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Press Release - Izola Bank appoints new Chairperson of the Board

24 March 2022

By Izola Bank,

Izola Bank appoints new Chairperson of the Board

Izola Bank plc today announced that Caroline Van Marcke, a non-executive member of the Board since January 2000, has been appointed as its new Chairperson. Effective from 24th March 2022, Caroline Van Marcke succeeds her mother Magdalena De Roeck who has served as Chairperson for the past twelve years.

A business engineering graduate from the Solvay Business School at the University of Brussels, Caroline Van Marcke is the CEO and Executive Director of the Van Marcke Group, a position which she has held since 2014. The Group, parent company to Izola Bank plc, is a well-known family-owned business founded in 1929.

It specialises in the wholesaling, retailing and distribution of energy-efficient heating, sanitary ware and plumbing supplies for both the B2B and B2C markets and is also active in the manufacturing, real estate and banking industries. The mission of the Group is “we care for quality of life”, which is put into action by offering products, services and solutions that unburden customers whilst respecting the environment.

Through her leadership on sustainability, passionate vision and strategic innovation, she has steered the Group into a new age of business. This includes the launch of e-commerce channels, green-inspired concept showrooms and the further expansion of the Group’s operations internationally into the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and US markets. Today, Van Marcke Group owns and manages thirty operational companies in seven countries and has 1600 full time staff.

As a keen advocate for the environment, in 2019 Caroline Van Marcke realised her futureproof vision of building a fully carbon neutral distribution centre in Belgium with 518 geothermal drillings and 14,000 solar panels on its roof. This highly technological distribution centre, with the capacity to automate 70% of orders, will support the Group’s ambition of further expansion in Europe. She previously served as the President of FEST, the European Federation of the Sanitary & Heating Wholesale Industry.

She has been actively involved as a Non-Executive Director of Izola Bank plc since 2000.

Caroline Van Marcke commented on her new appointment: ‘I am honoured to take on this role at such an exciting time for Izola Bank and following the excellent work my mother has helped to achieve during her tenure as Chairperson. Today the Bank has a rock-solid foundation on which to build, achieved through years of being a trusted and secure partner to our customers. In leading the Board, two of my key objectives will be achieving continued stability in a rapidly changing economic environment and positioning the Bank to remain relevant to our customers. We need to focus on being both agile and responsive enough to meet the new demands in the market and to continue offering and developing sustainable products, services and solutions through innovation and digitization, that fully respect the environment.’

Andrew Mifsud, CEO of Izola Bank plc added: ‘From initially servicing only the Van Marcke group, the Bank now offers a range of products from commercial lending and invoice financing to home loans and personal savings. With Caroline Van Marcke’s drive and enthusiasm coupled with a strategic mindset, solid business acumen and change management experience, I am reassured that the Board has a safe pair of hands to steer it through the next phase of the Bank’s development. The Board would also like to thank Magdalena De Roeck for her strong contribution as Chairperson over the past twelve years.’

ENDS

Izola Bank plc

Izola Bank initially gained a license as a credit institution in Malta in 1994. Over the years Izola Bank has expanded its online activities to serve an increasing business and personal banking customer base across Malta, Belgium and France. Amidst rapid change in the banking sector, Izola Bank has gained a firm reputation for delivering a reliable and efficient service and for adding lasting value for its customers. The Bank is wholly owned by the Van Marcke Group, a family run enterprise whose origins date back over almost 100 years.

Van Marcke Group

Van Marcke is a Belgian family run company. It was founded in 1929 by Raymond Van Marcke and is currently headed as CEO by his granddaughter, Caroline Van Marcke. The company has over 1600 employees, active in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Malta and the USA. It specializes in the wholesaling, retailing and distribution of energy-efficient heating, sanitary ware and plumbing supplies for both the B2B and B2C markets and is also active in the manufacturing, real estate and banking industries.

Covered in the Times of Malta.

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