imec Announces Leadership Transition

The Board of Directors of imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, has appointed Patrick Vandenameele as the next CEO. Effective April 1, 2026, he will succeed current CEO Luc Van den hove, who will then assume the role of chair of imec’s Board of Directors.

After 17 years of leadership as CEO of imec, Van den hove will take on the position of chairman of the board. In this new role, he will focus on executive stakeholder management and will continue to provide strategic guidance, supporting the new CEO and safeguarding imec’s long-term strategy.  The transition to the new leadership structure has been meticulously prepared over the past two years.

Vandenameele has been appointed as the next CEO and will assume full leadership responsibility for the organization. His deep roots at imec began in 1996, when he joined as a researcher in wireless communication after earning his PhD in electrical engineering from KU Leuven.

He went on to build a stellar international career as a deeptech entrepreneur, returning in 2017 to further strengthen imec’s venturing activities. Since 2021, Vandenameele has been instrumental in shaping imec’s R&D strategy, most recently in his role as EVP and co-COO, preparing him to lead imec into its next chapter.

imec’s Future

“Imec stands at a pivotal moment where artificial intelligence and system technologies are defining the future of our industry,” Van den hove says. “I have full confidence that Patrick possesses the right skills, the right attitude, the right values, and the precise background needed to guide imec forward. His technological vision and leadership are exactly what imec needs as we enter this new era. I am proud to endorse Patrick as my successor, and I look forward to supporting him and imec’s entire team from my new role as chairman.”

“It is an honor to assume the leadership of imec,” adds Vandenameele. “I’m looking forward to guiding an organization that is recognized internationally as a world leader in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and a true catalyst for global innovation. I am grateful for Luc’s guidance and the Board’s trust, and I am committed to building on imec’s strengths and continuing its tradition of excellence together with our talented team and partners. The opportunities at the intersection of artificial intelligence and advanced hardware are extraordinary, and I am eager to lead imec as we shape the future together.”

“In today’s rapidly changing world, imec must have leaders with vision, experience, and commitment,” Toon De Proft, current chairman of imec’s Board of Directors, notes. “I am convinced that Patrick and Luc, in their respective new roles, form the winning combination needed to keep imec at the forefront of research, innovation, and industry impact.”