Jean-Philippe Mergen, who joined the Brussels Business Association in 1987, is about to pack his bags. A look back at the face of Beci’s international department, dedicated to supporting businesses and helping them expand globally.
“April 1, 1987.” He states this right off the bat, with a smile. As if it all began there, in that seemingly trivial detail. A way, perhaps, of reminding us that, even after nearly forty years in the profession, he doesn’t quite adopt the stance one might expect.
Jean-Philippe Mergen isn’t the type to recount his career in grand terms. He unfolds it in small doses, as memories come to mind, without ever exaggerating. Yet, between the lines, a significant part of Beci’s history emerges.
When he arrived at the Union of Brussels Companies, international business was nothing like it is today. No internet, no emails. “We didn’t even have a fax machine at first. ” So we traveled, made contact, and built relationships. Very quickly, he took over the Promexport department, tasked with supporting Brussels-based companies abroad, long before the current structures existed.
Always on the ground
Since there was no manual to follow, it made sense to go see things up close. Economic missions, company visits, and meetings followed one after another. “Going on-site changes everything.” Over the years, the Director of Internationalization has supported a wide variety of companies: a food company, an architecture firm, an IT company… Worlds that have nothing in common, except for this desire to explore new horizons. “It’s all about the connections,” he sums up.
Some relationships endure over time. Sometimes thirty years. Companies that come back, not necessarily often, but at the right time. With a specific question, a market to explore, a doubt to clear up. “They know they can call us.” The Brussels native adds nothing more, refraining from taking credit for anything: “I wouldn’t say it’s thanks to us that they’re growing.” But the support is definitely there.
Jean-Philippe mentions the countries he’s visited without trying to count them. About fifty, maybe more. Nevertheless, what remains are the moments. A discussion that drags on, a company visit, a detail that changes everything. And then the faces. Those of the executives met over the years. Journeys sometimes followed over several decades. “We stay in touch… we see the companies evolve.” Some have changed hands; others have grown.
Try, adjust, continue
The business changes, inevitably. The arrival of the Internet, of course, as well as tools, exchanges, and projects. Some things work, and others take a little longer to catch on. He mentions the export manager shared among several SMEs. A pragmatic idea: pooling resources to break into international markets. On paper, it all makes sense. In reality, interests diverge, and so do markets. “It wasn’t easy. The principle was sound…,” he acknowledges, with clear-eyed realism. He stops there.
Today, he speaks more of “internationalization” than of exports. The nuance matters. “It’s about helping companies establish a presence abroad, not just sell. Some import or seek new suppliers.” Understanding the rules, finding partners, navigating regulations. Through the Enterprise Europe Network, he relies on contacts in dozens of countries. “We help, we guide, we connect people.”
Day-to-day work
When he talks about his daily routine, his tone barely changes, but the pace picks up and requests come in one after another from companies, institutions, and sometimes from abroad. “We have to respond, or at least guide them and find the right contact.” He doesn’t emphasize it, but you can sense the demand: don’t leave a request unanswered, take the time, even when there isn’t any.
Jean-Philippe has experienced several eras within the same organization: he has seen Beci transform from the inside. The merger between the UEB and the Chamber of Commerce, teams learning to work together, shifting priorities. “It wasn’t easy at first,” he notes. But there, too, time has done its work.
What remains, as a constant thread, is the connection with businesses. So he focuses. “I may be very busy with my work…” He offers a faint smile. “But that’s because there’s a lot to manage.” A modest explanation, just like him. It’s enough.
Thank you, Jean-Philippe!
On May 1, Jean-Philippe Mergen packed his bags. It was a meaningful date: Labor Day, marking the end of a career spent over nearly forty years supporting others.
He’s passing the baton to Ekaterina Clifford, head of Beci’s international community. Grand speeches aren’t his style. Still, if he had to leave a note, scribbled on a Post-it, it would likely say something like this: stay attentive, take the time to understand, and keep the connection.
Because, deep down, that’s perhaps what stands out most in his journey: this way of being present, without ever seeking the spotlight… or rather, of proving—without ever saying so—that the most discreet roles are often the ones that hold everything together. The entire Beci team wishes him all the best!
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