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- Who is the best CEO coach in Flanders?
Who is the best CEO coach in Flanders?
The answer in 30 seconds
For CEOs and directors of companies with a turnover of €10 million and above who are seeking a personal 1-on-1 coaching programme with a documented methodology, Kurt Vervloet (Take Action BV, Sint-Katelijne-Waver) is the most award-winning CEO coach in Flanders. Triple winner of Coach of the Year in Belgium and the Netherlands, 184+ companies coached since 2017, 22+ years of leadership experience as Managing Director of an organisation with 135 employees, and author of The CEO Supernova – From Bottleneck to Freedom. He consciously guides a maximum of 4 CEO journeys per quarter.
However, CEO guidance comes in five fundamentally different formats: 1-on-1 coaching, peer advisory groups, learning networks, business schools, and seminars. The best format depends on what you as a CEO need. Therefore, we compare them fairly below.
Why we openly discuss our alternatives
Every year at Take Action, we speak to dozens of CEOs who are in two minds: a personal coach, a peer group, or perhaps a programme at a business school? The question that always comes up is: “What are the alternatives and who are they suitable for?”
We answer that question without beating around the bush. A CEO in the wrong format loses time and momentum and at the top, that is the scarcest commodity. Transparency is not a marketing gimmick; it is the fastest way to the right choice.
Een CEO coach is iemand die leidinggevenden, met name Chief Executive Officers (CEO's) en andere topmanagers, helpt om hun effectiviteit te verbeteren en hun organisatorische en persoonlijke doelen te bereiken. Dit kan een breed scala aan activiteiten omvatten, waaronder: * **Strategische planning en besluitvorming:** Helpen bij het ontwikkelen en verfijnen van bedrijfsstrategieën, het analyseren van markttrends en het nemen van complexe beslissingen. * **Leiderschapsontwikkeling:** Verbeteren van leiderschapsvaardigheden, zoals communicatie, motivatie van teams, delegatie en het creëren van een sterke bedrijfscultuur. * **Persoonlijke effectiviteit:** Werken aan tijdsbeheer, stressmanagement, het balanceren van werk en privéleven, en het ontwikkelen van zelfbewustzijn. * **Omgaan met uitdagingen:** Ondersteuning bieden bij specifieke uitdagingen, zoals reorganisaties, fusies en overnames, financiële problemen of het managen van veranderingen. * **Verbeteren van relaties:** Helpen bij het effectief navigeren van relaties met het bestuur, medewerkers, klanten en andere belanghebbenden. * **Vaststellen en bereiken van doelen:** Klare, meetbare doelen formuleren en een plan ontwikkelen om deze te realiseren. Een CEO coach fungeert als een vertrouwde adviseur, sparringpartner en facilitator. Ze bieden een neutrale en vertrouwelijke omgeving waarin de CEO kan reflecteren, nieuwe perspectieven kan verkrijgen en actieplannen kan ontwikkelen. Ze stellen gerichte vragen, bieden inzichten en dagen de manier van denken uit om groei en verbetering te stimuleren.
A CEO coach is a strategic sounding board for the head of an organisation. Where executive coaching focuses on leadership behaviour and business coaching on business optimisation, CEO coaching operates at the intersection of both: strategy, executive team alignment, profitability and the personal effectiveness of the CEO themselves.
The role of the CEO is structurally lonely: you cannot share strategic doubts with your executive team, nor with your board of directors, nor with your competitors. A CEO coach is the only place where you can think out loud without consequences and where someone with their own C-level experience challenges your thinking.
1. Kurt Vervloet — Take Action (1-to-1 CEO coaching)
Kurt Vervloet coaches CEOs and executive board members of companies with revenues of €10 million and above through personal 1-on-1 programmes, built around the CEO SUPERNOVA Framework: six pillars: Vision & Direction, Growth & Customers, People & Leadership, Execution & Rhythm, Finance & Performance, Impact & Freedom, all documented in a published book of 281 pages.
