BELGIUM - Fortis Investments has named Peter De Proft as chief executive in Belgium.

He has taken over from Jan Verbrugge who has joined Fortis' MeesPierson private banking arm.

"Peter will be responsible for the development and the implementation of the global Fortis Investments strategy at the Belgian level," Fortis said. He will report to Fortis’ global CEO Richard Wohanka.

He would help to manage institutional client development and relations. He joins from Banque Nagelmackers, where he was board member in charge of asset management and institutional clients.

He is also vice president of the Association Belge des Organismes de Placement Collectif, the Belgian investment funds association.

“In the course of his wide-ranging career in the Belgian financial sector, Peter has acquired considerable management experience and expertise in the development and the marketing of investment products,” Fortis said.

"Peter brings us a wealth of experience and will contribute significantly to the development of our Belgian activities in a market that is key to the commercial success of our company,” Wohanka said.

Belgium accounts for around half of Fortis Investments’ total assets under management of 78 billion euros.