With the appointment of Romy Janssens and Kris Kemland as the new management duo, icapps begins an exciting new chapter. Kris, a long-time familiar face at the company, steps into the role of CEO. Romy joins as Head of Operations, bringing a fresh perspective from her extensive experience at international multinationals. Together, they form a strong team with a clear mission: to grow both as a company and in personal development while shaping the future of icapps. In this article, Kris and Romy discuss their collaboration, plans for icapps, and how they complement each other.
A logical evolution
After Kristof Van Gemert's departure, Kris Kemland, a trusted figure at icapps, assumed the role of CEO. “For me, this transition felt like a natural evolution,” Kris shares. “My strength lies in strategic commercial planning, and with Romy as Head of Operations, we perfectly complement each other. She brings significant operational expertise, while I focus on commercial strategy and offerings. This way, we both do what we’re good at while learning from each other. A true win-win.”
Romy’s fresh perspective
For Romy, the move to icapps marks a completely new start, both in terms of industry and work culture. With an impressive international career, including her tenure at Philips Healthcare Netherlands, she brings a wealth of experience. “At Philips, I worked on complex, strategic programs and projects with global impact,” she explains. “But after years of traveling, long hours, and working across different time zones, I realized I needed more balance, especially with my family.”
When approached by the Cronos Group about icapps, it felt like the right fit. “I asked myself, what do I truly enjoy? Coaching people, strategic thinking, but also staying involved operationally. At icapps, I can perfectly combine those roles. Plus, it’s wonderful to work in Antwerp again, the city where I studied and that always feels like home. The informal, open culture at icapps aligns much better with who I am. It’s a world apart from the formal corporate environment I came from. I deliberately chose to leave that behind for the DNA and team spirit of icapps. Here, I can truly be myself.
Shared leadership: A deliberate choice
The decision for shared leadership was no accident, Kris explains. “Within the Cronos Group, this has been a tradition for years, and it fits icapps perfectly. It ensures continuity and allows us to maximize our expertise,” he says. “It also seamlessly aligns with the icapps culture, where collaboration is key.”
“Our roles are clear but not strictly defined,” Romy adds. “Kris has extensive experience in commercial projects, while I focus on operations. We’re in daily contact, sometimes informally over coffee, other times in formal meetings, and make decisions together. The puzzle pieces just fit.”
“What makes our collaboration unique,” Kris continues, “is that we’re both very approachable. The door is always open, figuratively, because there aren’t even doors in our office!” he laughs.
People as the driving force of innovation
Romy and Kris are confident about the future. “We’ve achieved milestones over the past years and are now at a turning point,” Kris says. “Together, we’re developing a new strategy to roll out in 2025.” Personal growth is at the core, Romy emphasizes: “We want to invest in our people’s development. When they grow, icapps grows too. That means creating opportunities for training, new projects, and personal ambitions.”
In the coming years, the focus isn’t just on numbers but on a growth mindset. “We want to foster a culture where people continuously learn and develop. New services and innovations only arise when the people behind them have the chance to grow,” Romy explains.
Vision 2025: Building growth and innovation together
At icapps, we remain true to our roots as pioneers in digital tools, always keeping the end user at the center. But as the market evolves, so do we. What began as an app development company in 2009 has grown into a full-service digital partner. This transformation reflects our ambition to stay relevant in a dynamic and competitive sector.
The market for digital tools is maturing, with increasing competition and a plateauing demand. Yet, we firmly believe in our strengths: our passionate experts who deliver complex projects with a focus on quality and client satisfaction. This sets us apart and creates opportunities to expand beyond our current technological offerings.
That’s why, in 2025, we aim to prioritize a culture of courage and intrapreneurship. We’re building a platform that fosters innovation, where everyone has the opportunity to share ideas driven by personal growth, technological trends, or ambition. Think your idea can contribute to icapps’ growth? Share it with us!
Our vision for 2025 is clear: to continue growing, learning, and innovating together - not just as a company but as people. When our people thrive, icapps thrives too.
Turning challenges into opportunities
The transition to new management inevitably brings changes, Kris acknowledges. “Changes can cause uncertainty, but that’s part of the process. Our people are strong enough to handle it.” Romy sees these changes as opportunities. “We have a team of top talent ready to tackle any challenge. When the mindset is right, the numbers follow naturally. People who work with joy and passion are the key to our future.”
Kris agrees: “Romy’s fresh perspective helps us critically evaluate how we do things. After years of organic growth, it’s good to reassess processes. It won’t be a revolution, but rather an evolution - and the only way is forward.”
