In September 2022, the Flemish Government appointed Björn De Vidts as transition manager to establish the data utility company as a new public enterprise. After an open call and an external selection procedure, Björn emerged as the most suitable person to lead and grow Athumi into the future.
“The Board of Directors believes in Björn’s expertise and his strong vision on how the Flemish Data Utility Company can make a difference in the market today and tomorrow. He represents continuity and is now tasked with growing the company from a start-up to a mature business, both in Flanders and Europe,” says Bart De Moor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Athumi.
Björn has earned his stripes within Digital Flanders - the digitalization agency of the Flemish Government - where he held various leadership positions. The common thread in his career at the government is the establishment of data collaborations with and for the private sector.
“Together with our ecosystem of partners, we are making history today. In an increasingly AI-driven world, a solution for the collaboration of confidential and sensitive data is crucial. In Flanders, we have an advantage and a unique, complementary position in the market,” says Björn De Vidts, CEO of Athumi.
“Building partnerships with companies is crucial to continue earning the trust of all stakeholders, both from the private and public sectors. I look forward to further building on this with the entire team in the coming years.”
As CEO, Björn De Vidts will further carry out Athumi’s mission, namely 'making more data more usable for more companies.' He is responsible for the growth strategy of the start-up and for outlining the policy for the development of the product and platform offerings.
About Athumi
Athumi, the Flemish Data Utility Company, was established by the Flemish Government at the end of 2022 and is a neutral third party that facilitates data collaborations across economic sectors and between public and private players. Athumi manages the first data vault platform in Flanders, based on the open Solid standard.
As the first data utility company in Europe, Athumi was able to present impressive results soon after its founding:
- Four data platforms operational since the end of 2023, serving five sectors
- The Real Estate Information Platform reached 270,000 transactions earlier this year
- First international contract signed with the Dutch media sector for the use of data vaults