Committees
Executive Committee
Jean-Pierre Hanin
Chief Executive Officer
Jean-Pierre Hanin joined Cofinimmo in February 2018 and holds several mandates in Cofinimmo Group subsidiaries. He has a Law degree from the KUL (Catholic University of Leuven). He also holds a Master’s Degree in Tax Management from the Solvay Business School and an LL.M from Georgetown University. He started his career as a business attorney and subsequently joined several international groups in which he assumed financial and management positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Lhoist Group, a global leader in lime and dolomite. More recently, he was Chief Financial Officer then manager of the ‘Building Performance’ division of the construction materials group Etex. His functions led him to operate in various regions around the world for over 20 years, and engage in both consolidation and development activities. He became Chairman of the Board of Directors of EPRA in June 2024. Within Cofinimmo, he chairs the Executive Committee and also directly oversees the Sustainability and Data Management Departments.
Jean Kotarakos
Chief Financial Officer
Jean Kotarakos joined Cofinimmo in June 2018 as Chief Financial Officer. He holds a degree in Commercial Engineering from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (ULB). Since 2010, he has taught in the Real Estate Executive Programme (at ULB until 2021 and VUB since). He holds several mandates in Cofinimmo Group subsidiaries. He has held numerous financial positions in various companies during his career. After working for KPMG and D’Ieteren for approximately ten years, he joined Aedifica, where he was Chief Financial Officer from 2007 to May 2018. Within Cofinimmo, he oversees the Accounting, Control, External Communication, Investor Relations, IT, Mergers & Acquisitions and Treasury Departments.
Françoise Roels
Chief Corporate Affairs and Secretary General
Françoise Roels joined Cofinimmo in August 2004. She is a Law graduate (RUG 1984), a candidate in Philosophy (RUG 1984) and holds a Master’s Degree in Taxation (École Supérieure des Sciences Fiscales 1986). She also holds several mandates in Cofinimmo Group subsidiaries. Before joining Cofinimmo, Françoise Roels worked for the Loyens law firm, Euroclear/JP Morgan and the Belgacom Group. Her previous responsibilities covered tax affairs and corporate governance. She is in charge of the company’s general secretariat and its compliance and risk management functions. She is also responsible for matters involving shareholders and relations with the Belgian financial controlling authorities. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Inclusio and an independent Director of Beobank. Within Cofinimmo, she oversees the Corporate Governance and Tax Departments.
Sébastien Berden
Chief Operating Officer
Sébastien Berden joined Cofinimmo in 2004, first as Investor Relations Officer, then as Development Manager Healthcare, and Head of Healthcare, a position he held from 2011 to 2018. He has served as Chief Operating Officer since July 2018. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aldea Group SA/NV, a Director of SCI Foncière CRF, and holds several mandates in Cofinimmo Group subsidiaries. Sébastien Berden holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp. He also pursued a post-graduate training in financial analysis and completed a Leadership Development Programme at Harvard Business School. In addition, he holds a post-graduate degree in Hospital and Care Management from the UCL. He started his career in 1998 at KPMG as Financial Auditor and Corporate Finance Consultant. Within Cofinimmo, he oversees the Healthcare Belgium, Healthcare France, Healthcare Netherlands, and Healthcare New Geographies Departments.
Yeliz Bicici
Chief Operating Officer
Yeliz Bicici joined Cofinimmo as a Property Manager in 2008, then as an Area Manager and subsequently as a Development Manager, before becoming Head of Development in 2014. She assumes the role of Chief Operating Officer since July 2018. She also holds several mandates in Cofinimmo Group subsidiaries. She is also a Director of Mirabel Hoiva Oy. She holds a dual Master’s Degree in Real Estate (Antwerp Management School 2012 and KUL 2009), she completed the General Management Programme at the Harvard Business School in 2021 and completed post-graduate training in energy engineering (University of Ghent) and financial analysis. Before joining Cofinimmo, she worked for Robelco from 2001 to 2008 and for Uniway prior to 2001. Within Cofinimmo, she supervises the Healthcare Spain, Healthcare Germany, Healthcare Finland as well as the Development, Office, Project Management and Distribution Networks Departments.
Roel Dumont
Chief Human Resources Officer
Roel Dumont joined Cofinimmo in June 2021 and has extensive experience in strategic human resources management and organisational development. After obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Law from UFSIA and a Master's Degree in Law from KUL, he studied business administration at EMS. He started his HR career in 2000 at Alken-Maes Breweries, where he was HR Manager in Belgium and then Global Head of Reward Strategy for Scottish & Newcastle plc. In 2008, he joined the Tessenderlo Group, where he spent 13 years in various HR roles worldwide, including Vice President of Human Resources. He also chaired the European Works Council and the Belgian and UK pension funds. Since 2007, he has been a judge at the Labour Court, then at the Labour Court's Court of Appeal. At Cofinimmo, he is responsible for Human Resources and Internal Communications and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 01.06.2007.
Sophie Grulois
General Counsel
Sophie Grulois joined Cofinimmo in April 2020. She holds a Law Degree from KUL (1998), an LL. M in International Business Law from King's College London (1999) and an Executive Master in Real Estate from Solvay (2011). She also completed a finance course at Insead (2023). Sophie Grulois started her career as a lawyer specialising in corporate law. From 2004, she worked for seven years for Goodman, an Australian industrial real estate Group, as Head of Legal Affairs for Europe. From 2013 to 2020, she worked for Immobel, where she became Head of the Legal Department in 2016. In addition to her professional activities, she is active in the BE-REIT association and the UPSI/BVS. In her current role as General Counsel, she is in charge of Cofinimmo's Legal Department and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 01.06.2024. She is also a Director of Aldea Group NV and other subsidiaries of the Cofinimmo Group.
Audit Committee
Benoit Graulich
Chairman
Besides his general management experience, his experience in risk management and his knowledge of finance and M&A are major assets in his role as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Jean Hilgers
Member
His exceptional expertise in financial management, risk management and prudential control brings significant added value to the company and is an important asset in his role on the Audit Committee.
Xavier de Walque
Member
His knowledge of finance, M&A, real estate, stock markets and the environment of listed companies, as well as his entrepreneurial spirit, are major assets to the financing policy and the sustainability of the company.
Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Governance Committee
Jacques van Rijckevorsel
Chairman
His deep knowledge of the health and hospital sectors, sustainability issues, including climate-related topics, and more specifically of governance issues, as well as of the Belgian business world, in particular of listed companies, and his leadership position are major assets in the performance of his duties as chairperson of the Board of Directors and of the Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Governance Committee.
Olivier Chapelle
Member
His extensive experience in investment and operational management, as well as his experience as Chief Executive Officer of a listed industrial company, and his knowledge of governance issues, are major assets for Cofinimmo’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Inès Archer-Toper
Member
Her extensive expertise in real estate, and finance, particularly in France, her M&A experience and her entrepreneurial spirit support the company’s continued growth.
Jean Suykens
Member
His 30 years of experience and solid expertise in investment management and administration in various sectors, acquired in major Belgian and international Groups, make a significant contribution to the Board's decision-making process.