André Knaepen Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, covering the region around Cegeka’s headquarters in Hasselt, has honored André Knaepen, founder and president of the Board of Directors, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition celebrates not only André’s entrepreneurial spirit but also the impact Cegeka has made over the past three decades for our customers, our colleagues and the region.

What began in 1992 as a modest IT restart with thirty employees has grown into a global IT services and digital transformation leader, guided by one principle: the customer always comes first. In this interview, André shares his reflections in ten answers, discussing defining moments, lessons learned, and the path forward for Cegeka.

1. Congratulations on the Lifetime Achievement Award! What does this recognition mean to you? 

André: Thank you. It’s a wonderful honor, especially because it comes from our home province. Looking at the list of prominent people who have received this award before me, I’m proud to be among them. But “lifetime” doesn’t mean “the end” to me. I’m not planning to stop. I enjoy building, negotiations, and challenging people to bring out their best. That’s who I am. I have always done what I love: creating things and helping them grow. And I want to keep doing that—together with all of you. Keep going, stay close to the customer, and strive to get a little better every day. 

2. Take us back to 1992: how did Cegeka really begin? 

André: Back then, Cegeka could have easily closed. Founded in 1988 as the IT department of the former Kempen Coal Mines, the story was ending. I was asked to let go of the thirty employees working there. Instead, I proposed continuing independently, invested my own money, and sold smaller participations. The early years were tough - finding customers, managing cash flow -but the loyalty of those first colleagues was incredible. Some still attend our staff parties today. I took a risk, and that loyalty returned many times over. 

3. When did you feel: “now we’re truly moving forward”? 

André: It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. After two or three years, trust began to grow, and our name gained recognition; things started improving then. One big advantage was that we had enough freedom to make our own decisions. We often worked outside our comfort zone - doing IT for shipyards in Poland, or for hospitals in Paris - but those experiences strengthened and shaped us. 

4. What were the turning points over the past 33 years? 

André: Acquiring the Belgian company Ardatis in 2006 was a major milestone. Many warned against it, pointing out that Ardatis was bigger than us, but it perfectly complemented Cegeka: Ardatis excelled in application development and public sector projects, while we specialized in data centers and private clients. This allowed us to offer a full-service portfolio and gain serious credibility. Expanding into the Netherlands was another key step. Few Belgian companies succeed there, but I believed in it, and it paid off. 

5. How would you describe your “way of working” in one sentence? 

André: The customer always comes first. Period. We solve problems first; we discuss them later. That’s not a slogan, but it’s a mindset. And then it comes down to how you work: we keep going, build trust, and never break our word. Simple, old-school values, but essential. 

6. You once set “1 billion in revenue” as a goal. What did you learn from that? 

André: A clear goal works: everyone understands it, and it gives direction. But hitting revenue isn’t the challenge; being profitable is. And once you approach a milestone, you raise the bar again. That’s been our approach from day one. 

7. How do you see the future of Cegeka? 

André: We aim for €2 billion in revenue, not only through organic growth but also through targeted acquisitions. Today, we’re about 70% services and 30% products; step by step we're building platforms with our own IP. For example, we are developing a completely new lab system within nexuzhealth. We also want to further shape and commercialize our digital platform, Horizon. I’m down-to-earth about AI. Also, within Cegeka: it’s promising, but it only becomes meaningful when it lands safely and concretely in business environments. What we say today may be outdated tomorrow. So, we adopt, test, learn, and adjust. 

8. Cegeka is no longer just a European company. How do you view further internationalization and other ambitions? 

André: We are further exploring markets beyond Europe, including the United States, particularly in healthcare. Core sectors remain important: banking, insurance, and, in Belgium, government—including Defense—where our cybersecurity expertise leads the market.

9. What would you like to share with colleagues about our culture, collaboration, and learning from mistakes?

André: Our strength lies in our people. Some of our best ideas happen at the coffee corner, where teams from different departments cross paths. Remote work has reduced this spontaneous creativity, so fostering collaboration remains crucial. My biggest lessons? Never assume anything. Stay critical, base decisions on facts, and act quickly. Trust is non-negotiable. 

10. How do you see your role today and the CEO succession? 

André: My role is shifting outward: advising and opening doors. The succession process is in its final phase. I hope we can finalize it by Christmas. In the meantime, things are running smoothly again, even though I’m not in the office every day.

André’s story is a reminder of what has always set Cegeka apart: a relentless focus on customers, a belief in long-term partnership, and a deep appreciation for the people who make it all happen. 

From a small restart in 1992 to a global digital transformation partner, Cegeka’s journey continues to be shaped by the mindset André instilled: stay close to the customer, stay true to your word, and keep striving to get better every day.

For the full feature by Het Belang van Limburg, you can read the original article in Dutch here.