Michel van den Brande sells his company: « It’s time for more rest » (inland)
« I just went to school until I was 12 years old and look where I am now. » For example, CEO Michel van den Brande stated that he was participating in The Sky is the Limit. He said that he had only sold his helicopter – « too much regulations ». That he used a BMW i8 for his daily journeys, but still kept the X6. And that he lived on the dike in a penthouse. In Blankenberge, not in Knokke – « I don’t participate in all that decadent stuff ».
Van den Brande became known throughout Flanders for his participation in ‘The Sky Is The Limit’. – © Marc Herremans – Mediahuis
There was another reason to say ‘yes’ to the question of the program makers: « When I hear what this program has done for Willy Naessens’ turnover, we should not faint. And what they think of me doesn’t care. »
Pache strip fight
He really doesn’t care. That was also clear before he came on TV with his face. The entrepreneur from Temse got the newspaper when he got involved in a fight on the breakdown strip – « we both had to leave steam and drove further ». When he looked at an employee with a photo of a tilted truck – « stupid or rude? One thing is certain: he works for me ». And when he put all his supercars for sale because he found the taxes too high – « the government takes my pleasure ».
Read too. Michel van den Brande: « The scammer is in jail, but it’s much too late »
In the years after his participation, he did not milder his tone. On Facebook he collected tens of thousands of followers and did not shy away from a controversial position more or less. « Vlaams Belang finds me too racist to be on their list, » he wrote about it in the run -up to the 2024 elections. Something that Chairman Tom Van Grieken denied: « What I said: that some things are unfortunately no longer said of the law and that journalists will magnify everything if you were on a list. »
Scam
One of his posts made him end up in court. The one in which he expressed threats to an ex-employee who had scammed him for hundreds of thousands of euros. He was convicted, for threats and for attacks. Because he had gone to the man’s house in the company of a boxer. « I am a victim here but I am being treated as the perpetrator, » Van den Brande said in court.
Due to the scam « we have to find financial stability, » he said in 2023. Willy Naessens-Effect rejected The Sky is the Limit However, there was indeed coming – in the year after his participation, the profit of position builder Kontrimo rose from 289,000 to 1,085 million euros. But between 2020 and 2023 he always recorded a loss.
« In the meantime we have completely overcome that dark period, » says Van den Brande now. He even brings very good news: Kontrimo is almost sold. It was no secret that the company had been in the exit window for years. « There was an offer and I agreed. At the end of April, at the latest at the beginning of May everything will be drawn. I went to the buyer with whom I felt the best. »
« I went for the buyer with whom I felt best »
Michel van den Brande
Manager Kontrimo
Van den Brande himself had started as a position builder when he was 18 years old and took Kontrimo at the age of 37. It was 1998, the company had 12 employees. « Over the years, Kontrimo has grown into a company with 120 employees and a turnover of 13 million euros, » says Van den Brande. « The story that we have written there is incredible. It’s my child, hey. But one day you also have to let go. I am incredibly proud of what we have all mashed together. »
And now? « Now it’s time for more rest, » says Van den Brande. « But I will certainly remain active at Kontrimo for a certain period of time. That is logical, because the continuity must be guaranteed. For how long I do not know. That can be months, but also for years. Everything depends on the new people. New bosses, new laws. » (laughs)
