Willemen family: the 750-million-euro construction empire undergoing a metamorphosis

Willemen family

Visit Willemen Groupfounded and managed by Johan Willemen, is a Belgian family business specialized in the construction sector. With a base in Mechelen and a history marked by strategic acquisitions, the group has established itself as a major player in the construction industry. many areas of construction. In 2011, acquisition of Aswebo enabled the group to strengthen its position in the roadworks market, doubling its workforce from 1000 to 2000 employees. The Willemen family has created a fortune of over 73 million euros.

The Willemen Family's activities cover a wide range of segments, including civil and industrial construction, (non-)residential projects and transportation infrastructure. The company is renowned for its involvement in emblematic projects, such as the headquarters of Telenet in Mechelen and the Vlaams Administratief Centrum in Leuven. Internationally, the group has also extended its skills as a real estate developer in Romania, Lithuania and Spain Poland.

Africa represents a significant opportunity for Willemen, illustrated by projects such as the construction of villas and the new Belgian embassy in Kinshasabegun in 2014. Johan Willemen sees this continent as "the construction site of the future" for the company.

However, the last few years have been marked by a number of significant financial challenges. In 2022, the Willemen Group recorded a loss of 35 million euros, and sales fell from 795 to 725 million euros. This was largely due to the Group's low liquidity. and rising energy and materials prices. In response to these difficulties, the Group took out a substantial loan from the Federal Recovery Fund in 2022.

Tom Willemen, Johan's son, had to step down temporarily from the company's management due to health concerns, leaving his father to take over the reins before handing them over to Marc Jonckheere, who joined the group in May 2022. Under his leadership, Willemen has refocused its activities exclusively on on the Belgian market, withdrawing from international commitments.

With over 2,100 employees and an annual turnover of 750 million euros according to the latest information, the Willemen Family remains one of the largest family-owned construction groups in Belgium. The company's structure is divided into four main areas of activity: Construction, Infra, Techniquesand Real estateThis contributes to the diversity and complementarity of its operations in the sector.

Construction industry experts anticipate that the roadworks segment will continue to grow in the years ahead, and with its experience and recent restructuring, the Willemen Group is well positioned to capitalize on these opportunities.