Bart A. Pattyn
Independent Non-Executive Director, Audit & Risk Chair
European banking governance combined with international business building, operational transformation and technology experience.
I think like an owner of systems and act as a steward of relationships.
Etihad Credit Insurance iNED since 2026
Argenta iNED since 2021
Chair for Argenta Assuranties, Group Audit Committee and Group Risk Committee
Former Coface Group Executive Committee member
Former Chair, SBCE
I bring a former CEO’s perspective to the boardroom, with particular attention to financial integrity, risk, internal controls and the quality of dialogue with regulators.
My background combines board leadership and executive accountability across Europe, Latin America, Asia and North America, with deep experience in banking, insurance and other regulated environments.
About
A Belgian independent board director and former international CEO with extensive experience in banking, insurance, export credit and other regulated industries and multi-stakeholder settings.
My contribution combines independent financial and risk oversight with the practical perspective of a former international CEO. I think like an owner of systems and act as a steward of relationships: looking beyond individual findings to understand the structures that produce them, while maintaining the trust required for effective Board and management dialogue
My work has covered growth, restructuring, carve-outs, integrations and operating model change, always with clear attention to governance, controls and accountability. Successfully assessed by the National Bank of Belgium as fit and proper for my current regulated Board mandate.
Certified Director with GUBERNA and INSEAD.
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Board & committee work: audit, risk, compliance, internal control, financial reporting oversight
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Executive leadership: P&L ownership, turnaround and scale-up, cross-border transformation
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Stakeholder management: regulators, shareholders, governments, unions, clients and rating agencies
Board Roles
Etihad Credit Insurance PSC
Independent Non-Executive Director (2026 to present)
Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) is the UAE’s official export credit company.
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Member of Strategy & Transformation Committee (STC)
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Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC)
Argenta Bank & Verzekeringsgroep n.v.
Independent Non-Executive Director (2021 to present)
Chair for Argenta Assuranties, Group Audit Committee and Group Risk Committee.
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Oversight of financial reporting, internal control, audit effectiveness, risk appetite «RAF», solvency and liquidity, ICAAP & ORSA alignment, cyber and data governance, DORA and key regulatory interactions.
SBCE, Seguradora Brasileira de Crédito à Exportação s.a.
Chairman of the Board (2008 to 2018)
Chaired the board of a public-private export credit insurer. Oversaw strategic governance, risk management, regulatory alignment and stakeholder management, including post-acquisition integration (PMI) into an international group structure.
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Strengthened risk governance, internal controls and Board effectiveness.
Air France KLM
Advisory Board Mexico, Member (2017 to 2019)
Advised on market development, customer proposition (multi-tier loyalty) and Passenger Journey and on operational priorities and optimization in a regulated service environment.
How I add value in the boardroom
In the boardroom, I focus particularly on the quality of financial information, how risks are understood and owned, and whether management is addressing issues early enough.
Audit & financial oversight
Financial reporting quality and integrity, internal control maturity, external and internal audit effectiveness, remediation follow-up, governance of the three lines of defence.
Risk governance in supervised environments
Risk appetite and limits, solvency and liquidity frameworks, credit and operational risk, model risk awareness, cyber and data governance, and effective regulatory documentation and dialogue.
Strategy & transformation oversight
Strategic clarity, growth and transformation, M&A and PMI governance, carve-outs, organisational change and leadership transitions, cross-cultural integration, stakeholder alignment and execution follow-through.
Listed-company and executive experience
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Coface s.a.
Group Executive Committee member (2012-2018)
Contributed to Coface’s 2014 IPO as a member of the IPO team and served on the Group Executive Committee through its transition to, and subsequent development as, a Euronext Paris-listed company. Presented the Latin America strategy, performance and risk-response programme at Coface’s Investor Days. Responsibilities included strategy, performance, risk governance, capital allocation and oversight of regulated businesses across multiple markets.
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Coface Holding America Latina sa. de cv.
President and CEO Coface Latin America (2004-2018)
Regional P&L leadership across multiple countries with complex risk management and crisis leadership. Strategic relationship with sovereign export credit agencies (ECAs). Board oversight of Local Credit Insurers. Credit Insurance and Export Risk modeling and oversight. Previously Regional CEO Asia Pacific (2000–2004).
Selected International media and industry references
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KBC Bank & Insurance Group n.v.
Senior international banking leadership roles (1985-2000)
including greenfield build & governance setup in India.
Interim leadership & governance advisory
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Interim Chief Compliance Advisor
STADA Group / EG nv
Designed and implemented the three-lines-of-defence model, including operational controls, the compliance function and independent assurance arrangements, supported by governance documentation and conduct training.
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Interim Executive - Strategic Carve-out & Launch
De Watergroep / Azulatis n.v.
Led the carve-out of industrial and wholesale water activities into Azulatis, including governance, regulatory alignment and an ESG-driven business model. Managed staff transition and trade-union engagement through launch and operational handover.
My experience ranges from listed and privately owned companies to public and public-private organisations, often in situations where governance and execution both mattered.
Executive & interim leadership
Credentials
GUBERNA
Certified Company Director
Successfully assessed by the National Bank of Belgium as «fit-and-proper» for my current regulated Board mandate
KU Leuven: Master of Engineering in Computer Science
INSEAD: AI for Boards, December 2026 (registered participant)
Focus
Sectors
Banking and insurance. Regulated financial institutions. Export Credit and government-related financial institutions. Utilities and water. Pharma. Aviation services. Public-private organisations. PE backed growth businesses.
Committee fit
Audit Committee. Risk Committee. Compliance & Ethics. Technology risk & cyber oversight. Remuneration & nomination support where relevant. Political and Credit Risk structures.
Contact
Available for one additional independent board mandate in a listed or privately held company.
For board and governance related inquiries, please include a short description of the organisation, ownership structure and committee needs.
Bart A. Pattyn
Brussels, Belgium
Mobile: +32 495 288 488
Email: bart@pattyn.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartapattyn
