It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Guido Kestens, Honorary Chairman of the Alumni Association of Antwerp Management School and AMS EMBA Alumnus (formerly known as PPB).

AMS would like to express its sincere condolences to the family of Guido Kestens. Our hearts go out to you during this difficult time.

We are thankful for Guido and his dedication to the Alumni Association. During the AMS 50 years celebrations in 2008-2009, he was the first person to ever be appointed as Chairman of the AMS Alumni Association and to formalize it’s working.

Guido had a great network and thanks to his involvement as General Director of C&A Belgium, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of SD Worx, President of the Red Cross Belgium, former Chairman of Special Olympics Belgium, Executive Chairman of the Special Olympics Antwerp 2014, former Chairman of the Beethoven Academie, former Chairman of the Football Club Westerlo;

he helped AMS take the lead in major international and impactful projects such as the organization of the Scientific Symposium of the Special Olympics Antwerp in 2014 with stakeholders offering their views on the greater inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the job market. Among the many recommendations was the view that employers should no longer perceive people with intellectual disabilities as being of inconvenience but instead of value.

The project continued under the name ID@Work where the Antwerp Management School and other European organizations examined the employment of people with intellectual disabilities in the traditional economic environment.

Today AMS continues to create impact via the Tag Leadership program which studies the impact of leadership training on Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Additionally, he took the lead in governing the Global Citizen Award which awards an exceptional and inspiring person who has a lasting impact on our society. During his presidency the following exceptional people received the award:

Count Jacques Rogge
2011 Global Citizen
Former President of the International Olympic Committee

Thomas Bergström
2012 Global Citizen
Former CEO of Inter Ikea Systems BV

Baron Peter Piot
2015 Global citizen
Director London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
2017 Global Citizen
Oprichter Rosas P.A.R.T.S

Guido’s passion, meticulous attention to detail, huge energy and network has set the tone for who we are as an alumni association today which is to have a lasting impact on Society. Guido’s legacy will live on.

Below are some pictures to remember Guido

Guido handing the Global Citizen Award to Count Jacques Rogge in 2011

During the AMS 50 years anniversary celebration with members of the organizing committee Johnny Van der Straeten and Herman Van de Velde.

Guido handing out the Global citizen to Thomas Bergström at the Global Citizen Award in 2012.

Guido introducing Baron Peter Piot as the 2013 Global Citizen alongside Elke Sleurs.

Geert Vyncke (former AMS Managing Director), Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (AMS Global Citizen 2017), Wivina Demeester, Guido Kestens at the Global Citizen Award Ceremony in 2017

ID@Work Project Group picture

Mia Van Haesendonck (wife of Guido), Paul Matthyssens (Former AMS Dean), Guido Kestens at the Graduation Ceremony of the Executive Masters on 22 June 2018 for his farewell Ceremony as Chairman of the Alumni Association.

Guido giving his farewell speech as Chairman of the AMS Alumni Association (June 2018)