Building for the future, with respect for the past.
Ben Geybels, CEO, talks about how iconic athletes of yesteryear continue to inspire the organisation today. Values such as commitment, passion, focus and the ability to put things into perspective are not reserved to the sports world alone. At Group-GTS, they also provide the foundation to give their best every day and lead the company to success.
In the professional and inspiring offices of Group-GTS, sport plays a very important role. F1 (motorsport) and cycling hold a special place here, with legends the likes of Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck adorning the walls, while also lending their names to our meeting rooms. Audrey Hepburn, the style icon of the 1950s and 1960s, is also depicted there as a tribute to our roots. This nostalgic nod not only provides a fun office environment for our employees and customers. The legacy of these icons also inspires us to build for a future with respect for the past, without resting on our laurels. Learning from their mistakes and successes drives us to be better each and every day.
Shared values
‘Sport has a strong influence over our mission and vision, as we strive to pass on our company in the best possible condition for the next generation. Our motto is therefore “respect the past, build for the future”. Continuity is very important for Group-GTS. We want to keep improving ourselves so that we can give future generations even more than we inherited ourselves. This is how we want to grow and excel in our sector’, explains Geybels. ‘The perseverance, teamwork and fighting spirit of these iconic figures are part of our corporate culture, working together as a team to keep our company in tip-top shape. An important part of teamwork is open communication, without emotion or ego, all with respect for one another. It has to be a two-way street, that’s why we place so much importance on constructive criticism’, he explains.
Admiration and inspiration
We are keen admirers of cycling, as it is a fair sport where it is fighting spirit makes all the difference. Talent and budget alone simply won’t get you there. What’s more, cycling is a sport that connects people and is very much alive within our company. For example, we often prepare prognostics at important competitions. We are especially drawn to grassroots sporting events and their ability to connect. In addition, having a healthy sports mentality helps us to continue enjoying what we do. This sporty and healthy attitude really is something that really runs through our company, by the way. We participate in sports events, provide fresh fruit in the office and pay particular attention to both physical and mental wellbeing.
Remembrance and recognition
‘Our state-of-the-art workspaces have numerous pieces of sports memorabilia on display. These serve as, on the one hand, a tribute to legendary icons and, on the other, as a token of recognition for our employees. Each item is chosen specifically with a particular person in mind. It fits into our culture and is more personal than a bottle of wine or bunch of flowers’, explains Geybels. ‘So, we’ve got a signed basketball from Chicago Bulls’ legend Dennis Rodman, personalised jerseys from Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) and Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), and even a Bianchi bike from Gimondi. You can’t go far in our office without spotting the odd cycling jersey, including ones worn by Merckx, Tom Boonen, De Vlaeminck, Gimondi and Van Looy, along with F1 helmets (replicas) of Hill, Lauda, Hunt, Villeneuve, Regazonni, Andretti, Ickx and Ayrton Senna. All of this topped off with scale models of F1 cars from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as unique race cars from the period (Porsche, Ford, etc.).’
Social engagement
Our passion for sport extends beyond our office walls. Group-GTS strives to help talented athletes fulfil their potential. ‘We support athletes and clubs that have a social impact, that can make good use of resources, and who share our values and mentality. All we ask for is ambition and complete dedication. For example, we sponsor passionate swimmer Jeff Groenen, who won three silver medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, and Ken De Feyter, an ambitious cyclist targeting the Paris Paralympic Games in 2024. In motorsport, we support Sam De Jonghe, an out-and-out race-winning Belgian driver (Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux) and great ambassador for his sport. We are also proud to sponsor promising young cyclist Wout Geerinckx, who managed to secure a place on Lotto-Dstny’s development team. We also support local football clubs, including the G-football project by Thes Sport (Tessenderlo), and Berg & Dal, Antwerp first provincial division champions. While we may only be making a small contribution to their success, we do so while emphasising their exemplary role internally. We communicate about their efforts through our company app, thereby reinforcing connection and contributing towards fostering a fun, sporting atmosphere.’
Coming full circle
Logistics is elite sport
‘In my youth, I was a huge fan of Michel Preud’homme, his winning mentality and commitment proving a huge source of inspiration. Today, I am fascinated by the younger generation of cyclists, with the likes of Van der Poel, Van Aert, Evenepoel and Pogacar. They are rewriting the rules and improving the sport, just like Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Monseré and Gimondi did back in the day. They are daredevils with a purpose, who understand the art of suffering. With that, it really does feel like things have come full circle’, Geybels concludes. ‘At Group-GTS, we also want to rewrite the rules within the industry through continuous self improvement.’