After almost half a century of loyal service to the company, including 30 years as managing director and 42 as chairman of the board, Roland D’Ieteren will retire 1 June 2017, according to a December 19 D’Iteren press release.
The D’Ieteren’s Board appointed Nicolas D’Ieteren to succeed Roland D’Ieteren as chairman of the board, effective the same date, according to the release. Roland D’Iteren will reach the 75-year age limit in January.
“After almost 50 years spent in the service of our company, I am happy to be able to hand over the torch to the seventh generation in a spirit of calm and confidence,” said Roland D’Iteren. “I look back with great emotion at the path we have travelled together. I would like to thank the members of the Board of Directors, past and present, for their unwavering support to the growth of D’Ieteren. Over the next few months, I will have the opportunity to thank our teams for the remarkable efforts they make every day to bring our projects to fruition. I have total confidence in the ability of the seventh generation to pursue the growth of this wonderful Belgian family enterprise, of which I am so proud.”
Nicolas D’Ieteren commented on the long history of the company and its growth.
“My grandfather, Pierre D’Ieteren, took a truly visionary step when he decided to embark on a partnership with the Volkswagen group,” he said. “The leadership position that we have built over many years on the Belgian automobile market has enabled D’Ieteren to follow an impressive path, expanding abroad and diversifying, notably by the acquisition of Avis Europe and then of Belron. Roland D’Ieteren can rightly feel proud of these achievements.”
