Pro League appoints Lorin Parys as its new CEO
The Board of Directors and the General Meeting of the Pro League appointed Lorin Parys as its new CEO.
Lorin started his new duties at the Pro League on 1 April. "It was an intensive selection process, led by the headhunters of Odgers Berndtson. We chose someone who could provide a fresh but analytical view, bring people together and look for solutions. Lorin will be the face of professional football in Belgium, but behind the scenes he'll develop the relations with the clubs, the Royal Belgian Football Association, ACFF, Voetbal Vlaanderen, partners and policy and manage the organisation. We wish him every support and success in this.”
Lorin Parys: “The time was right to take on a new challenge. My ambition is to make football grow as a sport, as a social engine and an economic sector. I'm switching the focus from the main business to the other side. Football presents spectacular figures with more than 1 million registered fans, more than 3 million spectators, 11,000 registered youth players and 298 social projects with 55,000 participants and 700 million euros added value in combination with thousands of jobs at professional clubs. Together with all the partners that football has, I can't wait to give all this a boost. On Friday 1 April, I laid down all my political responsibilities and dedicated myself 100% to Belgian football. ”
My ambition is to make football grow as a sport, as a social engine and an economic sector.Lorin Parys, new Pro League CEO
Bio Lorin Parys
Lorin (12 April 1976, Leuven) studied law at the universities of Namur and Leuven and at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He obtained an LL.M. from New York University School of Law and an MBA from Vlerick Business School in Ghent.
Lorin started his career at the New York Bar with international law firm Latham & Watkins LLP. He was spokesperson for the Flemish Minister of Economics and Foreign Trade for a year. He was then appointed general manager and later chairman of Flanders DC (2004-2007). In 2007, he became COO at Uplace and in 2011 at Club Brugge.
From 2014 to 2022, Lorin was a member of the Flemish Parliament. In 2018, he also became vice-chairman of the N-VA. He is married to Bart Van Bever and foster dad to a son (12) and daughter (9) and also adoptive dad to a daughter (7).
