Annual report 2003

Board of directors and management
Board of Directors
Karel Vinck, 65, Chairman
Non-executive Director
Before joining Umicore, Karel Vinck was Chief Executive Officer
of Eternit and Bekaert. He is presently Chairman of the Executive
Committee of S.N.C.B./N.M.B.S., the Belgian railway company.
He is also a member of the Board of Suez-Tractebel, the Catholic
University of Leuven and Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. He is
honorary chairman of VEV, the Flemish employers association
and Chairman of the Flemish Science Policy Council.
Director since 17 October 1994. End of mandate at the Annual General Meeting of 2006.
Chairman since 1 October 2002. Chairman of the Nomination & Remuneration
Committee since 1 January 2003.
Thomas Leysen, 43, Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director
He became Chief Executive Officer of Umicore in 2000, after having
held various positions within Umicore and its affiliates. He is also
Chairman of VUM Media, a newspaper publishing company, Chairman
of Agoria and Eurometaux and a member of the Board of Atlas Copco.
He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Belgian Employers
Federation (FEB/VBO).
Director since 10 May 2000. End of mandate at the Annual General Meeting of 2006.
Chief Executive Officer since 10 May 2000. Chairman of the Executive Committee since
1 January 2001.
Etienne Davignon, 71, Vice-Chairman
Non-executive Director, representing a major shareholder,
Suez-Tractebel
From 1962 to 1977, Etienne Davignon was Head of the Cabinet
of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1977, he was appointed Vice-President of the European Commission,
in charge of industry, research and energy until the end of 1984.
In 1985, he joined Société Générale de Belgique and was the
company’s Executive Chairman until 2001 and Vice-Chairman until
31 October 2003. Since 31 October 2003, he is Vice-Chairman of
Suez-Tractebel. Etienne Davignon is a member of the Board of Suez,
Sofina, and is Vice-Chairman of Fortis, Accor S.A. and Recticel.
He is chairman of CMB N.V. and SN Air Holding.
Director since 4 December 1989. End of mandate at the Annual General Meeting of 2005.
Vice-Chairman since 10 May 2000. Member of the Nomination & Remuneration
Committee since 1 January 2003.
Jean-Pierre Standaert, 56
Non-executive Director, representing a major shareholder,
Suez-Tractebel
He started his career at Cimenteries CBR in 1975 and joined Société
Générale de Belgique in 1988 as Secretary General and became
later General Manager. From 1998 until end 2002 he was group
director for legal and tax affairs at Suez. He is now counsellor to
the chairman of Suez.
Director since 26 July 1989, resigned on 31 December 2003.
Etienne Denis, 60
Non-executive Director
Etienne Denis holds a PhD in Science from the University of Louvain.
After working at the University and with Gécamines in Congo he
joined Umicore in 1974 where he held numerous positions over
the years. From 1997 until 2003 he was Chief Executive Officer
of Sibeka and is still currently member of the Board of Directors.
Director since 6 May 2003. End of mandate at the Annual General Meeting of 2006.