Belgian Business Leader Patrick De Greve Dies Unexpectedly at 55
Patrick De Greve, the general director of Vlerick Business School in Ghent and chairman of basketball club LDP Donza, has died unexpectedly at the age of 55. De Greve passed away on Friday, 21 August 2026, at UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital) as a result of a heart attack, according to an announcement by LDP Donza.
The news has sent shockwaves through both Belgium’s business and sports communities, where De Greve was a well-known and deeply respected figure. VRT NWS reported that he was “halverwege de 50” (mid-50s) at the time of his passing.
A Three-Decade Legacy at Vlerick
De Greve served as general director of Vlerick Business School for more than 30 years, having taken on the role in the 1990s. During his tenure, he helped build the institution into Flanders’ most renowned management school, as reported by World Today News.
Vlerick Business School, founded in 1953 by André Vlerick, is one of Europe’s leading business schools with triple accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB) and campuses in Ghent, Leuven, Brussels, and Beijing. The school claims to be the oldest business school in Europe and has over 17,000 alumni active in more than 100 countries, according to Wikipedia.
In a 2014 interview with Trends/Knack, De Greve described running a business school as “a permanent balancing act: between academic work and training and advice to companies, between national and international operations.” He noted that a third of Vlerick’s professors were non-Belgian, reflecting the school’s international character.
Under his leadership, Vlerick achieved significant milestones. In 2014, the school generated €33.4 million in revenue, with €5 million coming from abroad, and delivered programs at 36 locations worldwide. De Greve also championed the school’s motto “Dare, Care, Share” and its call to “Take the leap.”
A Passion for Basketball and Community
Beyond his professional career, De Greve was deeply committed to LDP Donza, a basketball club active in Deinze, De Pinte, Nazareth, and Sint-Martens-Latem in East Flanders. The club was formed in 2019 through the merger of BBC Latem De Pinte and BBC Deinze Nazareth, two clubs with a combined history of more than 100 years, as detailed on Wikipedia.
De Greve was involved with the club from its formation, initially working on the commercial side alongside Dieter Haerens. In June 2023, he became chairman, succeeding Jan Gesquière. The club’s announcement at the time quoted De Greve saying: “It is an honor to be allowed to help steer a club like LDP Donza. The previous chairman and the board left behind a sportingly strong and financially healthy club. So the bar is set high.”
His connection to the club was deeply personal. De Greve was the proud father of sons Cesar and Theo, both basketball players at LDP Donza, and partner of Tine. A 2019 profile in Made in highlighted how he and other business leaders brought entrepreneurial expertise to the club’s operations.
Club’s Tribute and Memorial Plans
In its memorial announcement, LDP Donza paid an emotional tribute to its late chairman: “Patrick was more than the chairman. He was the tireless motivator, constructive coach, eternal enthusiast, listening ear, gifted storyteller, warm supporter and jack-of-all-trades. It made him a friend and confidant of many. Above all, Patrick was the proud basketball dad of Cesar and Theo and a rock in the surf for Tine.”
The club has announced that all teams will hold a moment of silence at their next training session or match. The club day scheduled for 30 August will be limited to photo sessions only, with all side activities cancelled. A condolence register will also be opened in the coming days.
A Life Remembered
De Greve’s passing represents a significant loss for both Belgian business education and the local sports community. His more than three decades at the helm of Vlerick made him one of the longest-serving executives in Belgian business education, while his leadership at LDP Donza reflected his commitment to grassroots community engagement.
In a testimonial published on Hillewaere Insurance’s website, De Greve spoke of the values he held dear: “sustainable entrepreneurship, professional expertise and above all authentic customer focus.” Those same qualities defined his own approach to leadership, both in the boardroom and on the basketball court.
As LDP Donza wrote in its farewell: “We will keep him forever in our hearts.” The business and sports communities of Belgium will remember him as a leader who bridged both worlds with passion, integrity, and warmth.