Dirk Battig is CEO of the Chemogas-Group, being head-quartered in Grimbergen (Belgium).

Born in Hannover (Germany), he started his professional carreer at chemicals and gases multinational Kali-Chemie AG, Hannover (Germany), where he was educated as Industriekaufmann (commercial clerk).

In 1988, shortly after successfully having finished his studies of Business Management and Administration as Diplom-Betriebswirt (VWA) at Leibniz-Academy, Hannover, he moved to Belgium –for a first time – as external salesmanager for Solvay Germany (previously Kali-Chemie AG).

Three years later, in 1990, Dirk Battig was re-called to Germany to take over as Head of Global Sales & Marketing for fluorinated gases and chemicals, within the newly founded Solvay Fluor & Derivate GmbH, Hannover.

In 1994, after 13 years of international experience with the Solvay Group, the Rotterdam-listed Hoek Loos-Group offered him to accept leadership of their Germany/Belgium-based subsidiary, Chemogas GmbH – as CEO – with headquarter in Bochum (Germany), and branch in Grimbergen (Belgium).
Consequently, Dirk Battig moved back to Belgium.

After being called to join the Board of Linde Gas Benelux (previously Hoek Loos NV), over years and next to his function in Chemogas, he occupied various other management responsibilites within The Linde Group in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Together with management and Netherlands-based Gilde Equity Management (GEM), in July 2016, Dirk Battig acquired the shares of Chemogas NV from The Linde Group – as result of a management buy-out.

Dirk is married, he lives with his wife and their two children in Overijse near Brussels.

Dirk Van den Borre is CFO of the Chemogas-Group, being head-quartered in Grimbergen (Belgium).

Born in Aalst (Belgium), he started his professional career as a Junior Controller at Franke, Ninove (Belgium) – a specialist in inox solutions for the food industry. In 1983, he joined Janssens Transport, as Junior Controller, a haulier company with dedication for the transport of textiles, located in Ternat (Belgium).

When Chemogas - still being a young and fast growing chemicals company - offered him a newly created multi-responsibility-function as Junior Controller, Administration-, HR-Purchasing-Manager, in 1985 he decided to accept this challenge, to bring in his strong entrepreneurial talents.

With numerous post-academic studies in Finance and Controlling at Fiscale Hogeschool, Brussels (EHSAL Management School of Brussels), as well as other professional specializations, in 1990 Dirk Van den Borre took chair as CFO of the Chemogas-Group – with (former) headquarter in Bochum, (Germany), as well as branches in Grimbergen (Belgium) and in Marseille (France), respectively.

Since the re-organization in 1997 – when Grimbergen became the group`s new headquarter – Dirk Van den Borre signs responsible for the international financial performance of Chemogas – with global activities in more than 70 countries.

Together with management and Netherlands-based Gilde Equity Management (GEM), in July 2016, Dirk Van den Borre acquired the shares of Chemogas NV from The Linde Group – as result of a management buy-out.

Dirk is married, he lives with his wife and their two children in Affligem near Brussels.

Adamo Pia is SHEQ-Manager of the Chemogas-Group, being head-quartered in Grimbergen (Belgium).

Born in Cagliari (Italy), he studied Organic Chemistry at University of Leuven (Belgium), achieving his Master degree in 1990. His professional career started as teacher for chemistry, physics and biology at the Grimbergen High School.

In 1991, Adamo Pia accepted a function as administration clerk in the securities department of the National Bank of Belgium, Brussels. In parallel, he finished studies as Bachelor of Economics at the University of Limburg (Belgium).

A year later, and following his real passion, Adamo decided to return to the chemicals industry. The new responsibility as Quality and Lab Manager in Chemogas was considered the perfect match, allowing him to combine both of his talents – performing in an chemicals and administration business environment.

The following years, and in addition to his challenging function within Chemogas, Adamo Pia specialized in further academic degrees as the following Belgian universities: Master of Quality Management (1995) at University of Limburg, Safety Management at University of Leuven (1996), Environmental Management, at University of Antwerp (1998)

Together with management and Netherlands-based Gilde Equity Management (GEM), in July 2016, Adamo Pia acquired the shares of Chemogas NV from The Linde Group – as result of a management buy-out.

Adamo is married, he lives with his wife and their two children in Kessel-Lo near Leuven.

Eric Matthijs is CCO of the Chemogas-Group, being head-quartered in Grimbergen (Belgium).

Born in Axel (The Netherlands), he started his professional carreer at Oil & Gas multinational Norsk Hydro A.S., Oslo (Norway), within the fertilizer & chemicals divison, being located in Sluiskil, The Netherlands, as logistics coördinator.

The studies completed were economics & trade, followed by various training programmes, such as contract negotiation, pricing management, production allocation processes.

After 7 years, Eric Matthijs was delegated to the group`s European headquarter in Brussels, where he held various commercial positions: Business Development USA, European Sales Manager Chemicals, Sales Manager of the new legal unit Hydro Chemicals Benelux.