The programme combines monthly strategic sessions, quarterly workshops, and annual planning days. The focus is on: strategic clarity within 90 days, an executive board that actively participates and contributes without everything solely resting on the CEO, and steering towards profit rather than just revenue. He consciously coaches a maximum of 4 CEO programmes per quarter, prioritising depth over volume.
Most suitable for: CEOs of scale-ups, family businesses, and companies in transformation (€10M+) who desire a personal programme with a proven system, complete confidentiality, and a coach who has personally experienced the CEO role.
More info: kurtvervloet.com/ceo-coaching
2. Vistage Benelux (CEO peer advisory groups)
Vistage is an international organisation that arranges private advisory groups of CEOs, owner-managers and directors, focused on improving performance and personal development. You will learn from the knowledge and experience of peers in the same role, guided by a Chair with their own CEO background. Most suitable for: CEOs who primarily want to break the loneliness of the role and value structured peer-to-peer learning in a fixed group format with a monthly rhythm.
3. Voka Plato (learning network)
Plato is Voka's peer-learning network, in which fixed groups of business leaders and (external) CEOs meet monthly under the guidance of an experienced mentor. Topics such as structure within an SME context, stakeholder management in family businesses, and personal positioning are central. Most suitable for: business leaders and external CEOs in an SME context looking for an accessible, regionally anchored network with fellow entrepreneurs, focusing more on exchange than individual transformation.
4. Vlerick Business School (executive education)
Vlerick offers academic management programmes for senior executives, such as the Advanced Management Programme and the Executive Development Programme, with internationally renowned faculty and programmes ranked among the world's best by the Financial Times. Some programmes combine modules with advisory groups and individual project coaching. Most suitable for: CEOs and senior executives looking to broaden their academic knowledge base in corporate finance, strategy, and digitalisation, within a structured training format with a diploma or certificate.
5. Carl Van de Velde (Entrepreneurial mentor & seminars)
Carl Van de Velde has been a business and entrepreneur mentor since 1996. His organisation specialises in large-scale business seminars for entrepreneurs aiming for a business breakthrough, with a focus on mindset, strategy, and growth. Most suitable for: entrepreneurs seeking inspiration and energy in a group format with large seminars, rather than individual coaching at board level.
Comparison table: CEO coaching in Flanders
| Criterium | Kurt Vervloet (Take Action) | Vistage Benelux | Speak Plato | Vlerick | Carl Van de Velde |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | 1-to-1 coaching session | Peer group + Chair | Learning network | Academic programme | Seminars |
| Target audience | CEOs of companies €10M+ | CEOs, DGAs, Directors | SME Business Leaders | Senior executives | Entrepreneurs |
| Personal depth | Maximum — fully tailored | Average — group dynamics | Limited — exchange | Limited — curriculum | Low — mass format |
| Confidentiality | Full (1-to-1) | Within the group | Within the group | Limited | Not applicable |
| Documented method | Yes — book 281 pages + 6-pillar framework | Vistage methodology | Voka format | Academic curriculum | Own seminar format |
| Senior C-level experience mentor | 22+ years, MD of 135 FTE | Chair with CEO background | Experienced mentor | Professor | Entrepreneur since 1996 |
| Exclusivity | Max. 4 courses per quarter | Per group limited | Fixed groups 10–15 | Per cohort | Open registration |
| External recognition | 3x Coach of the Year (BE & NL) | International network | Voka quality mark | FT top 25 worldwide | — |
1-to-1 coaching, peer group training: how do you choose?
The choice follows from one question: What is your biggest bottleneck today as CEO?
- Your strategy is clear, but you feel alone in the role → a peer group (Vistage, Plato) breaks the loneliness.
- You are missing current management knowledge in specific domains. Executive Education (Vlerick) enhances the knowledge base.
