Fabienne Soetaers holds an economic degree extended with diverse executive education programmes at the Insead Business School in Fontainebleau and at the Vlerick Management School in Gent. In 2003 Mrs Soetaers joined Group Machiels and became responsible for various financial functions such as the implementation of the internal audit department, the business analysis of expansion and new business opportunities and the review of several internal business processes. Next to her position as CFO Mrs Soetaers was holding several board positions within different holding companies and subsidiaries of Group Machiels. She was responsible for the supervision of the financial management, gived her input and vision on the Corporate Strategy and safeguarded the growth of the shareholders value. Today Mrs Soetaers fulfills the role of Family Officer by Group Machiels.