The Board of Directors of D’Ieteren SA has unanimously decided to appoint Nicolas D’Ieteren (38) and Olivier Périer (42) as Deputy Chairmen of the Board, with effect from 5 June 2014, representing the seventh generation of the founding family.
Maurice Périer, Director since 1978 and Deputy Chairman of the Board of D’Ieteren SA since 1993, has reached the age limit of 75. As a result, he will resign as a Director on the date of the next Ordinary General Meeting, on 5 June 2014.
By unanimous decision, the Board of Directors has decided to appoint Nicolas D’Ieteren (38) and Olivier Périer (42) as Deputy Chairmen of the Board, with effect from 5 June 2014.
Nicolas D’Ieteren and Olivier Périer represent the seventh generation of the founding family, which holds a majority stake and a majority of the voting rights in D’Ieteren. They have been Directors of the company since 2005 (its bicentenary year). They are members of the Nomination Committee and also attend Remuneration Committee meetings as observers. They are members of the Consultation Committee, which meets once a month with the group managing director. They are also members of the Belron Board of Directors.
These appointments reflect an ongoing commitment by representatives of the shareholding family to maintain an active role in the business, setting strategy and overseeing the way in which the company is managed. The family representatives work closely with the Board of Directors and the group’s management team, with a long-term view that seeks stable, regular growth in both the company’s activities and its value.
In recognition of his contribution over many years on the Board, Maurice Périer has been awarded the title of honorary director.
Roland D’Ieteren, Chairman of the Board of Directors, made the following statement: “On behalf of myself and all of the Directors, I would like to thank Maurice Périer for his work over the years. His precision, wisdom, strength and cool-headedness have made an indelible contribution to the Board’s discussions and decision-making. As a member of the shareholding family, I have always found Maurice to be a loyal, faithful and supportive partner whatever the circumstances. We have been a family business for six generations now. This has allowed us to continue growing our company through good times and bad, and I’m delighted that Nicolas and Olivier will now help us continue the good work of previous generations. Our Board features highly capable, talented individuals with a range of complementary skills. This gives us the strength and creativity we need to ensure that the group takes the right decisions and focuses on its long-term growth.
D’Ieteren is a group of services to the motorist founded in 1805, serving some 12 million corporate and end customers in 35 countries in two areas:
– D’Ieteren Auto distributes Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Škoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche and Yamaha vehicles across Belgium. It is the country’s number one car distributor, with a market share of more than 22% and 1,2 million vehicles of the distributed makes on the road. Sales in 2013: EUR 2.6 billion.
– Belron (94.85% owned) is the worldwide leader in vehicle glass repair and replacement. Some 2,400 branches and 8,600 mobile vans, trading under more than 10 major brands including Carglass®, Safelite®, AutoGlass and Autoglass®, serve customers in 35 countries. Sales in 2013: EUR 2.8 billion.