BetterBoards Governance podcast from GUBERNA · GUBERNA

Governance in beweging: De Code Buysse IV onder de loep

·1 hr 2 min·4 clips

Jozef Lieves says Code Buysse is “the code of the entrepreneur,” built for Belgian ownership realities.

1. BetterBoards Governance podcast from GUBERNA discusses Code Buysse 4, launched in December 2024 for non-bursary-notified companies. 2. Jozef Lieves, a lawyer at Roots Advocates and editor of Code Buysse 4, and Philippe De Vick, a former top executive and active administrator, are the two guests. 3. The episode asks what Code Buysse 4 is for: keeping Belgian governance useful for entrepreneurs, family businesses, and KMOs. 4. Jozef Lieves says the code changed because of market signals, association-law updates, governance research, and a stronger focus on board dynamics. 5. He says the earlier research on independent directors gave way to attention for how boards actually work internally. 6. He says the code still keeps its basic philosophy from 2005, especially the idea that it is “the code of the entrepreneur.” 7. He contrasts Anglo-Saxon agency models with Europe’s dominant-shareholder reality, which shapes the code’s approach. 8. He says governance is tied to professionalization, free will, and the need to adjust for company size, growth phase, and ownership structure. 9. He says Guberna has been a privileged partner from the earliest Commission Buysse work through Code 4. 10. Philippe De Vick says future revisions will have to deal with AI, digitization, diversity, inclusion, and the stakeholder-versus-shareholder question. 11. He calls the acceleration of change the only certainty and points to the last eight weeks as evidence. 12. Philippe says good governance is more than rules; it supports long-term development, free cash flow, good products, and people who want to work there. 13. He says corporate governance is more embedded in corporate culture than ESG, which many entrepreneurs still see as “tick the box.” 14. Jozef Lieves says critical voices include an anti-governance current in French-speaking Belgium and a Trends interview about boards lacking time for strategy. 15. He says the code’s figures still matter, including 30% of companies with a board of directors, one or more external directors, four meetings a year, and one strategic meeting a year. 16. He says Code Buysse 4 sharpened roles for the CEO, chairman, executives, family board members, advisory boards, and observers from the next generation. 17. Philippe says Belgian boards often spend too much time transferring information from management and too little time on strategic discussion. 18. He proposes one physical quarterly meeting plus one or two shorter online updates to reduce preparation time and free space for strategy. 19. This episode suits owners, directors, governance professionals, and family-business advisors. 20. This episode is less useful for listeners who want a short, purely introductory explanation. 1. BetterBoards Governance podcast from GUBERNA discusses Code Buysse 4, launched in December 2024 for non-bursary-notified companies. 2. Jozef Lieves, a lawyer at Roots Advocates and editor of Code Buysse 4, and Philippe De Vick, a former top executive and active administrator, are the two guests. 3. The episode asks what Code Buysse 4 is for: keeping Belgian governance useful for entrepreneurs, family businesses, and KMOs. 4. Jozef Lieves says the code changed because of market signals, association-law updates, governance research, and a stronger focus on board dynamics. 5. He says the earlier research on independent directors gave way to attention for how boards actually work internally. 6. He says the code still keeps its basic philosophy from 2005, especially the idea that it is “the code of the entrepreneur.” 7. He contrasts Anglo-Saxon agency models with Europe’s dominant-shareholder reality, which shapes the code’s approach. 8. He says governance is tied to professionalization, free will, and the need to adjust for company size, growth phase, and ownership structure. 9. He says Guberna has been a privileged partner from the earliest Commission Buysse work through Code 4. 10. Philippe De Vick says future revisions will have to deal with AI, digitization, diversity, inclusion, and the stakeholder-versus-shareholder question. 11. He calls the acceleration of change the only certainty and points to the last eight weeks as evidence. 12. Philippe says good governance is more than rules; it supports long-term development, free cash flow, good products, and people who want to work there. 13. He says corporate governance is more embedded in corporate culture than ESG, which many entrepreneurs still see as “tick the box.” 14. Jozef Lieves says critical voices include an anti-governance current in French-speaking Belgium and a Trends interview about boards lacking time for strategy. 15. He says the code’s figures still matter, including 30% of companies with a board of directors, one or more external directors, four meetings a year, and one strategic meeting a year. 16. He says Code Buysse 4 sharpened roles for the CEO, chairman, executives, family board members, advisory boards, and observers from the next generation. 17. Philippe says Belgian boards often spend too much time transferring information from management and too little time on strategic discussion. 18. He proposes one physical quarterly meeting plus one or two shorter online updates to reduce preparation time and free space for strategy. 19. This episode suits owners, directors, governance professionals, and family-business advisors. 20. This episode is less useful for listeners who want a short, purely introductory explanation.

As heard by us

A clear look at how Code Buysse 4 tries to make family governance more practical.

Governance in Beweging looks at Code Buysse 4 as a practical guide for Belgian family businesses and KMOs, not a slogan. Jozef Lieves and Philippe De Vick treat it as a working tool: they ask what a board is for, how owner expectations get translated, and where best practices…

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You want a clear read on what Code Buysse 4 changes for family businesses.

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