Annual Report 2024

Geert Rottier was promoted to Country Managing Director of Cegeka Belgium at the start of 2025, following two years as Chief Marketing Officer. His appointment came on the heels of a remarkable year for Cegeka Belgium, which saw an impressive increase in turnover, the acquisition of several high-profile clients, and a string of awards — including the Microsoft Partner of the Year title, and Data News’ Customer Centric IT Company of the Year Award.

Geert, you often refer to these times as pivotal. Why is that?

Geert Rottier (GR): I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say we’re at a crossroads. We’re seeing geopolitical shifts that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. The old world is truly morphing into a new reality. Interestingly, 2025 happens to be the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac — a symbol of renewal and transformation.

Much like the snake, many businesses need to shed their skin and become new and better versions of themselves. Cegeka is doing just that: evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future while staying true to the Cegeka way of delivering value to clients.

How does that tension show up in the IT world?

GR: It’s very tangible. Clients are looking for direction and reassurance as they navigate the old world and the new. There’s a strong push for acceleration — especially around AI. Companies know they need to get on board to stay relevant. At the same time, resilience is non-negotiable. It’s about cyber resilience, operational resilience, compliance, and the ability to adapt to a business environment that changes faster than ever before.

That’s where flexibility becomes key. IT landscapes must be designed for rapid and frictionless change. We’re talking about the freedom to reconfigure and reposition with minimal disruption, so businesses can respond quickly to new strategies, geopolitical changes, and market dynamics.

You see this shift clearly in cloud strategy.

GR: Absolutely. At its core, the conversation around digital sovereignty is really about control —the ability to shape your cloud environment around your business strategy and adapt it as things evolve. That’s why we put such a strong focus on hybrid models. Platform engineering plays a crucial role in this shift; it’s about decoupling applications from infrastructure to make business and IT environments more flexible and portable. It’s not just about future-proofing — it’s about being ready for what’s happening right now.

You said 2024 was the year Cegeka started to shed its skin. What did that look like? 

GR: As we began our shift from a European company to a global one, we knew we had to rethink how we present ourselves without losing sight of who we are to our clients. The rebrand was about aligning our identity with that global ambition. Our new tagline, shaping digital together, speaks to the broader role we play. We’re not just executing — we’re advising, co-designing, co-creating, and driving innovation.

One example of that shift in action is EngineeringSTUDIO, led by Benny Schaeken. This specialist team tackles complex innovation challenges, designing bespoke digital solutions for cities and enterprises with a clear focus on business value. By blending deep engineering expertise with sharp customer insight, EngineeringSTUDIO turns bold ideas into real-world impact.

In the end, what really sets Cegeka apart is our ability to bridge seemingly opposite worlds — legacy systems and innovation, hyperscalers and private data centers, cutting-edge AI and rock-solid cybersecurity. That’s the essence of Cegeka: a strategic, adaptable partner that connects the dots. We don’t just keep operations running — we bring the vision and expertise to lead meaningful, transformative change.

Let’s zoom in on 2024. What were some key milestones?

GR: We delivered standout projects across our entire portfolio — cloud, digital workplace, AI, cyber resilience — for major clients like the Flemish Government, Terumo, Toyota, Azelis, ADB Safegate and Brussels Airport Company, just to name a few. Many clients are also leveraging our Global Delivery Center, which has grown well beyond Europe to include hubs in Colombia, Canada, and India, alongside our established teams in Romania, Greece, and Moldova.

Last but not least, we received strong recognition, once again leading the Belgian Whitelane rankings in Security, Cloud, Infrastructure, and Applications. These awards are based on client feedback — it’s not us claiming to be the best, but the market confirming we deliver. In 2024, we were named Microsoft Partner of the Year in Belgium and Customer-Centric IT Company of the Year by Data News. This year, hot off the press, Data News confirmed us as Cybersecurity Company of the Year and Most Sustainable ICT Company of the Year.

Cegeka delivered strong results in a difficult economic climate. What were the key drivers?

André Knaepen: In 2024, Cegeka reached consolidated revenues of €1.3 billion — a 31.5% increase over the previous year. That growth was powered by two key drivers: the successful integration of CTG and strong organic momentum, with over 6% growth despite tough market conditions.

Operating profit came in at €78 million — down from €168 million in 2023 — but that comparison needs context. Last year’s result included a one-off gain of €123.4 million from the sale of our Dutch real estate software business.

It’s also worth highlighting that Gimv transferred its 23.6% stake in Cegeka into a new holding structure, with WorxInvest acquiring a 25% share in that vehicle. That’s a clear signal of long-term confidence in our direction and ambition.

Shaping digital together — the Cegeka tagline. What does that mean in practice? 

