Cedric Ide appointed CEO of KBC Securities
Cedric Ide will be appointed Managing Director and CEO of KBC Securities NV as from 1 July 2026. He succeeds Geert Cleuren, who will take up a new role within KBC Group as General Manager Western European Branches.
Cedric Ide brings more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and strategic advisory. He began his career in 2000 as a tax lawyer at Allen & Overy. He subsequently joined Merrill Lynch in London, first as part of the M&A Execution team and, from 2011 onwards, within the Financial Institutions Group. In 2019, Cedric moved to ING London, where he held various senior roles, including Managing Director Financial Institutions Advisory, Head of the Strategy Office Benelux, and most recently Global Head of Financial Sponsors Group and Global Head of Private Markets Advisory.
Cedric will join KBC Securities on 1 June and will officially assume his role as Managing Director and CEO of KBC Group’s investment bank on 1 July. KBC Securities already plays a clearly defined role today as a strategic advisor in a rapidly evolving market. It supports corporates and institutional investors with advice and solutions in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, private fundraising and financial structuring. With in-depth equity and market expertise, and by facilitating access to transactions in the Benelux and beyond, KBC Securities combines strong local roots with international expertise to support clients’ growth and ambitions.
“KBC Securities has an inspiring track record. The strong results of the collaboration with Oaklins, the announced joint venture with Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Banking, and the stepped-up ambitions of the Focus Fund all demonstrate the firm’s ability to make strong, strategic and forward-looking choices. I look forward to building further on this strategy and to offering thoughtful solutions that are grounded in a deep understanding of both the market and our clients’ needs, as well as in the practical execution of those solutions. Clients can continue to rely on strong local expertise, embedded in the international network of KBC Group,” says Cedric Ide.
Cedric succeeds Geert Cleuren, who has headed KBC Securities since April 2024. As from 1 July, Geert will take up the role of General Manager Western European Branches, based in London. Prior to this, he successfully held various roles within KBC Corporate Banking. KBC Group thanks Geert for his commitment and achievements and warmly welcomes Cedric Ide to the group. We wish them both every success in their new roles and look to the future with confidence. Both appointments are subject to the customary regulatory approvals.
