King Filip ennobles captains of industry

King Filip of the Belgians has ennobled a new set of deserving subjects. Bekaert chief Paul Buysse becomes a count, while the president of BNP Paribas Fortis Herman Daems has been made a baronet. There's a gong for mining magnate George Forrest, while Electrabel chief Jean-Pierre Hanssen too becomes a baronet.

The president of steel wire manufacturer Bekaert, Paul Buysse, was already a baronet. He now becomes a count. Mr Buysse earlier worked at car maker Ford and in the UK.

Leuven University lecturer Herman Daems becomes a baronet. He used to lead the Flemish government investment company Gimv and became BNP Paribas Fortis president in 2009. After Ford announced the closure of its Limburg plant Prof Daems was asked to draw up a plan to organise the industrial reconversion of the Province of Limburg.

Women's rights activist Jenny Vanlerberghe, former ambassador Johan Swissen, Electrabel chief Jean-Pierre Hanssen and the chief public prosecutor at the Yugoslavia Tribunal in The Hague, Serge Brammertz, all become baronets too.

Leuven genetics expert Jean-Jacques Cassiman and youth psychiatrist Peter Adriaenssens become Commander in the Order of Leopold, while the businessman George Forrest, who is active in mining in Congo, becomes a Grand Officer in the Crown Order.

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