After successful 20 years within The Norsk Hydro-Group (today Yara), he accepted the function of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) in Chemogas NV.

Together with management and Netherlands-based Gilde Equity Management (GEM), in July 2016, Eric Matthijs acquired the shares of Chemogas NV from The Linde Group – as result of a management buy-out.

Eric is married, he lives with his wife in Belsele, Belgium.

Jurgen De Smet is COO of the Chemogas-Group, being head-quartered in Grimbergen (Belgium).

In 1997, he graduated as Industrial Engineer in Chemistry at the University of Leuven (Belgium), with specialization in Process Technology. Jurgen De Smet started his professional career as Chief Analyst in the Quality Control Department at Fuji Film Belgium NV, Sint-Niklaas (nearby Antwerp, (Belgium) , where he worked until 2001. The same year, he was offered a new challenging function as Quality Control Manager at Denayer Paper NV, Willebroek (Belgium), which he successfully filled in until 2003.

As Chemogas – also in 2003 – attracted Jurgen De Smet to head, manage and grow the companies` Operations department, he continues to sign responsible not only for the biggest department in house, but for the daily Operations of Chemogas` chemical gases and services portfolio, maintenance and repair, support of technical purchasing, new projects – as well as the fast growing international waste treatment services of the group, with major focus on gases and chemicals waste.

Based on Jurgen`s technical experience, Chemogas` latest acquisition of the Asia-Pacific based Stereo- Group has technically been prepared for further growth within the area.

Together with management and Netherlands-based Gilde Equity Management (GEM), in July 2016, Jurgen De Smet acquired the shares of Chemogas NV from The Linde Group – as result of a management buy-out.

Jurgen is married and he lives with his wife in Duffel, nearby Mechelen (Belgium)

Christophe Marque is the Founder and Managing Director of Stereo, a specialist gases company producing ethylene oxide blends for the sterilisation of medical devices in the Asia Pacific region.

Spanning over 20 years of international experience, Marque’s professional journey has taken him from the streets of France to remote sand desert of Niger, from booming financial headquarters of China to multi-cultural Malaysia.

His first job would take him very far from Paris, where he was born and educated. Lured by the unknown, Marque spent two years working in a uranium mine in Niger, Africa. He calls the experience an invaluable eye-opener which taught him the importance of learn by doing, lead by showing and succeeding by empowering.

Marque next answered the call of a French-owned company that was looking at developing their specialty chemicals business in Asia. From 1995 until 2008, he focussed on starting and setting up manufacturing bases in Malaysia and China (Shanghai) from 1995 till 2008.

After identifying a pressing need for real expertise to address/fulfil a gap in Asia’s burgeoning medical device manufacturing industry, Marque decided to come out on his own in 2008, and establish the specialty gas company Stereo. From the original headquarters in Malaysia, Stereo Group quickly expanded to affiliated companies in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the Philippines.

Solidifying Stereo’s reputation as a regional Pan Asia leader, the company was acquired by Belgium-based global leader Chemogas NV in February 2018.

In addition to his responsibilities overseeing Stereo-Chemogas’ Asian operations, Marque is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience at numerous levels. He is the chairman of Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI), an organization that represents the Malaysia’s medical technology industry, made of both multi-national conglomerates and domestic companies.

He is also a life member of United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM), an organization dedicated to promoting the work of UN to the society at large.

An outdoors lover, he enjoys all kinds of sports including surfing and golf. He currently resides in Bali with his wife and two children.

Sebastien Verwilghen is Group Leader Sales and Business Development of Chemogas NV, Grimbergen/Belgium.

Born in Brussels (Belgium), Sebastien Verwilghen may draw back on a broad international background. Being brought up and spending his youth in Central Africa (Burundi and Congo), he shortly lived in the California, USA. In 2003 Sebastien graduated from ICHEC Business School, Brussels, where he successfully accomplished his Master in Business & Economics. In his professional career he built up experience within corporate banking, at Belgian KBC Group, followed by a two-years assignment to India (New Delhi), through the Prince Albert Fund, for the company Reynders Label Printing, where he was accountable for the set-up and running of the company's new commercial branch. When in 2009 he joined Umicore SA, Brussels (Belgium), a globally active materials technology and recycling group, Sebastien Verwilghen held diverse commercial responsibilities within different recycling divisions. With his promotion to become International Commercial Manager of Umicore's 'Battery Recycling and Precious Metals Recycling' -division, he signed responsible for sales and marketing of their international business. In 2015, he accepted the position as Head of Sales and Market Intelligence of Cold Jet (Belgium), the worldwide leader in dry ice production. Sebastien was attracted by the Chemogas-Group at the end of 2017. Effective January 2019, he became shareholder of Chemogas Holding NV and was called to become Member of the Board, while he continues to create benefits and values within his present function.

Sebastien is married and lives with their three children in Brussels.