Wim De Kesel Elected as Future CENELEC President
During the CENELEC General Assembly on 19 June 2026, Wim De Kesel, Group Vice-President Product Standardization and Regulation at Legrand, was elected as CENELEC President for the term 2028–2030. He will serve as President-elect throughout 2027 before officially taking office on 1 January 2028.
An electrical engineer by training, Wim De Kesel brings more than three decades of experience in standardization, regulation and quality management. He previously served as CENELEC Vice-President Policy (2015–2018), where he contributed to strengthening the links between industry and the European standardization system.
In his vision for CENELEC, Wim De Kesel highlights the importance of modernizing European standardization to support digitalization, sustainability and Europe's competitiveness. He also emphasizes closer cooperation with European institutions and international partners while ensuring that standards remain timely, relevant and accessible.
His election reflects CENELEC members' confidence in his leadership and marks a continued commitment to ensuring that European standardization remains fit for future technological and societal challenges. Coincidentally, his election further strengthens what some have playfully dubbed the "Ghent alliance" within European standardization, joining fellow Ghent-linked figures Dany Sturtewagen, Jos Remy and Dirk De Moor, all of whom have made significant contributions to the European standardization community.
