Organisation

Close the Gap is the brain-child of Olivier Vanden Eynde, who overlooks the daily operations as Managing Director in collaboration with David Leyssens, the Close the Gap Project Manager. In this, he is fully supported by a number of support companies throughout Europe, as well as Close the Gap’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Board of Directors

Wim BLONK, Chairman and Honorary Director General, European Union

Michel DE BRAUWER, Board Member and President CEO Pietercil NV

Andre BONTEMS, Board Member

Alessandra AZCARRAGA DE SEPUL, Board Member

John T. SIEMENS, Secretary *

Olivier N. VANDEN EYNDE, Founder Close the Gap Int. **

Guido VANDERVORST,Board Member and Partner Deloitte Belgium

* Prior to the official introduction in the Netherlands, Mr Siemens passed away. Close the Gap owes him a tremendous debt and gratitude for all his efforts from the early beginnings onwards. We would like to mention his name here as a sign of our recognition and respect.

** Representative (Managing Director) of OK MGM bvba

Advisory Board

Viscount Etienne DAVIGNON
Vice Chairman Suez-Tractebel
Former Vice-President of the EU-Commission

Prof. Dr. Marc DESPONTIN
Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University Brussels)

Mr. François-Xavier de DONNEA
Minister of State, Belgium

Mr. Dieter FRISCH
Former Director General for Development at the EU-Commission

Mrs. Monique HEIJN
Ambassador STOP AIDS NOW

Prof. em. Dr. Silvain LOCCUFIER
Honorary Rector of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University Brussels)

Dr. Beyers NAUDE († 1915-2004)
Former Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches *

Dr. Peter baron PIOT
Chairman King Baudouin Foundation
Former Executive Director UNAIDS

Prof. Dr. Jan PRONK
Former Minister for Development
Former Deputy Secretary General United Nations and former special UN-envoy for Sudan

Count Jacques ROGGE
President International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Archbishop Desmond M. TUTU
Nobel Peace Price 1984

Prof. Dr. Frank VANDENBROUCKE
Minister of Education in Flanders, Belgium

Mr. Tony baron VANDEPUTTE
Honorary Delegate Administrator at the Federation of Belgian Companies

Prof. Benjamin baron VAN CAMP
Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University Brussels)
Pro-Rector Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Prof. Dr. Karel VAN MIERT († 1942-2009)
Former Vice-President of the EU-Commission

* Close the Gap owes Dr. Beyers Naudé and Prof. Dr. Karel Van Miert a tremendous debt and gratitude for all their efforts to help Close the Gap. We would therefore like to mention their names here as a sign of our recognition and respect.