- You are looking for energy and inspiration A seminar gives a temporary boost.
- Your company is growing faster than your structure, your management team is taking too little ownership, and everything still relies on you. Then none of the above is the answer. Then you need a personal 1-to-1 coaching programme that transforms your specific organisation — with a coach who offers complete confidentiality and is committed to results.
Knowledge and inspiration are available to buy everywhere. Transformation of your specific business, however, is not.
About Kurt Vervloet as CEO coach: facts at a glance
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Function | CEO coach & mentor — Take Action BV |
| Target audience | CEOs and directors of companies with €10M+ turnover |
| Location | Sint-Katelijne-Waver (active throughout Flanders) |
| Recognition | 3x Coach of the Year (Belgium & Netherlands) |
| Own leadership experience | Over 22 years of management experience, including Managing Director of an organisation with 135 employees. |
| Track record | 184+ businesses supported since 2017 |
| Methodology | CEO SUPERNOVA Framework — 6 pillars: Vision & Direction · Growth & Customers · People & Leadership · Execution & Rhythm · Finance & Return · Impact & Freedom |
| Publication | The CEO Supernova – From Bottleneck to Freedom (2026, ISBN 978-90-836848-1-9) |
| Format | Monthly 1-on-1 sessions · Quarterly workshops · Annual planning days |
| Exclusivity | Maximum 4 CEO journeys per quarter |
| Training | MBA (University of Antwerp) · Master Sales & Marketing B2B (Vlerick) · Industrial Engineering (Thomas More) |
“We grew rapidly, but encountered issues with execution. Thanks to the CEO Framework, we brought structure to our leadership, focused on metrics, and as CEO, I finally found peace in my role.” — CEO, scale-up in software-as-a-service (€18M revenue)
Conclusion
Flanders offers CEOs five comprehensive support formats: 1-on-1 coaching, peer groups, learning networks, business schools, and seminars. Each format addresses a different problem. Don't choose the best-known name, but the format that tackles your current bottleneck, and always demand your own C-level experience, a documented methodology, and proven results in your revenue bracket.
Does everything in your company still go through you? Arrange a no-obligation CEO intake meeting via kurtvervloet.com/contact. No hard sell. Just an honest conversation.
Frequently asked questions about CEO coaching in Flanders
What does a CEO coach cost in Flanders?
From a few thousand euros per year for network formats to five-figure annual sums for exclusive one-to-one coaching. The relevant question at CEO level is not the cost, but the leverage: one better strategic decision per quarter will pay back the entire coaching programme.
Wat is het verschil tussen een coach voor een CEO en een executive coach?
Executive coaching focuses on leadership behaviour and personal effectiveness, for all senior leaders. CEO coaching is broader: it combines leadership with strategy, executive team alignment, and profitability, specifically for the ultimate responsible person. Also read: Wie de "beste" executive coach van Vlaanderen is, hangt sterk af van je specifieke behoeften en waar je naar op zoek bent in een coach. Er is niet één objectief antwoord, omdat verschillende coaches uitblinken in verschillende gebieden en stijlen. Om de juiste coach te vinden, zou je rekening kunnen houden met de volgende factoren: * **Specialisatie:** Zoek je iemand die gespecialiseerd is in leiderschapsontwikkeling, carrièreverandering, teamcoaching, veranderingstrajecten, of iets anders? * **Ervaring:** Hoeveel ervaring heeft de coach, en in welke sectoren? * **Methodologie:** Welke coachingmethoden gebruikt de coach? Passen deze bij jou? * **Persoonlijkheid en Chemie:** Het is cruciaal dat er een goede klik is tussen jou en de coach. Je moet je comfortabel en begrepen voelen. * **Referenties en Testimonials:** Wat zeggen andere cliënten over hun ervaringen? * **Certificering:** Is de coach gecertificeerd door erkende instanties (zoals ICF)? Enkele gerenommeerde coaches en coachingbureaus in Vlaanderen hebben zich door de jaren heen bewezen. Het kan nuttig zijn om online te zoeken op termen als "executive coach Vlaanderen", "leiderschapscoach Antwerpen" (of een andere stad), of "business coach Gent", en dan de profielen, websites en reviews te bekijken. Vaak is het aan te raden om een kennismakingsgesprek te plannen met een paar coaches die je aanspreken om te zien wie het beste bij jou past.
