Head of Information Technology

Everest Recruitment is exclusively & confidentially looking for a Head of Group IT for my international client with HQ in the Antwerp region.

About the Company

My client is a fast-growing international group with a strong multi-country presence across Western Europe and the UK. The group operates through multiple brands and channels and has a diverse workforce of more than 2,500 employees. Supported by a leading private equity investor, the company is undergoing an exciting transformation, with a strong focus on digitalization, operational excellence, and data-driven growth.

The IT organization plays a central role in this transformation. With a team of around 115 professionals, IT ensures alignment with strategic business objectives, driving innovation while safeguarding operational stability.

Context

This senior leadership role is critical in ensuring IT is strategically aligned with business goals by overseeing delivery of the IT Strategic Plan—including the migration to a modern product-platform architecture, execution of a comprehensive Data Strategy (focusing on Consumer Data Activation, Data Architecture & reporting, Data Governance, and AI), robust business support, and cybersecurity.

The Head of IT directly manages three senior IT leads:

Key initiatives for the coming years include: ERP migration, optimization of the data lakehouse, PowerBI migration, and strengthened IT governance & security, etc.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Execution

• Translate the company’s strategic plan into actionable IT objectives, prioritizing scalability, efficiency, and innovation.
• Lead the transition from a monolithic to a product-platform IT architecture, ensuring alignment with stakeholders and smooth execution.
• Partner with senior leadership to align IT investments with business priorities.

Data Strategy and Enablement

• Drive the Data Strategy with a focus on Consumer Data Activation, Governance, and AI adoption.
• Champion enterprise-wide data management practices and advanced analytics.

Operational Excellence & Service Delivery

• Ensure high service levels, system reliability, and continuity across distributed IT teams.
• Oversee business support functions including help desk operations.
• Strengthen infrastructure, security, and business application support.

Cybersecurity, Compliance & Risk

• Implement and maintain robust cybersecurity practices in line with industry standards.
• Ensure compliance, risk management, and tested business continuity plans.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and coach three IT leadership roles.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, development, and engagement.
• Drive initiatives for talent acquisition, retention, and upskilling.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage technology and service provider relationships.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior business stakeholders.

Profile

Required Experience & Skills

• Extensive IT leadership experience in large or multi-business unit organizations, ideally in a shared services or federated model.
• Proven success managing complex, geographically distributed teams.
• Strong track record in system migration projects, particularly transitioning to product-platform or microservices architectures.
• Solid background in data strategy (activation, governance, AI/ML).
• Broad expertise in business support, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and organizational change leadership.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (approx. 3–4 times/year).

📌 This role is ideal for a seasoned IT leader who seeks strategic and operational responsibility in a transformative, high-impact environment within an international, multi-brand group.