diverse, inclusive and inspiring work environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence and innovation and strengthen our position as a leading partner for our clients and employees."

Outlook

EY Belgium plans to hire 560 new employees this year. With its strong focus on talent development, sustainability and digital transformation, EY continues to position itself as the entrepreneurial partner for businesses and organisations in Belgium.
 

About EY

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 organization 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.