Bekaert announced Matthew Taylor has, for personal reasons, decided to retire from his position as CEO and director of Bekaert, and will vacate these positions with effect as of 12 May 2020. Matthew Taylor joined Bekaert in September 2013 as a member of the Bekaert Group Executive, and became CEO in May 2014. As of 12 May 2020, Oswald Schmid, Chief Operations Officer of Bekaert, will act as the interim CEO, pending the appointment of a new CEO.

As such, the Board of Directors will propose his appointment as member of the Board of Directors for approval by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of 13 May 2020. Oswald Schmid joined Bekaert in December 2019 after having held various executive positions at other prominent companies.