smartwith heart
What I learned in my first year as CEO, visiting every OMP office
Paul Vanvuchelen - December 18, 2025
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As we celebrated OMP’s 40th anniversary this year, the milestone took on a very personal meaning for me. I spent my first year as CEO visiting every single one of our offices around the world, and it was a journey filled with moments I won’t forget. In Brazil, colleagues greeted me with pão de queijo and a football shirt, a gesture that transported me straight back to my own time on the pitch. In Shanghai, for OMP China’s 10-year celebrations, I tried my hand at papercutting, not with much talent, but with plenty of enthusiasm. These small, personal moments showed me that our identity isn’t tied to one place but carried by the people who bring our culture to life.
Every office I set foot in brought me something unique. A story. A tradition. A perspective. And often, a moment that revealed how deeply connected we are as a global company. These encounters were a reminder that culture is not something you declare, it’s something people build, live, and pass on.
Our Spanish office
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40 years of growth shaped by our people
Beginning as a small Belgian start-up in 1985, we operate today across every continent, driven by colleagues who bring us their expertise, curiosity, and commitment to work every day.
Our anniversary made this even more visible. Each office devised its own celebration: whether wearing local colors, sharing regional dishes, organizing team challenges, or proudly highlighting their cultural traditions. Along the way, we discovered new flavors, and learned fun facts about each other’s cultures and, on top of that, picked up a few words in the local language: bonjour, hola, ni hao…
For me, these moments were a vibrant reminder that our differences make us stronger, and that learning from each other is not just valuable, it’s enjoyable. They reflect who and what we are today, a diverse company with a shared focus and purpose.
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Some of our Chinese and Indian colleagues
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Conversations that shape our future
Alongside the celebrations, the visits were an opportunity to look to the future. Wherever I went, colleagues asked thoughtful and direct questions about our strategy and our goals, and the roles they play in the bigger picture.
Everywhere, the mindset was the same. Our people are clear, engaged, and ambitious, always seeking to understand our direction and what they can do to contribute. It’s this kind of collective curiosity and drive that’s essential to our long-term success.
My personal takeaway
After a year of traveling, one insight stood out more than anything else: the eagerness people have to grow, contribute, and understand the bigger picture. I didn’t expect it to be as consistent as this across every region, but it was. Whether in Brazil, China, Europe, or the US, colleagues were curious, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in where we’re going. That mindset impressed me the most.
The visits gave me a clearer view of our strengths and the opportunities lying ahead. They helped me understand our teams in a way I could never have accomplished from a distance, and I want to continue this initiative. Probably not by visiting every office every year, because I wasn’t home very often, but staying connected to our teams globally will remain a priority for me.
If this journey resonates with you and you want to be part of a team that keeps learning and growing together, it would be my pleasure to see you join us.
Paul Vanvuchelen
CEO at OMP
Biography
With over 20 years’ experience in supply chain planning and executive leadership, Paul currently leads OMP as CEO, driving strategic transformation and sustainable growth across the globe. Before joining OMP, he held several C-level positions, including CEO of Aperam Stainless Belgium and Chief Performance Officer at Aperam, where he led global initiatives in industrial excellence, productivity optimization, and digital transformation.
