PRESS RELEASE
27/08/2025
B.I.G. is pleased to announce that Mr. Alain Bostoen and Mr. Erwin Van Osta have been appointed members of the Board of Directors of B.I.G. with effect from 20 August 2025.
They succeed Ms. Barbara De Saedeleer and Mr. Johan Lambrecht, who are stepping down from their positions as directors.
Alain Bostoen is CEO and owner of the Ghent-based multinational Christeyns. Christeyns was founded in 1946 and manufactures professional cleaning agents and hygiene products for various sectors, including the hospitality industry, car wash, and textile care.
Erwin van Osta is CEO and co-owner of Hubo, a rapidly growing Belgian retailer with more than 160 stores across the country. The retailer focuses on the DIY market with a high-quality selection of brand-name products.
With these new appointments, B.I.G. is strengthening its management with expertise in international growth, acquisitions, and in-depth knowledge of strategic segments. We are confident that their expertise will fit seamlessly with our strategic ambitions.
At the same time, B.I.G. would like to thank Barbara De Saedeleer and Johan Lambrecht for their many years of dedication and valuable contribution to the growth and development of the company.
As of today, the B.I.G. Board of Directors is composed as follows:
In addition to the news about the strengthening of our Board of Directors, we are also very pleased to announce that Robert (Bert) Olieslagers will be joining B.I.G. as our new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective October 1.
Bert has built a diverse and accomplished career, combining technical knowledge with extensive business experience. After earning his degree as a Bio Engineer, he went on to complete a PhD in 1997 before transitioning into the business world. Since then, he has accumulated over 25 years of experience in operations management, holding various leadership roles across multiple functions and industries.
For the past 15 years, he has been with Barry Callebaut, of which 6 years as VP Operations & Supply Chain for the Asia Pacific region, and most recently serving as Vice President of Customer Supply & Development in the Global Sweet Specialties Division.
In this last role, he led the operations and supply chain integration of 11 specialty sites worldwide. He oversaw a broad range of global functions, including plant management, safety, quality assurance, supply chain, finance, continuous improvement, and engineering. Bert worked closely with general managers to drive business growth, operational efficiency, and strategic alignment.
As COO, Bert will focus on improving operational efficiency across all divisions, adapting supply chain processes to the changing global context, supervising improvement and investment projects, and ensuring operational agility and strategic objectives within the company. Bert will oversee our Opex, Procurement, Asia Office, and Sustainability & Compliance teams. Bert will also play a key role in strengthening our Excom.