After dedicating 28 years to serving consumers, including a 7-year tenure as CEO at Euroconsumers, Ivo Mechels has decided to leave his position effective 1 July.
Ivo Mechels started his career in the consumer movement back in 1995 when he joined the Belgian consumer organisation as a lawyer and policy officer, soon to become the leader of the Belgian public affairs team and face of Testachats/Testaankoop as a spokesperson.
He then moved on to Euroconsumers as Director of Public Affairs and Media Relations, before taking up the position of CEO in 2016.
“Working for consumers has never been a job to me, it is a passion that has driven me throughout my entire career. It has been an absolute privilege to lead this unique and world leading consumer entity that is Euroconsumers. At times it has been a bumpy road, steering our organisation through consecutive economic, COVID and cost of living crises. But it is with a sense of accomplishment and gratefulness I pass on an organisation that is now better prepared to face the challenges the future will bring. Anno 2023 consumers are better safeguarded than ever before, at the same time uncertainty is becoming increasingly prevalent. Now more than ever we need a strong organisation like Euroconsumers to lead the way,” said Ivo Mechels
As of 1 July Ivo Mechels will pass on the baton as CEO to Antonio Balhanas, former Country Manager at Deco Proteste, Euroconsumers’ organisation in Portugal. However, the consumer movement will continue to be able to rely on him, as Ivo Mechels will join Euroconsumers Board of Directors, overseeing the functioning and driving the evolution of the organisation.
