VisualCV

I am responsible for the enterprise-wide (internal & external) social media & online communications strategy for the group's companies on a global level.

As the online communications manager I:

• Define the social media & online public relations strategy, activities, campaigns & goals.
• Support & advise traditional marketing & public relations with/on social media communications.
• Created & implemented online crisis preparedness planning, social media press rooms and briefings.
• Enable networking with online influencers (media, bloggers, NGOs etc...), especially those in the field of the Van Marcke Group constituents on a global scale.
• Set & advise on the organization’s policy on social activities & processes, including privacy & data-related aspects.
• Supports, in a social media advisory role the group's staff functions (HR, Marketing, PR, Operations, Logistics, Customer Support).
• Maintain awareness of social technology & related trends, and manage the communication of this aspect throughout the enterprise.

Reporting Line and Scope:

• Reports to & advises the owner(s)/Administrators of the Van Marcke Group.
• Has a cross functional responsibility: cross marketing, communications, operations, sales, HR... for all Van Marcke Group Companies (Mewaf, Van Marcke, Intersan, BRS/Bruda, San Plumbing, LaboNorm, Big Blue...)
• Works closely with staff function managers, business unit managers and the Board of Executives.

This is my one man organization next to my full time job listed above...

In this context I occasionaly organize online communications and crisis communications workshops for business communications professionals who work "in company" or in Public Relations agencies.

I also teach "Social Media" courses as a guest lecturer and am a professional keynote speaker at conferences, executive meetings or corporate events.

I rejoined IBM after a one year leave at the beginning of the year.

As a sociaI media specialist I worked on several projects:

• Worked on a strategic report on the topic of "recruitment 2.0"; using social media to find the best talent out there, even in times of crisis.
• Managed the implementation of topical blogsites on strategic communications priorities (IBM's Smarter Planet strategy).

I also supported several sales engagements as "thoughtleader" on social media, web 2.0 and new forms of publishing.

In January 2008 I took a leave from IBM and created Blackline, a social media agency "with a serious PR background"..

The agency helped clients implement and use social media like blogs, wikis, podcasting, videocasting, RSS feeds etc.. in the context of internal, external and crisis communications.

I managed the company and was also the lead consultant on all projects. I managed several internal & external strategic consulting missions at major international corporations.

I regularly spoke at national and international conferences & organized hands on workshops on social media in a business communications context.

I was responsible for business development in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for the innovation area “Digitized World”.

This IBM innovation play covered, among other things, areas such as narrowcasting, virtual worlds, serious gaming and web2/3.0.

In this function I looked for viable partnerships, business opportunities and research & development applications within and outside the larger IBM ecosystem.

European & Global Responsibilities
 
New Media Lead Europe & Member of the Global New Media Strategy and Planning Group.

As part of this 5 man global team I proposed, implemented and managed new media projects.

New Media such as podcasting, blogging, the use of wikis, RSS & videocasting are an integral part of Corporate Communications at IBM. 

As the European coordinator I managed a virtual team of 7 people active in different countries across Europe. I also had a thought leadership role and spoke at several international conferences and seminars across Europe.

Some project the team and I worked on:

• Creation of an internal "social media education" course for IBM communications employees.
• Creation and roll out of a "RSS monitoring dashboard" for Media Relations professionals at IBM.
• Support the launch of the "Diversity in Business" blog.
• Roll out of several information and awareness sessions on social media.
• Consulting and advise in the context of an online crisis.

Public Relations Manager.

Create and execute the Public Relations plan (external communications) for all business units of IBM (Hardware, Software, Services) and IBM Corporate.

• External and internal communications support during strategic outsourcing projects.
• Lead contact for media relations with EU Correspondents and BeLux media..
• Development and implementation of a Crisis Communications plan for IBM Belgium & Luxembourg Advise senior management and the Executive Committee.
• Provide media training to senior management in the context of issues.
• Manage an external agency including the required budget.
• Coach junior staff and trainees.
• Speak at national and international conferences on PR, Communications & Social Media.

 
Projects:

• Initiator of an international project with regards to early notification to employees during a crisis.
• European Project coordinator for the automation of PR operations within IBM. 
• Local coordinator for several European press conferences in Brussels.
• Press Trips to the US based IBM labs.

Type of business or sector: Public Relations Agency 

Responsible for the following accounts: 
 
APME; Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe

Strategic advise, creation and implementation of an external communications plan with the objective to create a positive image around “plastics” in Belgium.

FedEx; the FDX Corporation – Consultant responsible for Benelux 

Slowly but securely changed FedEx EMEA HQ from a ‘’no comment’’ organization to a pro-active communicator. Set up the - by now - traditional yearly press conference.  Crisis Communications; assisted FedEx in 2 major crises (a strike in the Netherlands and the crash of a FedEx airplane in the US). 

Iomega International – Consultant responsible for Western and Eastern Europe 

Responsible for the management of partner agencies covering Italy, Scandinavia and the Eastern European countries including Russia. 

Other clients/projects 
 
New business ‘’pitches’’. Founding member of the “online PR” group within Porter Novelli International in Brussels  Worked 10 days at the Brodeur Porter Novelli office in Boston in the context of online PR.