Stephan Daems: Shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we design, build, and run resilient digital solutions. That’s our raison d’être. Shaping is about co-designing and co-creating — not in a traditional supplier-client setup, but as equals working toward a shared goal. Digital is what we shape: the platforms, architectures, applications, and ecosystems that help organizations move forward. It’s about building resilient and secure digital capabilities that align with our clients’ strategies and scale over time.

André Knaepen: The together part speaks to how we do it. We work closely with our clients — not just delivering a project, but thinking alongside them and getting things done. It’s a hands-on, no-nonsense way of working that’s been in Cegeka’s DNA from the very beginning. That’s how we make complexity manageable and transformation achievable.

Navigating complexity, timing, visibility: these are core to the Cegeka story. How do you help clients manage them?

Stephan Daems: Over the past three to four decades, IT has created a lot of complexity — multiple IT stacks, programming languages, siloed systems, shadow IT. At Cegeka, we simplify. We make complexity manageable — and where possible, we remove it altogether. We integrate, streamline, and connect the dots. The best complexity is the kind that’s no longer there.

Then comes timing. Technology moves exponentially, but organizations don’t. Legacy systems, culture, compliance — they slow you down. That disconnect creates a gap where organizations have to figure out what technology to adopt and when. We help clients pace their transformation: right technology, right time, right sequence. Timing is an art — and It’s one we master well.

Finally, visibility. You can’t navigate what you can’t see. Clients need insight — high-level and granular, real-time and actionable — across IT operations, security posture, ESG footprint and so on. That’s what our client engagement platform, Horizon, delivers. It’s a single pane of glass designed to give clients clarity and control. It’s a massive corporate investment — and a true game changer for our clients.

In a broad portfolio, we set great focus on AI and cyber resilience as opposing forces — one pushing companies forward, the other keeping them grounded. 

André Knaepen: Cyber resilience and AI are fundamentally horizontal across all of IT. AI is no longer isolated; it’s integrated into almost everything — software development, business process optimization, decision-making, content generation. It has the potential to truly accelerate. It gives wings.

Cybersecurity, on the other hand, keeps organizations grounded. As cyber threats evolve rapidly — with AI used both offensively and defensively — robust end-to-end cyber resilience is absolutely essential. We know how to help clients innovate with AI — while staying secure, compliant, and in control. That’s the balance we bring.

What milestones stood out in those two areas the past year? 

Stephan Daems: We opened a brand-new modern Security Operations Center in the US this April, expanding our global footprint alongside our existing SOCs in Belgium and Romania. We’re not just growing — we’re leading in cyber. For the third consecutive year, we ranked number one in Belgium’s Whitelane survey, a recognition that reflects our expertise.

On the AI front, we’ve accelerated efforts across all our markets. For example, in Belgium, we’re supporting the Flemish government with the rollout of Microsoft Copilot to 10,000 users, backed by hands-on adoption programs. We also made a strategic hire by appointing Gregory Verlinden to lead our Data & AI unit, strengthening our capabilities even further.

Where does Cegeka stand in the ‘sovereign cloud’ debate? 

Stephan Daems: We take a pragmatic approach. Our clients want both control and flexibility — and that’s exactly what we deliver. With over 20 years of experience managing multi-cloud environments, we’ve built strong partnerships with hyperscalers while continuously investing in our own private cloud infrastructure. 

Our own data centers remain a key strength, allowing us to offer clients genuine choice and freedom from vendor lock-in. Additionally, our applications are designed to be cloud-agnostic, ensuring clients always retain full control over their environment.

The integration of CTG was a major focus in 2024. What progress did we make?

André Knaepen: We delivered on ambitious integration goals. CTG Europe is now embedded within the Cegeka brand, creating a unified identity and stronger market presence. In the Americas, we retained the CTG name, leveraging its deep-rooted brand equity, but we’ve aligned its visual identity with Cegeka. For French-speaking markets, NSI continues to be our powerhouse — actively serving Wallonia, Luxembourg, France, and expanding into Canada. 

Crucially, we’ve shifted from a European Delivery Center to a Global Delivery Center model. With new strategic hubs in Colombia and India, we’re scaling up to meet worldwide delivery demands with speed and precision.

What’s next? How do you see the path forward?

Stephan Daems: Our journey is accelerating. Beyond the rebrand, we’re reinventing our IT stack and strengthening global capabilities to position ourselves for what’s next. New markets, evolving challenges — our approach demands sharp strategic focus, operational balance, and smart execution. And while organic growth remains our primary engine, we’re actively evaluating acquisition opportunities to accelerate and deepen our impact.

André Knaepen: And truly, none of this ambitious progress would be possible without the very essence of what drives us: the loyalty of our clients, the commitment of our people, and the meaningful partnerships we’ve built along the way. ‘Shoulder to shoulder’ is more than just a phrase — it’s a mindset. To everyone who’s part of this journey, I extend my gratitude and deep appreciation.