Patrick Vandenameele to succeed Luc Van den hove as Imec CEO

Imec has announced a leadership transition that sees Patrick Vandenameele appointed as the Leuven-based institute’s next CEO, effective 1 April 2026. Current top executive Luc Van den hove will step down after 17 years and assume the role of chairman of the board. The succession plan has been two years in the making to ensure continuity.

Vandenameele, an electrical engineer by training, spent some time at Imec in the late 90s before building an international career in the high-tech industry. He returned in 2017 to lead venturing activities and has since helped shape the institute’s R&D roadmap. Since 2021, he’s served as executive vice president and co-chief operating officer.

Van den hove describes Vandenameele as having the “right skills, attitude, values and background” to lead Imec at a time when AI and system technologies are reshaping the industry. Antoon De Proft, outgoing chairman of the board, says the pairing of Vandenameele and Van den hove provides Imec with a “winning combination” to maintain its leadership role in research and innovation.