Axel Desmedt Becomes President of Belgian Competition Authority
- 01/03/2024
- News
Axel Desmedt has just become the President of the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA). The Royal Decree of 31 January 2024 to that effect (the Royal Decree) was published in today’s Belgian Official Journal and provides for its entry into force on the same day (see, attachment).
Mr. Desmedt’s appointment was overdue. His predecessor, Jacques Steenbergen, resigned his post in early 2023 after being required to serve beyond the expiry of his mandate. It took the current federal government years to overcome a political stalemate over this designation.
Mr. Desmedt comes with extensive credentials based on a career in government, business and private practice. For 12 years he was an influential member of the executive board of the Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications. Prior to that, Mr. Desmedt held legal and government affairs positions with France Télécom (now Orange). He started his career in private practice with stints as a lawyer with WilmerHale and Stibbe. As the Royal Decree shows, Mr. Desmedt’s rich and varied resume is complemented by solid government and management skills that were ascertained by a review board.
The appointment of Mr. Desmedt follows the designation of two new members to the competition college, the BCA’s decision-making body, in October 2023. Separately, following the adoption of bill 55K3813 (expected at the end of March 2024), the federal government should be able to fill the newly created position of chief planning and budget in the board of directors of the BCA (see, VBB Belgian Antitrust Watch of 9 February 2024).
