Luc Gijsens with the honorary title "Doctor Honoris Causa" of VUZF
On February 19, 2016, in hotel “RIU Pravets Resort”, Pravets, was held solemn ceremony of awarding the honorary title VUZF University’s “Doctor Honoris Causa” to Mr. Luc Gijsens, CEO of KBC Bank & Insurance, member of the Executive Committee of KBC Group and chairman of the supervisory boards of DZI and CIBANK. The event was jointly organized by the VUZF University and DZI.
The ceremony was opened by VUZF rector Prof. Grigorii Vazov with the words: “For me, as rector of VUZF University, is an honor that today our university is awarding the title” Doctor Honoris Causa“ to such a great erudite and leading European financier – Mr. Luc Gijsens from KBC Group. This is a beautiful moment in the history of VUZF. As a member of the Supervisory Board of DZI I have direct personal impressions of the personality of Mr. Luc Gijsens from his impeccable professionalism, style, and management thinking."
Professor Vazov read the decision of the Academic Council for awarding the honorary award for contribution of Luc Gijsens in the management and development of the KBC Bank & Insurance and the creation of a joint master’s program between VUZF and DZI – “Innovation and Business Processes in Insurance.”
VUZF’s Rector presented the professional biography of Luc Gijsens which started in 1977, when he joined the Kredietbank N.V. He successively held the posts currency trader, a bank representative and manager of branches in Hong Kong, Bahrain, Los Angeles and Antwerp. In 1994 he rose to general manager of the Kredietbank in Antwerp. After the merger of the bank with ABBInsurance and CERA (Centrale Raiffeisenkas) Bank and the creation of KBC Bank & Insurance Holding in 1998, Gijsens became Senior General Manager of KBC Bank in 2000. Since 2011 he is Executive Director of KBC Bank & Insurance and member of the Executive Board of KBC Group. Since 2014 he is a chairman of the supervisory boards of DZI and CIBANK, companies that are part of the KBC group.
Luc Gijsens thank Prof. Vazov and the entire academic council of VUZF for the honor. In his academic speech he presented the bank assurance model of KBC. Among the highlights of the speech Luc Gijsens were tracking the creation and development of KBC Group and the main strategic goals of the company to achieve sustainable growth policy aimed at customers and social presence.
On behalf of KBC Bulgaria, congratulations for the latest VUZF University’s “Doctor Honoris Causa” brought Mr. Petar Andronov, Country Manager of KBC Group, Chairman of the Board and CEO of EIBANK. In his speech to Luc Gijsens, Petar Andronov focuses on its contribution to the development of KBC Group companies in Bulgaria over the last eight years. He turned to Gijsens with the words “You are our teacher, we learn from you and are proud to have earned this honorary award at the respected VUZF University.”.
On behalf of the VUZF Academic Council congratulation presented the Vice-Rector of Research and Career Development Professor Dr. Sava Grozdev.
The event was attended by the entire management of VUZF, members of the academic council of the university, representatives of the management of DZI and EIBank, financial and insurance elite. The management of DZI was represented by Mr. Kosta Cholakov, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the company.
Atmosphere from the ceremony HERE.
Luc Gijsens is the seventh winner of the honorary title “Doctor Honoris Causa” VUZF. More information about all previous winners of the title can be found at http://www.vuzf.bg/?Template=INSsupporttt&LanguageID=1.