ELAUT Group announces new CEO for its European Companies

Laurens carries on the legacy of his grandfather Achiel Verstraeten, who founded ELAUT 65 years ago, bringing top quality to the entertainment industry.

Laurens graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from KU Leuven Belgium, and started his career at ABInBev where he moved through different roles in Sales, Production and Finance of amongst others in the Stella Artois Brewery. He made the jump to the ELAUT Group, the Verstraeten family business, back in 2019 where he worked in many departments, getting to know the games, the industry and players inside and out.

All the while, he has worked closely with Eric Verstraeten, who will remain CEO of the ELAUT Group and Chairman of the Board, to prepare taking over responsibilities of ELAUT Belgium, Germany and Spain. Eric said: “Our industry is changing rapidly as well as our customer base, ELAUT must adapt towards new market needs & changes, and I’m confident the 3rd generation of our family is better positioned to understand these future needs. I’ll be present to support and guide Laurens, other active family members and the ELAUT Group employees as the passion for this industry will never fade. I’m looking forward to celebrating 100 years of ELAUT.”

Laurens De Smedt, CEO – ELAUT Group Europe said: “Taking over the responsibility of the European entities, has got me very excited. Eric's many years of dedicated leadership have steered our company to new horizons. His guidance has been crucial to our success, and I aim to build on the strong foundation he & my grandfather have created. We've got a world of opportunities a head of us,so I'm looking forward to working closely with our team, customers and players to make the world's best games. We'll keep our focus on Quality, Innovation, and Communication to ensure a bright future for everyone working at and with ELAUT Europe."

We would like to congratulate Laurens with this new opportunity and wishing him all the best!