CBRE appoints Dimitri Vanneste as Head of the Occupier Services department for Belgium

CBRE today announces the appointment of Dimitri Vanneste as Head of Occupier Services for Belgium. Dimitri began his career with CBRE 6 years ago and becomes the first Management Trainee to hold the position of Head of Department.

Dimitri succeeds Michael Taelman, who recently took on the role of Head of Advisory & Transaction Services for Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as City Leader for CBRE's Luxembourg office.

Dimitri Vanneste joined the company in 2018 as part of CBRE's Management Traineeship programme, which gave him a year's exposure to different property segments. He eventually decided to pursue his career in the Occupier Services team and quickly rose through the ranks, building up a solid reputation and expertise with the corporate occupiers he advises on a daily basis. In particular, he was involved in the acquisition of the Cours Saint-Michel site for the new US embassy, as well as Janssen's new cell therapy production site in Ghent. Dimitri graduated in management engineering and obtained his Master's degree from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He also successfully completed a specialised Master's degree as part of the QTEM programme.

Maxime Kumpen, CEO of CBRE Belgium and Luxembourg, comments: "When the Management Traineeship programme was created seven years ago, I had high hopes that one day one of the participants would be appointed to a managerial position, which has now happened. I can only congratulate Dimitri on this promotion, which amply reflects the excellence of his work, his collegiality and his dedication to go the extra mile for our clients day after day".

Dimitri Vanneste, Head of Occupier Services, adds: "I am honoured by the confidence that the CBRE Belgium management committee has shown in me through this promotion. First and foremost, I would also like to thank Michael Taelman for his invaluable mentoring over the last five years. Alongside him, and surrounded by an expert and dynamic team, we have led our clients to real estate success. I look forward to continuing on this path and building on CBRE's reputation in this area.”

CBRE's Occupier Services team represents the interests of corporate occupiers in all their real estate issues. The eight members of this multidisciplinary team advise CBRE's national and international clients strategically on all aspects of real estate transactions. They help companies to assess the relevance of an office refurbishment or relocation, to define their needs - particularly in terms of workforce, mobility and sustainability - and to negotiate the terms and conditions of their lease contract.