Business
KBC Group: KBC appoints Kris Vervaet as Group CIO
KBC Group: KBC appoints Kris Vervaet as Group
About this update from Kbc Group N.v.
KBC Group today announces the appointment of Kris Vervaet as CIO and member of the Executive Committee of KBC Group, subject to approval by the European Central Bank and the National Bank of Belgium. He will assume the role on 1 September and will work closely with Erik Luts in the coming months to ensure a smooth continuation. Erik Luts will retire on 31 August after a remarkable career that is closely linked to KBC’s digital evolution.A journey shaped by people, technology and transformationErik Luts’ career did not begin in technology, banking or insurance, but in education. After studying pedagogy at KU Leuven, he started as a lecturer before gaining early exposure to technology during the rise of personal computing, working for an Apple reseller where he combined technical and commercial expertise.In 1988, he joined what was then Kredietbank. Over the following decades, he played a key role in KBC’s digital transformation, contributing to the development of digital channels, payment solutions and the Isabel platform, which remains a benchmark for corporate clients.He also gained international experience at Nova Ljubljanska banka in Slovenia, where he contributed to preparations for the introduction of the euro.Back in Belgium, he held several senior leadership roles in HR, organisation and direct channels. In 2017, he joined KBC Group’s Executive Committee as Chief Innovation Officer, with responsibility for digital transformation, ICT, innovation and shared services.Koenraad Debackere, President of the Board of Directors of KBC Group: “We are deeply grateful to Erik for his lasting and significant contribution to our Group throughout his long career. His profound knowledge and expertise, rich insights, and entrepreneurial perseverance have made it possible for KBC to develop into a digital front-runner. As the Group’s innovation architect, he perfectly embodies the combination of existing and new, optimization and innovation in continuous symbiosis. In doing so, he has ensured the future readiness of our Group across all activities and entities. For that, we remain sincerely grateful to Erik.”Johan Thijs, CEO of KBC Group:“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. For more than twenty years, Erik and I worked side by side. During that time, Erik has been closely involved in virtually every innovation we have b...