Baron Philippe Vlerick graduated in Philosophy from the University of Leuven in 1977. He also holds a degree in Law (Leuven, 1978), an MBA in General Management (PUB) from the Vlerick School of Management in Ghent (1979), and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA (1980).

He is Chairman and Managing Director of B.I.C. Carpets, UCO, and other Vlerick Group businesses. He serves as Chairman of Besix, Smartphoto, Raymond UCO Pvt. Ltd., Pentahold, BICC&I (Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry), the Festival of Flanders, Europalia, and as Vice-Chairman of the KBC Group.

Mr Vlerick is also a board member of several companies other than Exmar NV, including BMT, Mediahuis, L.V.D. Company, and Concordia Textiles.