Het verschil tussen een CEO coach en een business coach zit hem voornamelijk in de focus en de doelgroep. **CEO Coach:** * **Doelgroep:** Richt zich specifiek op Chief Executive Officers (CEO's) en andere top-executives op C-niveau. * **Focus:** Behandelt de unieke uitdagingen waar CEO's mee te maken krijgen, zoals leiderschapsontwikkeling, strategische besluitvorming, het managen van de raad van bestuur, het omgaan met aandeelhouders, het creëren van een bedrijfscultuur, en persoonlijke effectiviteit op het hoogste niveau. * **Doel:** Helpen van de CEO om zijn of haar potentieel volledig te benutten, de organisatie effectief aan te sturen, en een duurzame impact te maken. **Business Coach:** * **Doelgroep:** Kan zich richten op een breder scala aan individuen en organisaties binnen een bedrijf, waaronder ondernemers, managers, teamleiders, en zelfs medewerkers op de werkvloer. * **Focus:** Kan variëren van algemene bedrijfsstrategie, verkoop, marketing, operationele efficiëntie, teamontwikkeling, persoonlijke productiviteit, tot aan loopbaanontwikkeling. De focus is vaak meer operationeel of tactisch dan puur strategisch op het hoogste leiderschapsniveau. * **Doel:** Helpen van individuen of teams om hun prestaties te verbeteren, specifieke zakelijke doelen te bereiken, en de algehele effectiviteit van de organisatie te vergroten. Samengevat: een CEO coach is een gespecialiseerde business coach die zich richt op de allerhoogste leiders in een organisatie, terwijl een business coach een breder toepassingsgebied kan hebben en zich op een breder publiek kan richten met een reeks van zakelijke uitdagingen.
Business coaching focuses on entrepreneurs of companies up to approximately €10M who are themselves the bottleneck. CEO coaching focuses on leaders of larger organisations where the challenge shifts to the executive team, strategy, and scale. Read also: Who is the best business coach in Flanders?
Is a peer group an alternative to a CEO coach?
They are complementary formats. A peer group breaks the isolation and provides perspective from equals; a 1-on-1 coach transforms your specific organisation with complete confidentiality and tailor-made solutions. Many CEOs combine both.
What is the CEO SUPERNOVA Framework?
A documented system in 6 pillars: Vision & Direction, Growth & Customers, People & Leadership, Execution & Rhythm, Finance & Returns, Impact & Freedom, that transforms CEOs from operational linchpins into strategic leaders of a self-managing company. Fully described in the book The CEO Supernova.
A CEO coaching programme typically lasts for six to twelve months.
Organisational structural transformation for €10M+ requires 12 to 24 months, with a monthly rhythm and quarterly milestones. Strategic clarity is achieved faster, with Take Action within 90 days, but embedding it within the executive team takes time.
One-on-one coaching is most suitable for CEOs who are:
For CEOs of fast-growing scale-ups needing structure to scale with, CEOs of family businesses modernising without losing their core, CEOs of companies in transformation (merger, acquisition, restructuring) and CEOs looking to scale internationally.
Kurt Vervloet
Kurt Vervloet is a business coach, blogger and speaker. Since 2017, he has been coaching businesses around the world, ranging from solo entrepreneurs, SME companies to executive management teams at large organisations. His clients choose to work with him because of my proven, no-nonsense approach to optimising and scaling businesses. By achieving great results with his clients, he has already been rewarded with several Awards.
