Interview with CEO Jef Vandecruys –
6 months later
Six months ago, Jef Vandecruys came on board as CEO to accelerate the further growth of cteso. Today, he looks back on that first period and shares what a solid company structure concretely means for an ambitious machine builder in the manufacturing industry.
Jef, you started as CEO six months ago. How do you look back on that first period?
“Doing business in Belgium remains an enormous opportunity — if you’re willing to actively go after it.
The chances are there, but they don’t come to you on their own. What immediately struck me about cteso is how strongly the company has grown organically. The way we approach projects, how roles are divided, how we collaborate — all of it has grown from a genuine entrepreneurial culture. And that is a solid asset.
But a company that grows fast in the manufacturing industry needs more than good instincts at a certain point. It needs structure. Not to slow down that entrepreneurial spirit, but precisely to make it scalable. My role is exactly that: ensuring cteso is ready for the next growth phase, without compromising on quality or speed.”
What was the first thing you focused on?
“On focus itself. That sounds simple, but it isn’t.
In a fast-growing machine building company, new projects, clients and responsibilities are constantly being added. When all of that keeps converging on a small group of people, you build in bottlenecks. That’s inevitable — and dangerous for the quality you promise your clients.
That’s why we very deliberately distributed ownership across the right people. So that everyone can focus on their own domain, decisions are made quickly, and people genuinely have the space to grow within their role.”
Did that lead to a clearer company structure?
“Absolutely. Today we work with a management team of eight people, each with a clearly defined domain and their own area of responsibility. These people are not just focused on day-to-day operations — they are also actively building the department of tomorrow.
In parallel, we work with function-specific working groups that cut across departments. Teams working together towards one concrete goal. We deliberately give them responsibility and trust, because the best results always come from teams that truly feel ownership.”
Looking ahead — where is the next step for cteso?
“The foundation that exists today has been built with further growth in mind. In earlier phases, important steps were already taken to shape that structure.
My role is to continue strengthening and refining it, so that we can sustain the growth of the coming years in a durable way. That’s not a one-off project — it’s a continuous process.”
How does this approach reflect towards your clients?
“Cteso is known for its strong collaboration with clients and for actively thinking along on technical solutions. We want to be a true end-to-end partner for our clients in the manufacturing industry.
We see enormous opportunities today. Companies are looking for innovation and for partners who genuinely think along about the future of their production and industrial automation. That is exactly what we stand for every day.
The way we collaborate internally — through our working groups and our management team — continuously strengthens our knowledge and expertise. That translates directly to our clients: greater involvement, deeper expertise and more efficient support within that end-to-end approach.”
Finally — how would you summarise the first six months?
“The past six months were all about further building a strong foundation. A clear strategy and an organisation that is ready for continued growth in the manufacturing industry.
That is precisely what allows us to keep doing what we do best: delivering results, even as the company continues to grow.
I am truly looking forward to the next steps. We want to take those together — with our people and with our clients. Challenges are part of doing business, and we certainly won’t shy away from them. On the contrary — they give us the opportunity to grow further and create new opportunities together.”