Gérald Frère
{{Short description|Belgian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gérald Frère
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1951|05|17}}
| birth_place = Charleroi, Belgium
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| occupation = Businessman
| title = Chairman, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
| term = January 2012-
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| children = 2 sons
| parents = Albert Frère
Nelly Poplimont
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Gérald Frère (born 17 May 1951) is a Belgian billionaire businessman, the chairman of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert since January 2012, and its former CEO.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=5524069&privcapId=874182 |title=Executive Profile: Gérald Frère |publisher=Bloomberg |date= |accessdate=15 June 2017}} As of August 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$3.3 billion.{{cite web|title=Forbes profile: Gerald Frere |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/gerald-frere/ |work=Forbes |access-date=22 August 2024}}
Early life
Gérald Frère was born in Charleroi, Belgium on 17 May 1951.
He is the eldest son of Albert Frère and his first wife, Nelly Poplimont, and they had a son, Gerald.{{cite web|url=http://www.dhnet.be/archive/ses-deux-amours-l-argent-et-le-vin-51b811e5e4b0de6db99de45b |title=Ses deux amours: l'argent et le vin - La DH |publisher=Dhnet.be |date=30 July 2005 |accessdate=15 June 2017}}
Career
Frère is the chairman of Loverval Finance, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, Stichting Administratie Kantoor Bierlaire, Domaines Frère-Bougeois, and the vice chairman of
Pargesa Holding.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbb.be/en/cv/gerald-frere |title=Gérald Frère |publisher=nbb.be |date=17 May 1951 |accessdate=15 June 2017}}
Frère is the managing director of Financière de la Sambre, Frère-Bourgeois, and Pargesa Holding.
Albert Frère was regent at the National Bank of Belgium, but reached the age limit in 1995. Consequently, he did everything he could to get his son Gérald appointed to the regency, which - despite objections of nepotism - succeeded in 1998. Previously, Gérald Frère was already a censor at the National Bank.[https://www.tijd.be/algemeen/algemeen/gerald-frere-wordt-regent-nationale-bank/5222708.html Gérald Frère wordt regent Nationale Bank], De Tijd, 19 februari 1998. In April 2018, it became known that Gérald would be replaced in the regency by his son Cédric, an appointment that was widely criticized.[https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/banken/kleinzoon-albert-frere-doet-intrede-bij-nationale-bank/10003785.html Kleinzoon Albert Frère doet intrede bij Nationale Bank], De Tijd, 20 april 2018.[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180428_03488532 Wie is Cédric Frère, de man die plots in de regentenraad van de nationale bank gedropt wordt], Het Nieuwsblad, 29 april 2018. After a year, the mandate of Cédric Frère in the regent council ended, which was not renewed because Minister of Finance Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) wanted the three vacant mandates to be filled by female regents, so that the party of Frères nomination, the MR, had to look for a female candidate.[https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/banken/vrouwenkwestie-kost-kleinzoon-frere-herbenoeming-bij-nationale-bank/10118424.html 'Vrouwenkwestie' kost kleinzoon Frère herbenoeming bij Nationale Bank], De Tijd, 18 april 2019.[https://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/kleinzoon-van-albert-frere-geen-regent-meer-bij-nationale-bank/article-normal-1454113.html Kleinzoon van Albert Frère geen regent meer bij Nationale Bank], Knack, 18 april 2019.
He is a director of Power Financial, ERBE, Fonds Charles-Albert Frère, Haras de la Bierlaire, and Stichting Administratie Kantoor Frère-Bourgeois.
In April 2018, he was accused of nepotism for appointing his son Cédric as regent in the National Bank of Belgium.[https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/banken/kleinzoon-albert-frere-doet-intrede-bij-nationale-bank/10003785.html Kleinzoon Albert Frère doet intrede bij Nationale Bank], De Tijd 2018 (Dutch). Translation: "Albert Frère's grandson makes his entrance into the National Bank".[http://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/de-benoeming-van-cedric-frere-tot-regent-ondergraaft-het-serieux-van-de-nationale-bank/article-analyse-1139303.html De benoeming van Cédric Frère tot regent ondergraaft het sérieux van de Nationale Bank], Knack 2018. Translation: "The appointment of Cédric Frère to regent undermines the credibility of the National Bank".
Private life
Frère has two sons, Cédric and William.{{cite web|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/947/Royalty/article/detail/1563052/2013/01/15/Pippa-ging-jagen-met-kleinzonen-van-Albert-Frere.dhtml |title="Pippa ging jagen met kleinzonen van Albert Frère" |language=nl |publisher=HLN.be |date= |accessdate=16 June 2017}}
He lives at Gerpinnes.{{cite web|url=http://trends.levif.be/economie/people/dans-la-famille-frere-le-fils-gerald/article-normal-194353.html |title=Dans la famille Frère, le fils, Gérald - People - Trends-Tendances.be |publisher=Trends.levif.be |date=28 April 2010 |accessdate=16 June 2017}}
References
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Category:People from Hainaut (province)
Category:Belgian businesspeople
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