Koen Van Bockstal (° 1961) graduated from the University of Ghent's modern history department as a licentiate of history. He started his career teaching history and aesthetics, then switched to the music business (Free Record Shop, BMG Ariola). He continued his career as general manager of Sony Music Entertainment Belgium and as vice president of artist & repertoire for the Benelux. As A&R director he promoted Flemish singers and groups at an international level. In that function, he was a member of the Belgian branch of the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) and SIMIM & Imagia, the neighbouring rights associations. In 2006, he briefly took up the position of business manager of the Flanders International Film Festival. Until November 2010 he worked as the delegated director of Oxfam Wereldwinkels vzw and Oxfam Fair Trade cvba. He can draw on a vast experience in commercial and non-profit management in both artistic and added-value working environments. He has also developed into an avid reader: 'a good book satisfies my almost insatiable appetite for nuances'.
Following its pioneering years and its consolidation in the literary world, the FLF is entrusting the further expansion of its organisation to Koen Van Bockstal. We are counting on his expertise and dedication to tackle the new challenges the FLF is faced with both internally and externally.
