Thierry Geerts
"Discover the Power of City Marketing"
- Together with Jeremie Feinblatt
Summary
Ever wondered why some cities seem to aract all the talent, tourists, and businesses? The secret lies in city marketing—a powerful strategy that shapes the identity of a place, making it irresistible. Whether you’re a marketer, urban planner, or just curious, this session will unveil how to craft a city’s identity that resonates globally.
See how we’ve successfully positioned Brussels as one of Europe’s most vibrant and welcoming destinations. Through strategic branding initiatives, we’ve helped transform the city’s image, drawing in talent, investment, and visitors from around the globe. Learn how branding goes beyond logos and slogans to influence perceptions, drive economic and sustainable growth, and create lasting impressions. Step into the world of city marketing and discover how it can reshape your community’s future.
Biography
Thierry has been heading Google in Belgium and Luxembourg from 2011 till 2024.
Since June 1st 2024, Thierry is the CEO of Beci, representing 35.000 small, medium and large businesses in Brussels. From 2011 to 2024, Thierry Geerts has been heading Google in Belgium and Luxembourg, the company that has become much more than just a search engine. He graduated from the VUB as a Solvay Business Engineer and soon became general manager of an industrial laundry company. With the advent of the internet in the mid-1990s, he reoriented himself towards the media industry and held various management positions at VUM (now Mediahuis), publisher of newspapers such as De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad.
His book Digitalis (2018), in which he describes the possibilities of the digital world, has meanwhile sold more than 25,000 copies. In 2021 he published his new book, Homo Digitalis, about the impact of the digital revolution on people and society. More than 50,000 copies have now been sold for the profit of BeCode vzw-asbl.
He has also been a Business Angel for about twenty years and has guided about twenty fivee companies in various sectors and development phases, including as co-founder of BeCentral, WinterCircus and Medi-Market.
He advised the Belgian government as a member of Digital Minds for Belgium, the Walloon government in Le Conseil du Digital and recently the Flemish government as ambassador of Flanders Technology and Innovation.
He is a member of the Advisory Board of Easyfairs and Sofindev, and became Media Personality of the year in 2019 (AMMA). Thierry is a business developer and expert in digital transformation and AI, with a special focus on sustainability and diversity.