From our recent conversation with Ruben Mortier, it quickly becomes clear that IT is much more than just managing systems. It’s about thinking in solutions, seeking connections with the business, and above all: looking ahead. Since February 2025, Ruben has been Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Axepta BNP Paribas. But his journey within the company began almost three years ago, when he started as Head of IT.

“Technology has always fascinated me,” he says. “As a teenager, I was already busy installing programs and building my own websites at home.” The choice for a degree in business engineering with a specialization in computer science was therefore quickly made. After a twelve-year career as an IT consultant, mainly in the financial sector, and a brief stint as an IT manager, he joined Axepta BNP Paribas.

A new role with many layers 

The transition to the CIO role felt like a logical next step. “My predecessor already involved me strongly in everything that was happening at a strategic level. When I got the chance to take over his function, I didn’t hesitate.”

As CIO, Ruben not only leads the IT team, but is also responsible for the strategic direction of the department. Think of developing the IT roadmap, monitoring data security, following up on suppliers and partners, and maintaining close contacts with the BNP Paribas group. “An important difference with my previous role is that I’m now also busy with IT architecture, stakeholder management, and even more with cybersecurity.”

No two days are the same 

What makes his job exciting is the variation. Every day is different, but there are some fixed elements. He starts the day with stand-up meetings to discuss priorities and remove obstacles. One-on-one conversations with his core team are also regularly on the agenda.

In addition, Ruben analyzes IT data and incident reports on a weekly basis to recognize trends and prevent problems from recurring. Contact with the business is also an important part of his day. “IT is there to support the business. We want to understand what the needs are, think along, and at the same time also come up with innovations ourselves.”

Recently, Ruben launched a proof of concept around AI, where he took the initiative to explore the possibilities. According to him, innovation doesn’t always have to come from the business; it’s also up to the IT team to proactively put something on the table and then see together whether it can add value.

IT as a partner of the business 

The IT team works closely with all departments within Axepta BNP Paribas. “The customer of IT is actually the business. If we can provide them with the right tools and solutions, they can in turn offer better service to our end customers.”

In addition to a technical and strategic role, Ruben also sees it as his responsibility to let his team grow. “You have to give people the chance to develop their talents. That’s crucial for them and also for the success of Axepta BNP Paribas in the long term.”

Why Axepta BNP Paribas? 

What Ruben values about Axepta BNP Paribas is the combination of dynamism and growth story. As a company in full growth, it’s an environment where a lot is happening, where you have a direct impact, and where ideas are really picked up. At the same time, the structure is flat and the lines are short, everyone works in the same space, is easily accessible, and that makes consultation easy.

Given that we are a scale-up, a lot is changing, which brings challenges and sometimes also growing pains, but also many beautiful opportunities. And then there is the broader context of the BNP Paribas group, with which Axepta BNP Paribas works closely. “That group brings a lot of expertise and also opens doors to new possibilities.”

A function with a lot of variation, responsibilities, and impact, both in IT and beyond!