Alex Van Gestel — CEO
Alex Van Gestel leads the Benelux region at EPAM Systems, helping global organisations turn emerging technologies into real business value. Working at the intersection of digital engineering, cloud platforms, advanced data and AI, his teams partner with clients on large-scale transformation agendas - modernising enterprise platforms, reinventing customer engagement and building next-generation digital products that drive growth. Alongside this role, Alex is a driving force behind Empathy Lab, EPAM’s AI-native agency built for the new era of marketing, commerce and customer experience. Designed for CMOs and digital leaders, Empathy Lab combines EPAM’s world-class engineering and AI capabilities with creativity and strategic marketing expertise to create data-driven engagement models and intelligent growth platforms. With a career spanning more than three decades, Alex brings a rare hybrid perspective across brand leadership, marketing transformation and technology consulting. He began in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather, before holding leadership roles across the Publicis and WPP networks. He later moved client-side into global marketing, digital media and commerce leadership roles for some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Samsung, BAT, Citibank and Bacardi. Today Alex focuses on helping organisations navigate one of the biggest shifts in modern business - the convergence of platforms, cloud, data and AI - and translating creative innovation into scalable commercial growth. He splits his time between London and Amsterdam and is a regular speaker at global industry events including Gartner IT Symposium, Forrester CX, the Databricks Data + AI Summit, NRF and World Retail Congress.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in MarTech and digital transformation with a focus on consumer engagement.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience: 33 yrs
Skills
- Customer Experience
- Business Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Data Analytics
- Brand Strategy
- Digital Engagement
- Global Marketing
- Brand Management
Career Highlights
- Expert in digital transformation and marketing strategies.
- Led global brands for top-tier companies.
- Regular speaker at industry-leading events.
Work Experience
EPAM Systems
VP, Head of Benelux and Consumer & Services EMEA (11 mos)
Vice President, Head of Consumer Products (4 yrs)
BAT
Group Head of Media Brand Building (1 yr 5 mos)
Verbalisation
CEO (3 yrs 2 mos)
Bacardi
Global Communications Director (2 yrs 5 mos)
Samsung Electronics
President & CEO, Cheil USA (1 yr 11 mos)
Anomaly
Executive Director of Worldwide Brands (1 yr 8 mos)
Publicis Groupe
Executive Vice President, Group Director (3 yrs 5 mos)
Board Account Director (3 yrs)
WPP
Global Brand Director & WPP Team Leader (5 yrs)
M&C Saatchi Group
Senior Account Director (1 yr)
WPP
International Account Director (5 yrs)
Education
BA & MA Hons. at University of Oxford
Advanced Management Program at The Wharton School
