Marc Mortier
Marc Mortier was CEO of Flanders Expo from its foundation in 1986 to 2002. Flanders Expo is the biggest event hall in Flanders, and the second biggest in Belgium. Mortier later became president of Febelux, the Federation of Exhibitions in Belgium and Luxemburg. Until 2002, many concerts took place in Flanders Expo. Hall 8's capacity is more than 13,000 people.
Musicians who have performed at Flanders Expo include Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Prince, Elton John, Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, Whitney Houston, Barry White, U2, Nick Kamen, Eros Ramazzotti, Bon Jovi, Metallica and AC/DC. Flanders Expo is also the host of Europe's biggest indoor techno party with more than 60,000 visitors in one day.
Mortier was an active member of the board of the soccer team K.A.A. Gent from 1988 until his death in 2004. After the degradation in 1988, Mortier consulted the Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, in order to establish an organisation named Foot Invest, to get the team back on track. Marc Mortier gathered at that time more than 50 million Belgian francs in sponsoring in a couple of months and introduced VDK Spaarbank as the main sponsor.
Mortier also was a member of the Board of 'Voetbalmagazine', 'Flanders Sports Arena, 'King Baudouin Foundation', 'The International Year Exposition of Flanders', 'The Festival of Flanders', and the Rotary Club.
Mortier died in hospital of a heart attack on 3 May 2004. He was 55, and was survived by his wife, Sylva Van der Stricht, and his three children, Caroline, Frederik and Bernard Mortier.
